Tony Stewart may have hung up his NASCAR helmet in 2016, but he’s still got the knack for racing anything on wheels. Plus, he expects the same versatility and drive from his team. Despite a bumpy season, Tony’s looking at the bright side for the upcoming year. He’s been spotted recently, brimming with pride about how his four drivers are geared up to shoulder the responsibility of 2024.
Back in the day, Stewart-Haas Racing was pretty much synonymous with Kevin Harvick. But times have changed and with Harvick no longer the main act, Stewart’s betting on a bunch of fresh faces in the Cup Series. He’s not just hopeful; he’s full of beans about his four young drivers. He’s throwing his full weight behind them, confident that they’re ready to burn rubber and make some waves in the upcoming races.
Tony Stewart is placing his bets on his young guns this year
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With Kevin Harvick’s retirement in 2023 marking the end of an era, Stewart-Haas Racing had a year they’d rather forget. Despite Harvick’s best efforts to turn things around, a series of missteps and less-than-stellar cars kept him from the winner’s circle.
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But there was a silver lining – the team clinched its first Xfinity Series title thanks to Cole Custer‘s #00. This win was a breath of fresh air, though the Cup Series struggles were written all over Tony Stewart’s face in interviews. Looking ahead to 2024, Stewart’s spirits are high for his new lineup. Noah Gragson, stepping in to steer the No. 10, and Josh Berry, filling Harvick’s big shoes, have got Stewart’s full backing.
Recently, on SHR’s official Twitter, Tony Stewart was all praise for his team, “I think the most bada** thing about our current roster racers is, they are young, they are hungry. They want to make their mark on the sport. All four of these guys – they have passion, they have desire, they have the drive, and they have the skills to get the job done. It’s just a matter of putting in the whole package together for them.”
What’s @TonyStewart‘s take on our 2024 Cup lineup?
Young. Hungry. Ready to battle. pic.twitter.com/gHTzVLOCLk
— Stewart-Haas Racing (@StewartHaasRcng) January 4, 2024
As these four racers gear up in their Ford rides, with Berry and Gragson transitioning from Chevy, Stewart also shared his personal favorite car and track. Well, even off the track, Tony Stewart’s heart still races for the sport.
Stewart opens up about his favorite car to drive on the track
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Tony Stewart has never been shy about his fondness for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It’s close to his heart, growing up just a stone’s throw away in Columbus, Indiana. But when it comes to his all-time favorite combo of car and track, the IndyCar at IMS doesn’t take top honors.
Instead, Stewart’s top pick is racing a Midget car. His preferred battlefield? The Tulsa Expo Raceway is home to the Chili Bowl Nationals. While this might raise some eyebrows, it really shouldn’t come as a shock. Stewart’s history with the Chili Bowl is rich – he competed there 14 times between 1993 and 2013. Not only did he clinch the title twice, in 2002 and 2007, but he also made the Saturday A-Main a whopping 12 times. Plus, there were years when he still showed up at the Chili Bowl, not to race, but to lend a hand with the track prep crew, all for the love of the sport.
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In a recent social media video, Stewart expressed his enthusiasm, “I think my all-time favorite car is still a Midget and my favorite place to run a Midget is still Chili Bowl. I mean that track is suited perfectly for those cars and creates a lot of excitement. When your car is right it is a blast around there. So that is still my favorite car and my favorite track.”
Do you think the pick by Tony Stewart comes as a surprise? Or does that completely fit his racing persona?