For the first time since November 2016, Tony Stewart is back behind the wheel as a NASCAR driver, racing Friday night at Daytona International Speedway. The NASCAR Hall of Famer will compete in the season-opening Fresh From Florida 250, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event, driving the No. 25 Ram for Kaulig Racing. This appearance marks a surprising reentry for Stewart, who had believed his top-tier NASCAR career was behind him.
Stewart, a three-time Cup Series champion with 62 national wins, reflected candidly on his return during a Thursday press conference.
“I mean, I think we all knew — everybody that I’ve known, at least — when I quit driving here in general in NASCAR, we thought we would never see this moment again. And trust me, I’m as surprised as all of you are.”
?Tony Stewart, NASCAR Driver
A Changed Racer with Familiar Edge: Reflections on His Return
Although Stewart returns to the 2.5-mile superspeedway with many changes in his life, including fatherhood to his 1-year-old son Dominic and a switch to Top Fuel drag racing in NHRA, his trademark snark and sharp wit remain intact. His humor and candid remarks during media interactions made it clear that some parts of “Smoke,” as he is known, have not faded.
Stewart joked about following Kaulig Racing Cup haulers for drafting practice and did not shy away from using profanity when emphasizing the financial stakes in racing. Despite stepping away from ownership roles and no longer chasing the Daytona 500—a race he famously never won in 17 attempts—Stewart embraced this one-off return, motivated in part by Ram and Dodge’s comeback to the sport.
“It is a neat and unique opportunity to do this with Ram and through our partnership with Dodge and Stellantis,”
Stewart said.
“Tim Kuniskis (Stellantis CEO) literally asked me last year if I would be interested in running a truck race. And, you know, kind of sounds fun. I didn’t think I would hear much more out of him from it, but got another phone call, and that was the one that I knew was the confirmation that, yep, we’re going to be driving a truck race somewhere, and here we are.”
?Tony Stewart, NASCAR Driver
Adjusting to the Challenge: Youthful Mistakes and Learning Curve
Known for being a tough but generous mentor to younger drivers, Stewart openly acknowledged the steep learning curve he faces with minimal recent NASCAR racing experience. Despite his extensive track history, he warned about the possibility of mistakes during Friday’s race, emphasizing the trial-and-error nature of racing at this level.
“The reality of it is, too, I could be somebody that makes a mistake in it,”
Stewart admitted.
“I got the same opportunity as all those other guys that haven’t been here as much as I have to make the same mistake that they may or may not make. So I’ve got to do my part too. It doesn’t mean that I’m not going to do something wrong out there. But nobody does anything intentionally out there to cause problems. It’s just trial and error, and that’s how you learn from your mistakes and that’s how you become a better race-car driver.”
?Tony Stewart, NASCAR Driver
Preparing for Speed and Pack Racing Through Simulation
With only 50 minutes of official track practice on Thursday, Stewart relied heavily on iRacing, a popular simulator platform, to prepare for the high-speed pack racing anticipated in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Daytona. He credits this virtual training for helping him adjust to the unique dynamics of fender-to-fender racing at speeds approaching 185 mph.
“About a month and a half off and on of iRacing. Literally,”
Stewart revealed.
He described how his group of friends, spread from Pennsylvania to Seattle, rallied around him to simulate truck races at Daytona, providing crucial laps to build his confidence. Stewart’s repeated requests to focus on these races surprised his group until his official announcement confirmed his participation.
“And then when the announcement came out and I could actually tell them that I was doing a truck race, then they were like, ‘now we know why you kept asking for more.’ And literally, I have to give my group of iRacing guys – I mean, they’re all the way from Pennsylvania across to out by Seattle, Washington. We got a big group of guys. I’ve got to thank those guys, because they literally, from the moment we announced we were doing that, they were all in on truck races at Daytona. And that’s not what we normally do on a night, but they were all in on doing anything they could do to help us just get laps.”
?Tony Stewart, NASCAR Driver
Video Analysis and Spotter Coordination Ahead of the Race
Stewart and his spotter, TJ Bell, used recent race footage to align their communication and better understand the dynamics of the upcoming event. Stewart noted with some surprise how elements he had observed in iRacing closely matched real-life race scenarios.
“I can say that TJ and I were at the motorhome last night. We were going over video of last year’s race,”
Stewart said.
“There were some aspects that we saw that I had picked up on the iRacing side that I’m like, ‘I don’t know if it’s really going to translate or not.’ And more so than I really even thought, we were seeing that in aspects of the race yesterday.”
?Tony Stewart, NASCAR Driver
Rekindling Old Connections While Embracing a New Chapter
Though his NASCAR return is brief and focused on this single race, Stewart’s presence has reignited connections across the Daytona garages. He spent time catching up with familiar faces such as Alex Bowman and Justin Allgaier, reminiscing with old rivals and fellow Hall of Famers during the week’s media sessions. These interactions have added a personal layer to Stewart’s comeback, underscoring long-standing relationships forged over his career.
“Some of them, the number one question is, have you lost your mind?”
Stewart laughed.
“I’m like, ‘Yeah, I have’, as you know. But it’s been fun. It’s just been fun to see those guys before everything (got) really busy yesterday. I mean, it was nice to just spend time and chat and catch up with guys, and I think that’s part of what’s going to make this probably the most special part of the week is just catching up with everybody.”
?Tony Stewart, NASCAR Driver
Significance of Stewart’s Return and What Lies Ahead
Tony Stewart’s return to NASCAR at the Daytona Truck Series race is a remarkable moment in motorsports, blending nostalgia with fresh excitement. Beyond his personal comeback, his involvement highlights the Ram brand’s revitalized effort under Stellantis, bringing renewed attention to both the manufacturer and the truck series. While this will likely be his final NASCAR appearance as a driver, the event fuels speculation about future opportunities for Stewart in other racing formats or potential roles within the sport.
As Stewart attempts to navigate the high-pressure, high-speed challenges of Daytona once more, his presence serves as a reminder of his enduring influence within NASCAR culture, and the unpredictable, thrilling nature of racing itself.
