Tony Stewart Reveals the Unspoken Dark Side of Being a Race Car Driver

Tony Stewart did not win as many Cup championships as Jimmie Johnson or Dale Earnhardt. He is still one of the best race car drivers in American motorsports. The Indiana native is the only driver to win NASCAR and IndyCar championships. That achievement is not just a testament to his caliber but also his love for racing. However, success in racing comes at a cost, and after spending years of his life in dedication to the art of winning races, he also understands the sacrifices of a racer.

The Hall of Famer left full-time racing in 2016. However, more was needed to keep him away from the world of racing. Having joined Stewart-Haas Racing as a part-owner, he took over the functioning of the team completely. Since then, the team has become one of NASCAR’s powerhouses and even has two championships to its name. Campaigns in dirt racing, NHRA, and even a series of his own have followed his ownership stint as well.

Tony Stewart was born to race

There have been very few in NASCAR who have been as competitive and versatile as Tony Stewart. There are all-time record holders across motorsports divisions, but it is next to impossible to find drivers with expertise in almost any form of racing as Tony has. One of the many instances of his versatility was in 2011 when he switched roles with 7-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton and was sublime in the McLaren car. While Hamilton did great in Tony’s #14 Impala as well, he has embodied the spirit of racing as well as Tony.

“Just to be able to compete, that’s what my life is about,” said Tony Stewart, speaking to Mobil1 Racing in a trailer of the latest episode of the web series, “Why We Race.

“Getting to the line first, that’s all that matters. Any professional level of motorsports, the only way you get there is by being dedicated to it. You have to sacrifice personal time, and personal relationships. You have to sacrifice a lot. For me, racing is life. That’s all I live for.“

After succeding as a race car driver, ownership has also brought much success into his life. The 3-time Cup champion has teams in NASCAR, NHRA, USAC, World of Outlaws, and many more. Within these territories, he also has earned 32 owners’ championships, which speaks volumes about his ability to lead from the front.

Another driver who has followed in his footsteps is Kyle Larson. The Hendrick Motorsports #5 driver is already en route to being the sixth driver to race in the Indy500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. In recent news, he has also acquired something from Tony to add more firepower to his own Sprint Car competition.

Kyle Larson to acquire Tony Stewart’s competition

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Tony Stewart has owned many competitions. Apart from the SRX Series, one of his major series was the All-Star Circuit of Champions. On the other hand, Kyle Larson collaborated with brother-in-law and former World of Outlaws champion Brad Sweet to give birth to the High Limit Sprint Car series.

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The first season of Larson’s brainchild ended a few weeks back as he dominated the tourney of 11 rounds. Following the acquisition, Larson paid his respect to Tony for his contributions to the field of racing in a press release as he said,

“Sprint Car racing is in a better place today because of the contributions Tony has made, including his ownership of the All-Stars. His commitment to giving back to the sport has been an inspiration to me personally. Brad and I share his passion for making the business side of the sport better for teams, drivers, and sponsors, and we’re thankful for Tony’s trust in us to carry on what he started.”

Tony Stewart also reciprocated in kind as he let go of the series he established in 2015. Commending the competition’s success, he stated, “I am extremely proud of our accomplishments.”

“We have developed great relationships with corporate partners, tracks, promoters, team owners, and drivers, all of which have contributed to the success of the All-Star Series. The time is right to pass the torch to Kyle and Brad.”

Drivers like Kyle Larson and Tony Stewart carry the spirit of racing in the current scene. However different a circuit might be, these two have never backed out of a new challenge to test their abilities.

Read More: Watch: 12 Years Ago Today Tony Stewart Delivered His Iconic Speech After Beating Carl Edwards for the Championship