Legendary driver Tony Stewart is making his highly anticipated return to competitive NASCAR tonight at Daytona International Speedway, marking his first drive in a NASCAR-sanctioned race since ending his full-time career in 2016. Stewart, a three-time Cup Series champion, is set to compete in the iconic Fresh From Florida 250, piloting the No. 25 Kaulig Racing Ram in the season-opening event for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series—marking a significant moment for Stewart’s fans and the many following the Tony Stewart NASCAR return story.
Preparation for a Return After Nearly Eight Years
Since stepping away from NASCAR’s biggest stage, Stewart had grown convinced his top-tier racing days were over, changing focus to other motorsports and his family life. At 54, Stewart is now the father of a young son, Dominic, and has recently taken on the challenge of NHRA Top Fuel drag racing. Despite distancing himself from NASCAR and any lingering Daytona 500 ambitions, Stewart couldn’t pass up this one-off drive with Ram, which is also celebrating its own return to the sport.
Reflecting on his unlikely comeback, Stewart addressed media with trademark candor, saying,
“I mean, I think we all knew — everybody that I’ve known, at least — when I quit driving here in general in NASCAR, we thought we would never see this moment again. And trust me, I’m as surprised as all of you are.”
—Tony Stewart, NASCAR driver
Fresh Energy and Familiar Attitude in the Garages
Beyond his career achievements, Stewart’s sharp sense of humor and quick-witted remarks remain unchanged, providing levity as he reunites with colleagues and media. His time away and experience in drag racing have brought a new perspective, even as he reconnects with old rivals and friends—such as Alex Bowman, Justin Allgaier, and Hall of Famer media personalities.
Stewart also reinforced his intentions for this brief venture, emphasizing his gratitude for the chance to team up with Ram and take on a new motorsport challenge:
“It is a neat and unique opportunity to do this with Ram and through our partnership with Dodge and Stellantis,”
Stewart explained.
“Tim Kuniskis (Stellantis CEO) literally asked me last year if I would be interested in running a truck race. And, you know, kind of sounds fun. I didn’t think I would hear much more out of him from it, but got another phone call, and that was the one that I knew was the confirmation that, yep, we’re going to be driving a truck race somewhere, and here we are.”
—Tony Stewart, NASCAR driver
Facing Challenges and Embracing Uncertainty
The racing legend acknowledged that after years away, his experience may not automatically translate into flawless performance against younger up-and-comers in the competitive Truck Series. Stewart is known for offering post-race feedback—sometimes heated—if mistakes are made on the track. Now, he recognizes he could be the one on the learning curve.
As Stewart put it,
“The reality of it is, too, I could be somebody that makes a mistake in it,”
Stewart said.
“I got the same opportunity as all those other guys that haven’t been here as much as I have to make the same mistake that they may or may not make. So I’ve got to do my part too. It doesn’t mean that I’m not going to do something wrong out there. But nobody does anything intentionally out there to cause problems. It’s just trial and error, and that’s how you learn from your mistakes and that’s how you become a better race-car driver.”
—Tony Stewart, NASCAR driver
Sim Racing and Teamwork in Modern Race Preparation
Without much on-track practice—just a single 50-minute session before race day—Stewart turned to modern simulation for crucial prep. He spent several weeks training via iRacing, coordinating with friends spread from Pennsylvania to Seattle and focusing increasingly on Truck Series races at Daytona, subtly preparing for this return before it was public.
He said of his preparation,
“About a month and a half off and on of iRacing. Literally,”
and reflected on the support from his online teammates.
“And then when the announcement came out and I could actually tell them that I was doing a truck race, then they were like, ‘now we know why you kept asking for more.’ And literally, I have to give my group of iRacing guys – I mean, they’re all the way from Pennsylvania across to out by Seattle, Washington. We got a big group of guys. I’ve got to thank those guys, because they literally, from the moment we announced we were doing that, they were all in on truck races at Daytona. And that’s not what we normally do on a night, but they were all in on doing anything they could do to help us just get laps.”
—Tony Stewart, NASCAR driver
The simulation time proved beneficial for both Stewart and his spotter, TJ Bell, as they worked on communication, strategy, and familiarizing themselves with the intense pack racing at speeds up to 185 mph.
Adapting Sim Knowledge to Real-World Racing
As technology continues to bridge gaps between simulation and reality, Stewart reflected on video study with TJ Bell and the striking similarities between their iRacing experiences and the nuances of real Daytona truck racing:
“I can say that TJ and I were at the motorhome last night. We were going over video of last year’s race,”
Stewart said.
“There were some aspects that we saw that I had picked up on the iRacing side that I’m like, ‘I don’t know if it’s really going to translate or not.’ And more so than I really even thought, we were seeing that in aspects of the race yesterday.”
—Tony Stewart, NASCAR driver
Reconnecting With the NASCAR Community
Stewart’s return has been as much about camaraderie as competition, with old friends and rivals caught off-guard by the news. Stewart recounted,
“Some of them, the number one question is, have you lost your mind?”
Stewart laughed.
“I’m like, ‘Yeah, I have’, as you know. But it’s been fun. It’s just been fun to see those guys before everything (got) really busy yesterday. I mean, it was nice to just spend time and chat and catch up with guys, and I think that’s part of what’s going to make this probably the most special part of the week is just catching up with everybody.”
—Tony Stewart, NASCAR driver
Throughout the garages and the media center at Daytona, Stewart has found energy in rekindling these relationships and sharing the excitement of being back where he made so many memories.
What Stewart’s Racing Return Means for NASCAR and Ram
As Tony Stewart gears up for his long-awaited drive in the Fresh From Florida 250, the significance goes beyond his own career. The Tony Stewart NASCAR return creates a buzz within the sport, highlighting the continued connection between past legends and the next generation. For the Ram brand, Stewart’s participation signals a renewed energy and ambition in NASCAR’s Truck Series landscape, leveraging Stewart’s popularity and skill to draw attention to their motorsports comeback. While Stewart has made clear this is a one-off entry—something special for himself and fans alike—the impact of his presence in tonight’s race will likely ripple throughout the racing world, rekindling nostalgia while offering a vibrant spectacle for all those watching Daytona Speedway’s high banks.
