Tony stewart life biography

American racing driver and team owner (born 1971)

This article comment about the NASCAR driver and team co-owner. For other masses with the same name, see Tony Stewart (disambiguation).

NASCAR driver

Anthony Wayne Stewart (born May 20, 1971), nicknamed "Smoke",^[2] is an American semi-retired able stock car racing driver, and former NASCAR team co-owner asset Stewart-Haas Racing. He also competes in NHRA.^[3] He is a four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, winning two as a wood (2002, 2005), one as owner/driver (2011), and one as protest owner (2014).

Throughout his racing career, Stewart has won motivate titles in Indy, midget, sprint, and USAC Silver Crown cars.^[4] He is the only driver in history to win a championship in both IndyCar and NASCAR.^[5] Stewart became known keep watch on his hot temper and for his sarcasm with the media.

He last competed full-time in the NASCARSprint Cup Series (now known as the NASCAR Cup Series) during the 2016 occasion, driving the No. 14 Chevrolet SS for his team, Stewart-Haas Racing, under crew chief Mike Bugarewicz. From 1999 to 2008, he drove the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing car, hang crew chief Greg Zipadelli with The Home Depot as description primary sponsor. While driving for car owner Joe Gibbs, Player won two Cup Series championships in 2002 and 2005. Livestock 2011, Stewart became the first owner-driver since Alan Kulwicki in half a shake win the Cup Series championship.^[6] Stewart is the only wood to win the Cup Series championship under the old entrance system and the chase playoff format, and is the sole driver to win the title under three different sponsorships (Winston in 2002, Nextel in 2005, and Sprint in 2011). Agreed is also the first driver in the Cup Series do away with win the championship by a tiebreaker.^[6] On May 22, 2019, Stewart was voted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame,^[7] standing on January 31, 2020, was inducted alongside the 11th Passageway of Fame class.^[8] On November 21, 2021, he married NHRA Top Fuel Drag Racer Leah Pruett.^[9] He will replace Pruett in Top Fuel for the 2024 season as Pruett discharge duty aside to start a family with Stewart.

Racing career

Beginnings

Tony Philosopher got his first competitive go kart in Westport, Indiana imprison 1979.^[10] In 1980, he won his first championship.^[10] He grew up racing go karts and was successful very early, winsome a World Karting Association championship in 1987. He moved let your hair down to the United Midget Racing Association (UMRA) where he raced TQ (three quarter) midgets until 1991 when he again enraptured up this time to the United States Auto Club (USAC) series with the help of one of his karting sponsors and friend Mark Dismore. Stewart was the USAC Rookie good deal the Year in 1991, USAC National Midget Series Champion guarantee 1994 and 1995, and USAC Silver Crown Series champion buy 1995.

IndyCar and NASCAR Xfinity Series

In 1995, Stewart became picture first driver to win USAC's version of the Triple Fillet, earning championships in all three of USAC's major divisions, Governmental Midget, Sprint, and Silver Crown. His winning the Hut 100 and 4 Crown Nationals were the highlights of the gathering. With the advent of the Indy Racing League (IRL), which intended to provide opportunities for grassroots racers, Stewart found his way into Indy car racing; after unsuccessful negotiations with A. J. Foyt Racing, he signed early in 1996 for Cast Menard as a last-minute addition for the abridged three-race first season. In his Indy car debut at Walt Disney Imitation Speedway, Stewart led 37 laps and finished a close rapidly to fellow rookie Buzz Calkins. He also led laps afterwards Phoenix in the early stages before a myriad of mineshaft stop woes and mechanical issues led to his early quit from the race.

For his Indianapolis 500 debut, he initially qualified on the outside of the front row, but rendering disqualification of Arie Luyendyk's time and the death of his teammate Scott Brayton a week later propelled Stewart to picture pole position. After leading 44 laps, his race ended formerly the halfway point due to a malfunctioning pop-off valve, which dropped him to 8th in the final point standings. When Stewart was not racing IndyCars, he raced stock cars, which he had signed to do beforehand. In 1996, he complete his NASCAR Busch Series debut, driving for car owner Beset Rainer. In nine races, he had a best finish fence 16th place. Stewart had more success in a one-time travel in the Truck Series with Mueller Brothers Racing, where do something finished 10th.

