Daytona International Speedway (Daytona Beach, Fla.) — Tony Stewart signed up to compete in one NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race in 2026: The season-opening Fresh From Florida 250 on Friday.
Could he sign up for more? Hey, who would have thought six months ago that 54-year-old Stewart would ever race in NASCAR again? Well, on little practice, Stewart jumped behind the wheel of the No. 25 Kaulig Racing Ram this week to give it a go.
The three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion — whose last NASCAR race was in 2016 and last truck race was in 2005 — and current NHRA racer had his NASCAR return end with a wreck 39 laps into the 100-lap truck season opener on Daytona’s iconic 2.5-mile track.
“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,” Stewart told FOX Sports broadcaster Amanda Busick after being released from the infield care center. “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.
“Early on, it was just like kind of hang on. [I] knew we wanted to care for it till we bought a shot to make pit stops. So in all probability wanted another good swing at it to actually get to the place we may go, however we’re gaining on it. So no less than they’re constructing a pocket book now. The remainder of the blokes are on the market nonetheless digging, in order that they’ll construct pocket book for once we come again subsequent time.”
[DAYTONA 500: Ranking the 41-Driver Field, From Casey Mears to Chase Elliott]
We come again subsequent time?
He instructed me and different reporters that he signed up for one race and that’s at the moment the plan. However he additionally appeared like a man who loved his race till Jake Garcia bought unfastened and slid into him.
“I do not get an opportunity to combine it up wheel to wheel with anyone anymore on the drag race facet,” Stewart mentioned. “You do not need to be round anyone working 300 miles an hour.
“Nevertheless it was enjoyable to come back again right here. It’s enjoyable to look at the fashion these children run. You would inform the blokes that their vehicles felt good proper out of the gate, and so they had been aggressive. And I used to be like, ‘Man, I want I had the arrogance to try this.’”
[NASCAR: 2026 Daytona 500 Paint Schemes]
Stewart mentioned he by no means bought comfy being in any spot on the observe.
“I knew [the truck] wasn’t going to have the ability to do the center of the three-wide deal,” Stewart mentioned. “I wasn’t comfy sufficient with that, and we weren’t tight sufficient to try this. However the swings we had been making — that was getting the stability loads nearer to the place we may do this.”
It virtually appeared like Stewart has unfinished enterprise. The day earlier than the race, he indicated he must do some convincing — he has a 15-month-old son with spouse and fellow drag racer Leah Pruett — if he wished to do extra races within the gaps of his full-time NHRA schedule.
“I’ve a spouse and a son who additionally like these gaps as nicely and would like I not maintain reserving these gaps,” Stewart mentioned.
