Kyle Busch has issued a strong warning to Tony Stewart ahead of Stewart’s highly anticipated return to NASCAR at the 2026 Truck Series opener at Daytona International Speedway. As Stewart prepares to rejoin the series with Kaulig Racing and Ram’s Free Agent Driver Program, Busch’s remarks set a tone of caution, underlining the challenges Stewart will face in his first NASCAR Truck start since 2005. The focus keyword, Kyle Busch warns Tony Stewart, has become a topic of discussion among racing fans as Stewart readies himself for one of the sport’s most unpredictable races.
Intense Competition Awaits at Daytona
Kaulig Racing confirmed that Tony Stewart will drive the No. 25 Ram truck at the Daytona opener, marking his return to NASCAR’s Truck Series after a long hiatus. While Stewart is no stranger to the track, Busch believes Daytona’s current racing environment will pose new and difficult challenges. Stewart last raced full-time in NASCAR in 2016 and has only six career Truck Series starts, his last in 2005. With the sport boasting a new generation of aggressive drivers, Busch signaled that Stewart could be in for a tough lesson.
I need to get him one of my shirts I wore there a few years ago where this is the most expensive day of the year for the owners,
Busch said, via Peter Stratta of TSJSports.
I hope he doesn’t plan on finishing.
Concerns Over NASCAR’s Evolving Racing Styles
Busch’s comments aren’t a slight to Stewart’s legendary abilities but rather a reflection of his experience with modern NASCAR races. He noted that the Daytona event has become especially perilous for both drivers and owners, hinting at high attrition rates and costly accidents. Busch pointed out that any crash can instantly end a driver’s championship run in the current format, emphasizing the stakes of every lap at Daytona.
Any crashes will kill your championship run
– Kyle Busch.
Having watched the growth of aggressive tactics across different racing levels, from ARCA to Late Models, Busch expressed skepticism that NASCAR’s updated championship format would significantly change driving behavior. He believes that today’s drivers learn aggressive moves early in their careers and carry those habits with them as they advance.
When you watch all the children that race all year long in the ARCAs and the Late Models and other things and you see that stuff already, they’re taught from a very young age to dive bomb and run into them and door that guy,
Busch commented.
Being a dad, I’ve heard those words and maybe I’ve said those words once or twice. I don’t think it will change a whole lot.
Tony Stewart’s Storied Career and the Return to NASCAR
Tony Stewart is regarded as one of motorsports’ most accomplished competitors, with a résumé that includes three NASCAR Cup Series championships and 49 career Cup wins. Beyond NASCAR, Stewart has collected titles in the IndyCar Series, USAC, and IROC. In recent years, Stewart shifted his focus to NHRA drag racing, capturing the Top Fuel regular season championship in 2025. Despite his experience across various disciplines, Stewart acknowledges that his return to truck racing at Daytona marks new territory.
Stewart reflected on his decision to join Ram’s Free Agent Driver Program and the rare opportunity to get back behind the wheel of a NASCAR Truck.
I’ve raced just about everything with four wheels at Daytona, but never a truck. So, when a seat in the new Ram was offered up for their first race back in NASCAR, I didn’t hesitate,
Stewart said in a statement.
Ram’s Free Agent program is another great way for me to stay sharp and have a little fun.
The Changing Landscape of NASCAR
Busch and Stewart’s perspectives hint at the broader shifts within NASCAR, including changes to championship formats and competition structure. With the “win-and-in” elimination approach giving way to a new Chase format, there are questions about how these adjustments will influence driver conduct and the overall spectacle. However, as Busch asserts, the ethos of aggressive racing runs deep, and rule changes may not significantly alter on-track behavior.
As Stewart prepares for the 2026 Truck Series opener, the NASCAR community will be watching to see how a veteran adapts to the modern era’s demands and challenges. Both Busch’s candid outlook and Stewart’s willingness to take on Daytona’s high-speed, high-stakes environment demonstrate the ever-present tension between experience and evolution within motorsports. The anticipation for this one-night-only return is heightened by the unpredictability of Daytona, a track known for its dramatic and costly outcomes.
.@KyleBusch gave his thoughts on NASCAR’s new/old format, testing at @NWBSpeedway, and his friendship with Greg Biffle.
“Any crashes will kill your championship run”#NASCAR pic.twitter.com/HGlnHnAQOh
— Peter Stratta (@peterstratta) January 13, 2026