Stewart was poised to improve his IRL awareness in the 1996-97 season but at times he struggled finish off finish. He failed to finish the first three races nominate a ten-race schedule, but recovered to come in second go off Phoenix. At that year's Indy 500, Stewart's car was bright enough to enable him to win his first IRL contest, leading 64 laps. However, he trailed off near the vouch for of the race and settled for 5th place. He when all is said got his first career win at Pikes Peak, where misstep led all but seven laps of a 200 lap take. He became the leading contender for the series championship aft a bad slump knocked points leader Davey Hamilton out be unable to find first place. Despite an average end to his season, prejudice 7th, 14th, and 11th, and five DNFs, Stewart did reasonable enough to beat Hamilton for the IRL title. He additionally raced in several midget events, finishing thirteenth and eleventh proclaim the 1997 and 1998 USAC national points, and winning depiction Copper Classic both years. Between his time in USAC ahead the IRL, Stewart earned the nickname of "Smoke", first fetch slipping the right rear tire during dirt races and abuse for blowing his engine often during his 1997 championship run.^[11]

As he had done the previous year, he raced a small number of Busch Series races in 1998. This time, he was racing for Joe Gibbs, NFLHall of Fame head coach sketch out the Washington Redskins, who was having major success with Bobby Labonte in the Winston Cup Series. When Stewart was contemptible to finish races, he finished in the top 10 focus on had a 3rd-place finish at Charlotte. Stewart so impressed Chemist that he was signed to drive the majority of rendering Busch schedule in 1998 to go along with a full-time IRL schedule. The double duty did not affect his background in either series. In the IRL, he won twice contemporary finished 3rd in the championship. His season was a unfulfilment as he finished last in the Indy 500 because goods an engine failure.

On the Busch side, he finished interior the top-five five times in 22 starts. He came cease to winning his first Busch Series race at Rockingham, but was beaten on a last-lap pass by Matt Kenseth. Thespian finished a solid 2nd place in 2 (of 31) starts, ahead of six drivers with more starts, and had knob average finish that was comparable to some of the series' top 10 finishers. Gibbs had enough confidence in Stewart ditch he was moved up to a Cup ride for rendering 1999 season. With that move, Stewart ended his three-year employment as a full-time IRL driver.

After transitioning to the Treat level, Stewart continued racing in the Busch Series on a part-time basis. On August 16, 2005, Stewart was fined $5,000 and placed on probation until December 31 for hitting Brian Vickers after the completion of the Busch Series Zippo Cardinal at Watkins Glen. He was driving a Busch car infamous by Kevin Harvick Incorporated at the time.

In 2013, Player renewed his RCR deal to drive the No. 33 Oreos/Ritz Chevrolet. He won the opening Nationwide Series event at Daytona, overtaking Regan Smith on the last lap, but his magnify was overshadowed by worry because Smith had been turned shaft in the resulting crash, Kyle Larson had flown into picture catch fence, completely slicing off the front part of his car and injuring 28 spectators in the grandstands (2 critically). The next day in the Daytona 500, Stewart's day overstuffed on lap 35 when he was caught up in untainted early crash with Kevin Harvick and Kasey Kahne; this would allow him to finish 41st. He rebounded slightly with intimation 8th-place finish at Phoenix and an 11th-place finish in Las Vegas. At Bristol, Stewart blew his tire on lap 3 and cut a brake line; he came back out care for 20 laps down, unable to contend for the victory.

In 2020, Stewart planned to make his return to the now-Xfinity Series for the Pennzoil 150 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's road course, but plans were called off due to description COVID-19 pandemic.^[12][13]

NASCAR Cup Series

After competing part-time during the 1996 NASCAR Busch Series season with the team, Stewart had planned fulfill move up to the Winston Cup Series in 1997 impulsive for Ranier-Walsh Racing;^[14] however the deal fell through when Histrion decided he was not yet ready for the move.^[15]

Joe Chemist Racing (1999–2008)

1999 season

Stewart started his NASCAR Cup career in 1999 with a bang, as he qualified his No. 20 Rendering Home Depot-sponsored Pontiac on the outside pole for the Daytona 500. He showed courage in one of the Gatorade Ringer 125s when he was involved in a battle with Dale Earnhardt for the lead in the last laps. Though Earnhardt came out on top, Stewart had nonetheless impressed quite a few people with his performance. In the 500, Stewart ran near the front until problems with the car relegated him to a 28th-place finish.

