In the heart of Texas, where the aroma of smoked brisket fills the air, a familiar face found himself reminiscing over hearty BBQ and shared laughter. Tony Stewart, the racing legend known for his intensity on the track and his quick wit off it, comfortably settled into a booth at an old-time BBQ joint.

It had been a few years since his departure from the NASCAR circuit, a decision that stirred the hearts of fans and competitors alike. This was not just a meal; it was a reflection, a look back at a life filled with triumphs, losses, and the unexpected joys of new beginnings.

Tony Stewart on retirement, regrets, and redemption

Tony Stewart retired from NASCAR in 2016, and one might say, on his own terms. The funny man, known to be a great racer and even greater husband, was 44 years old then and starting his own racing team. Stewart Haas Racing has now shuttered its doors, but if a recent YT video is to be believed, the driver still has fire in him. Although the way he said it was more hilarious than serious. Not the first time, we know.

The NASCAR driver recently visited an old-time BBQ restaurant in Texas and opened his heart to the owner. The owner of this restaurant, Terry Sullivan, is also an old-time smoker of meat in the old-fashioned way. And who wouldn’t? The joint is famous for its brisket and wings, which are the exact things Stewart had while sharing with Sullivan about how bad of a cook his superwoman of a wife is. When Sullivan asked Stewart if he regrets leaving NASCAR, he said not at all.  He reminded Sullivan of the deal he made with his father when he was a little boy racing go-karts. He said he promised to leave anything that did not bring him joy.

“Driving a race car isn’t something you can do half. If you are going to do it, you have got to be committed to it. You got to be all in. And that’s why I got out of the NASCAR side of it. I just stopped having fun of the direction it’s going,” he said. But does that mean he would never get into a race car? Not as per Stewart. He said, “I would (think about retirement,) but I am too lazy to find a real job.” At this, Sullivan laughed and added, “And you don’t want to eat your wife’s food.”

For Stewart, racing has been a part of his life right from when he was a child. His parents, Nelson and Pam, got him into racing before he was 10, and supported his choices. Ever since then, it has been one racing category after another. Whether it is Indy Car, NASCAR, or even the NHRA, Stewart has always worked and stayed in racing. The racing bug has quite literally never left him. His accolades are a clear proof of this.

Smoke is a 2020 NASCAR Hall of Famer, popular for their hard-nosed style of competition.  In his rookie year, he won three victories. He won the Cup Series Championship twice, once in 2002 and then in 2005. Total wins in the Cup Series come to a total of 49. In 2011, he secured his third championship by winning five out of the 10 Playoff races, including the season finale, which resulted in a tiebreaker victory over Carl Edwards.

Tony Stewart’s latest commitments

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Stewart has recently transitioned to the NHRA as both a driver and team owner, taking on the Top Fuel seat at Tony Stewart Racing. He will be stepping in as Pruett takes a break, allowing him to showcase his remarkable skill on the track following his year as a rookie in the 2024 season.

Pruett, a seasoned racer with nearly three decades in the NHRA and 12 Top Fuel victories under her belt, has secured a career-best third-place finish in the standings. In a recent interview with Behind The Catch Fence, she expressed, “As much as I can’t wait to, at some point—whenever that is—get back in a dragster, it’s not 2025. I’m looking forward to that. I’m not letting that take any moment away from being with this baby.”

Pruett’s absence in 2025 has led to speculation about the possibility of the Stewart family racing together in future seasons, such as 2026, although nothing has been confirmed yet. Meanwhile, the team joyfully celebrated the arrival of Dominic during the NHRA season finale at Pomona Dragstrip, announcing it through a social media post.

The announcement read, “Meet our new teammate, Dominic James Stewart. Momma @LeahPruett_TF and baby are doing great. Congratulations, LP and @TonyStewart, on becoming new parents! Only Tony could pull off qualifying, rushing to Phoenix to make it in time for the delivery, then back to @PomonaDragstrip for race day. Let’s go win Dominic a [trophy].”