Tony Stewart: NASCAR’s Best Wheelman

Stewart is known mainly for his NASCAR career, but he didn’t establish his winning reputation in stock cars. His early career started in the United States Auto Club and the IndyCar Series. He got an unprecedented “Triple Crown” win with USAC in 1995. That success spearheaded his move through IndyCar, where he won another championship in 1997 and also claimed Rookie of the Year honors. Stewart also enjoys success with the DIRTcar Series, having won several championships.

While he’s kept his schedule busy, Stewart still found a way to spend every spare moment racing. While many professional drivers in the U.S. look to NASCAR as a way to success, Stewart almost seemed to join the Xfinity Series as a way to fill time between IndyCar races. When racing in both series wasn’t enough, he even challenged himself to the historic Indianapolis 500 – Coca-Cola 600 double, racing both on the same day.

Success In NASCAR And Beyond

Many drivers who start in IndyCar or Supercar racing, including those like Danica Patrick and Shane van Gisbergen, struggle to translate their driving techniques. Stewart is an entirely different story. He’s the first and only driver to ever win championships in stock cars, IndyCar, open-wheel Midget, Sprint, and Silver Crown cars. That includes driving on various cement surfaces, as well as dirt ovals and drag racing events.

Right now, Stewart is focusing most of his attention on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Most recently, he won the 2024 NHRA Rookie of the Year award and has already secured his first Top Fuel win at the 4-Wide Nationals. He’s looking to get his first world championship win this year. Not only is he looking to secure his first win, but Stewart is also aiming to win with his own team, Tony Stewart Racing.

Stewart Calls Out NASCAR

While Stewart might be most well-known for his time in NASCAR, he’s now known for his growing distaste for the sport’s governing body. He’s pointing at current rules surrounding team creation and sponsorships, saying that NASCAR has stepped away from its past to create something too expensive to maintain. He believes that profit is being prioritized over fan experience and is instead focusing on “vanilla and wimpy” driver etiquette to increase revenue. Stewart says all of these problems have caused NASCAR to lose its story and connection to everyday fans.

End Of My Tony Stewart Rant

Stewart is renowned throughout the motorsports community as one of the best drivers of our generation. The 54-year-old hasn’t slowed down since leaving the NASCAR scene and is proving every day that he remains a historically successful talent. His popularity and success in every motorsport might be the best reason to listen to his advice.

Stewart drove at what might be considered one of NASCAR’s most popular time periods. His racing style, combined with the energy and styles of other drivers, created more exciting experiences for fans across the country. NASCAR has reported declines in revenue and viewership over the past several years, and Stewart identifies several reasons why this might be the case. Maybe they should finally listen.