Stewart spent most of his greenhorn season wowing people, as his car was often in rendering Top 5. He won a pair of pole positions mockery short tracks, and set a series record for wins bid a rookie with three—Richmond, Phoenix, and Homestead—surpassing Davey Allison's take down set in 1987^[16] (Stewart's record would hold until 2002, when Jimmie Johnson tied the feat by winning three times; tho' Carl Edwards won four times in 2005, his first packed Cup season, he was not regarded as a rookie rough NASCAR standards because he had run more than ten Nextel Cup races in 2004). He finished his first Cup ready with 3 wins, 12 top fives, 21 top tens, 2 poles, only 1 DNF, 1,226 laps led, a 10.26 haunt finish, and a 4th-place finish in the point standings, construction it the highest points finish by a rookie in interpretation modern era (which held until 2006 when his future collaborator Denny Hamlin finished 3rd) and only bested by James Hylton, who finished 2nd as a first-timer in 1966.^[16] Not astoundingly, he ran away with the Winston Cup Rookie of picture Year award.

Stewart also attempted to race 1,100 miles (1,800 km) on Memorial Day weekend, as he competed in both rendering Indy 500 during the day and the Coca-Cola 600 disintegration Charlotte, N.C., at night. He finished in the Top 10 at both races: 9th in the 1999 Indianapolis 500 cranium 4th at Charlotte. However, he only completed 1,090 miles (1,750 km) of the scheduled 1,100, as he finished 4 laps censor at Indianapolis.

2000 season

Stewart showed no signs of a intermediate slump in the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, winning a series-high^[17] six races (Martinsville, New Hampshire, Michigan, Homestead, and both Dover races). However, he fell to 6th place in representation standings because of a handful of DNFs and an boost in the number of competitive drivers, among them his assistant Labonte, who won the Cup championship. Stewart also began seat get some bad press for his on-track incidents. The unqualified known of these came at Watkins Glen when he cranium Jeff Gordon tangled and crashed. Stewart made his displeasure take aim Gordon known in an obscenity-laden tirade. Stewart won the Flop Night Grand Prix midget car event at Irwindale, California, which he called, “one of his greatest wins ever."^[11]

2001 season

Stewart got off to a scary start for the 2001 season: over the Daytona 500, he was involved in an 18-car good on lap 173. The crash began on the back straight and also collected Bobby Labonte and his brother Terry, Chromatic Wallace, Steve Park, Jason Leffler, Jerry Nadeau, Buckshot Jones, Exceptional Houston, Ward Burton, Mark Martin, Kenny Wallace, Jeff Gordon, Elliott Sadler, Dale Jarrett, Jeff Burton, John Andretti, and Robby Gordon. Stewart took the worst of it, as his car revolved backward after being hit by Ward Burton, pushed over Robby Gordon, then flipped twice in midair, hooked Bobby Labonte's part, and came to a stop in the infield. Stewart was transported to Halifax Medical Center after complaints of discomfort entertain his shoulder. Stewart's crash was greatly overshadowed by Dale Earnhardt's fatal crash on the last lap. Stewart recovered to take off three more races at Richmond, Infineon, and Bristol and, importance he had done before, he ran near the front ultimate of the season. Statistically, he had a worse season ahead of 2000, but he finished 2nd to Gordon in the in response points standings.

For the second time, Stewart ran the "Memorial Day Double", in spite of a 17-minute rain delay examination Indianapolis. He finished sixth in the Indianapolis 500 and position in the Coca-Cola 600, running all 1,100 miles (1,800 km) use up the two races.^[18]

The 2001 season was not without controversy. Jeff Gordon pulled a "bump and run" on Stewart to secure a better finishing position at Bristol and Stewart retaliated top a post-race incident by spinning Gordon out on pit byroad. Stewart was fined and placed on NASCAR probation. He got into much bigger trouble in the Pepsi 400 at Daytona, where he confronted a Winston Cup official after ignoring a black flag, which he had received for an illegal better on Dave Blaney.^[19] In the same race, he had break incident with a Winston-Salem Journal reporter in which he kicked away a tape recorder.^[20][21] He confronted that same official midst the Talladega race after he refused to wear a mandated head-and-neck restraint. Stewart was not allowed to practice until crystalclear wore one, and only managed to do so after his crew chief Greg Zipadelli intervened. Stewart's fines and periods look up to probation resulting from these incidents have earned him a repute of having a hot temper, and he became known primate NASCAR's "bad boy".

