Tony Stewart’s NASCAR return didn’t end well. He took part in Friday’s Truck Series season-opener at Daytona under the banner of Kaulig Racing, in partnership with Ram trucks. But his day ended early after a crash that wasn’t even his fault.
Stewart was just 39 laps into the race when fellow racer Jake Garcia got loose and rammed him right in the back of his No. 25. Stewart’s car was destroyed and beyond repair, so he had to walk away disappointed and with a DNF.
Now the question is: Will the former Cup Series champion return to his no-NASCAR schedule, or will he stay open to NASCAR offers in the future? Answering the question from the infield care center, Tony Stewart said (via Amanda Busick, FOX Sports),
“I didn’t think I was going to be here 10 years after I retired, so I think we have to learn to never say never. It’s a great opportunity. … Just finally getting in a spot where I felt like I could start hustling and being in the mix there a little bit.”
“It was fun to come back here,” he added. “It’s fun to watch the style these kids run. You could tell the guys that their trucks felt good right out of the gate, and they were aggressive. And I was like, ‘Man, I wish I had the confidence to do that.’”
Tony Stewart’s last full-time race in the NASCAR Cup Series was back in 2016. Currently, he competes in the NHRA under the Top Fuel Class for Tony Stewart Racing. His wife, Leah Pruett, is also a Top Fuel driver in the NHRA. The couple had their first kid on November 17, 2024.
“This is Ram’s Coming-Out Party”- Tony Stewart Explains His Decision to Support Ram Amid Kaulig’s Five-Truck Expansion
Right after deciding that they would go for a rotational cast for their fifth Ran truck this season, Kaulig Racing got in touch with Tony Stewart, the only driver in the history of motorsports to win championships in three disciplines: NASCAR, IndyCar, and USAC. And Stewart accepted the offer.
Tony Stewart was happy to be back behind a NASCAR car after an entire decade. Plus, working with a new team was all too exciting for the NASCAR vet.
“This is Ram’s coming-out party,” Stewart said in a statement. “So, what better way to support Ram and Dodge and (parent company) Stellantis and to do it in the biggest showcase of the year in the first race at Daytona?”
“It’s fun to do it with a group I’ve never worked with before. It’s fun to do it with a brand I’m passionate about at a track that we’ve had some success at. All in all, it’s nice to be back,” he added.
Well, Tony Stewart saying that he might be back in a NASCAR car is indeed a tease for the fans. For now, all eyes are on the crown jewel Daytona 500, which is scheduled for Sunday, February 15. Fans can watch it live on FOX or listen to live radio updates on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
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