For the first time in 10 years, Champion and Hall of Fame driver Tony Stewart is competing in a NASCAR race. He won’t be in the Daytona 500, but in the Craftsman Truck Series race on Friday night at Daytona International Speedway.
When the news first came out, Stewart said he received a lot of support from fellow drivers, friends and family. On the other hand, he also said people wanted to know if he was out of his mind.
Stewart is piloting the No. 25 Dodge Ram for Kaulig Racing, the only team fielding entrants for the manufacturer’s return to NASCAR. Since he retired from full-time NASCAR involvement as a driver and owner, he’s taken his championship skills to the NHRA competing in Top Fuel with Dodge backing.
“The No.1 question I’ve gotten from people on the NASCAR side is asking if I’ve lost mind,” Stewart said during a media session on Thursday, Feb. 12. “I’m like, yeah I have as you know. It’s just been fun to see those guys and catch up with them. It’s been fun to spend time with those guys before everything gets really busy here
“Today, I have literally received more texts from my drag racing people than anyone else. I would say there will probably be more drag racers watching the Truck race on Friday night than ever before.
“They basically told me they’ve never seen a Truck race before, but they’re going to watch this one.”
Stewart Credits iRacing for Truck Race Preparation
The last time Stewart drove in a NCTS race was 2005, and the final NCS start was 2016. When he retired from driving, he continued on in the ownership capacity for Stewart Haas Racing. When the team folded in 2024, he left the sport for good and went drag racing.
To help prepare for Friday’s race, he turned to a popular source used by drivers from all ranks of motorsports – iRacing.
“I have a bunch of friends on our iRacing team we race with on nights I can get on the simulator,” Stewart said. “I don’t know if they put two and two together when I suggested we start doing some Truck races. We started doing that instead of running some of the dirt races we normally run.
“At one point, I started asking for more Truck races at tracks like Daytona and Talladega. They didn’t really question it, but when the announcement came out they figured out why I started asking for more of those races.
“I literally have to thank that group of iRacers because from the moment we announced I was doing this, they were all in on Truck races at Daytona. They were all in on doing anything they could to help me get laps in and get ready for this race.”
First Time Wife and Son Seeing Smoke Race NASCAR
Stewart has been married to accomplished NHRA Top Fuel driver Leah Pruett since November 2021. In November of 2023, the couple welcomed son Dominic into the family. Because he retired from NASCAR competition in 2016, Stewart’s wife and son have never seen him compete in the series.
“She’s been very support of this effort,” Stewart said. “Leah has been with Dodge longer I have and she has a fantastic relationship with him. To understand why we’re down here doing this with Dodge and Ram, she knows how important that is to all of us.
“It’s literally the first opportunity she’s had to come to a NASCAR event and watch me drive. The cherry on top is we get to have Dominic here, too. We get a two-for-one deal having my family here.”
Leah, Dominic, drag racers and everyone can watch Stewart take to the track for NCTS practice on Thurs. Feb. 11 from 5 to 5:50 p.m. on FS1-TV. Friday action has qualifying starting at 3 p.m. followed by the 100-lap race at 7:30 p.m. on FS1-TV, MRN Radio and Sirius XM NASAR Radio.
NASCAR’s Tony Stewart Reveals ‘No. 1 Question’ About His Return