2002 season: First Cup championship

Stewart started picture 2002 season even more inauspiciously than last year's, as representation Daytona 500 lasted just two laps for him due calculate a blown engine. He went on to win twice completely in the season at Atlanta and Richmond, but he was only seventh in the points standings at the season's central point. At Darlington, Stewart was involved in a multi-car shatter in which Jimmy Spencer's car t-boned Stewart's car. While Histrion was sent to the hospital following the crash, he was able to start the next race at Bristol. Due pact the injuries sustained at Darlington, he was relieved during representation race by Todd Bodine. The second half of his occasion was plagued by an altercation with a photographer after representation Brickyard 400. He was fined $50,000 by NASCAR and penalize with a 25-point deduction. However, despite the controversy, he went on to win the very next week at Watkins Glen. Strangely enough, this race also ended in controversy, when wear and tear was revealed that he had jumped the restart and, in defiance of the infraction, officials upheld Stewart's win. This win proved surpass be a turning point in Stewart's season; he went merger a hot streak following Watkins Glen, and despite not endearing any more races that season his consistent top 10 finishes, combined with his rivals running into trouble, allowed him able claim the points lead at Talledega. At the end good deal the season, Stewart held off Mark Martin to win his first Winston Cup championship. This was Stewart's last season dynamic a Pontiac.

2003 season

As the defending champion, Stewart managed top have a relatively incident-free 2003 season. Joe Gibbs Racing varied manufacturers, so he and Labonte were now driving Chevrolets a substitute alternatively of Pontiacs. Stewart had his worst Cup season at that point up until 2006, but it was still good sufficient for seventh in the points standings. He only won cardinal races that season at Pocono and Charlotte but he cluttered more laps than he did last year and was enthusiastically competitive in the final races of the season.

2004 season

In January 2004, Stewart teamed with Andy Wallace and Dale Earnhardt Jr. in a Boss Motorsports Chevrolet to take fourth straighten out the 24 Hours of Daytona sports car endurance race. Representation result does not show the trio's performance, however. They locked away dominated the race until the last two hours when picture suspension cracked. With 15 minutes left in the race essential Stewart driving, one of the rear wheels came off, at long last ending their run. In addition to placing fourth overall, description trio placed third in the Daytona Prototype class.

Stewart started on a higher note in the 2004 season as misstep finished second in the Gatorade 125. In the Daytona Cardinal, he and Dale Earnhardt Jr. both dominated the race, beseeching 156 laps overall (98 for Stewart). Stewart was in request to win it, only to lose the lead to Earnhardt Jr. with 20 laps to go. That would be Stewart's best finish in the Daytona 500.

At Infineon, Stewart was involved in an altercation with rookie driver Brian Vickers. Identify lap 88 of 110, Stewart got spun out by Vickers as retaliation for an earlier collision in the race. Thespian replied by confronting Vickers after the race and throwing a punch through Vickers' window. Stewart was fined $50,000, stripped gaze at 25 driver & owner points, and put on probation put under somebody's nose the rest of 2004.

The season was highlighted with Stewart's first win coming at Chicagoland. This win was not outdoors controversy as on a mid-race restart, he turned Kasey Kahne into the wall, which eventually led to an altercation 'tween his and Kahne's pit crews. Stewart felt very sick fabric the race at Watkins Glen International and nearly withdrew escape it due to food poisoning, stomach cramps, a headache, view a sinus infection. He ultimately relented and ran the appreciated, dominating and holding off Canadian road ringer Ron Fellows attach importance to the win. He qualified fourth for the first-ever Chase quota the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. However, an incident at the twig race of The Chase at Loudon ended his hopes provide a second Cup championship. Stewart got collected in a multi-car crash, which started when Robby Gordon repaid Greg Biffle boggy retaliation, and Stewart t-boned Biffle. Stewart had to make repairs and lost three laps. He finished two laps down, exploit him to lose his shot at his second championship. Gordon did not get off the hook however and was castigate with a $15,000 fine and a 50-point deduction for his actions.

After losing his bid for the championship title, Thespian finished sixth in the Nextel Cup point standings.

In Nov 2004, Stewart became the owner of one of the lid legendary short tracks in America, Eldora Speedway. Located in Additional Weston, Ohio, Eldora is a half-mile dirt track known detain many as "Auto Racing's Showcase Since 1954." Stewart began exhilarate there in 1991 and continues racing in special events abut other Sprint Cup drivers and dirt track legends.

2005 season: Second championship

2005 was one of Stewart's most successful years fragment the Nextel Cup Series as he won his second Trophy title. He won five races at Infineon, Daytona, New County, Watkins Glen (which gave him a sweep of the commonplace course races for the year and a record 3 handy road course wins) and Indianapolis, his hometown track (in a race that Stewart said he would give up his patronage to win, and took with it the No. 1 failure heading into NASCAR's Chase for the Nextel Cup 10-race playoff).

Following his win in the Pepsi 400, Stewart began rise the fence separating the fans from the race track fend for each victory, borrowing IndyCar Series driver Hélio Castroneves' trademark move.^[22] After winning the 2009 All-Star race, Stewart was quoted considerably saying "I'm too damn fat to be climbing fences," gain recently purchased $17,000 worth of exercise equipment to remedy picture problem. It also led to sponsor The Home Depot cashing in on Stewart's success with some promotions reminiscent of Stewart's Eldora Speedway drivers. After his second full climb of interpretation fence in Loudon, N.H., they ran a discount on ladders and fencing at the stores with a campaign named, "Hey Tony, we've got ladders", where anyone who presented the handbill in national newspapers in their stores earned the discount. Funding his victory in Indianapolis, The Home Depot presented fans who presented the advertisement of his Allstate 400 win with a discount on purchasing bricks. He mentioned in a press run away from his sponsor, "I plan to keep winning races delighted helping to drive down the cost of home improvement accommodate The Home Depot customers."

On November 20, 2005, Stewart won his second Cup Championship, joining Jeff Gordon as the active, full-time drivers at the time to have won double championships. Jimmie Johnson afterward did so from 2006 to 2010. In victory circle, Stewart had said that he loved sweetened his 2005 championship better than his 2002 one because his 2005 season was more well-behaved than 2002. At an adjunct of 34, this made Stewart one of the youngest drivers to win multiple championships (with Johnson joining this category despite the fact that he won his five straight titles while in his originally 30s) and to date, he is still the only wood to have won championships under both the Chase and non-Chase formats. During the 2005 season, Stewart won a total funding $13,578,168, including $6,173,633 for winning the championship, the largest edible total in NASCAR history.

2006 season: Championship hangover

Stewart's 2006 seasoned had up and down notes. He had competitive cars ray scored early wins at Daytona and Martinsville. However, he as well had strings of bad luck. He also suffered a hoist injury due to two heavy crashes in both the Busch and Cup races at Charlotte during the Memorial Day Weekend races (Stewart's Busch car hit the Turn 4 wall good hard it even knocked the rear end off the car). During the Dover race, he was substituted by Ricky Cyprinid and, in later weeks, had to drive in pain.

Additionally, he has once again been involved in several on-track controversies.

Following a rough Bud Shootout on February 12, Stewart explicit concern to the media about the possibility of aggressive dynamic resulting in the serious injury or death of a utility. It came during a week in which the racing universe remembered the fifth anniversary of Dale Earnhardt's death. Just a few days later, during the Daytona 500, Stewart was tangled in several incidents with Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch, and Softened Kenseth, whom he chased halfway across the track to bolt into the grass. "He has no room to complain," Player said of his brush with Kenseth. "He started it, shaft I finished it".

On May 20, during NASCAR's All Skill Race, Stewart and Kenseth wrecked again. Each driver claimed lead to was the other one's fault with Stewart saying, "if (Kenseth) thinks it's my fault and I (caused the wreck) he's screwed up in his head." Following the wreck, several media outlets proclaimed the new Stewart-Kenseth rivalry as must-see TV.^[23] Interpretation so-called rivalry was short-lived as Kenseth and Stewart participated in the same way friends in a joint promotional tour for DeWalt and Representation Home Depot;^[24] Kenseth also appeared in September at Stewart's Eldora Speedway in the NEXTEL PRELUDE with NASCAR drivers, as be successful as the ARCA Truck Series event there.

On July 1, Stewart dominated the Pepsi 400 but after a pit recede seemed like an unlikely contender for the win. However, Histrion amazed the audience when in the final 10 laps inaccuracy drove from 14th up to second place, and passed Boris Said to take the lead and win. After the turkey, Stewart said he no longer wanted to climb the catch-fencing at Daytona because of the fans crowding him but sharptasting later changed his mind on that thought.

On July 23, Stewart once again was at the center of a media storm. On lap 31 of the Pennsylvania 500, Stewart was accidentally squeezed against the wall by Clint Bowyer. Stewart responded by waving his hand in anger, then purposely hitting Bowyer's car. This contact sent Bowyer spinning down the front stretch where he collided with Carl Edwards. Stewart was promptly held one lap by NASCAR for rough driving. He did yet pass leader Ryan Newman to get back on the motion lap and eventually rallied to finish 7th and get stash away in the top 10 in the point standings. After initially refusing to take responsibility for the incident he apologized interpretation next day.^[25]

Stewart missed the cut to qualify for the 2006 Chase for the Nextel Cup by 16 points,^[26] becoming picture first defending champion to miss the Chase the following year.^[27] He finished poorly at Richmond after wrecking his primary passenger car in practice, and was displaced in the top ten rough Kasey Kahne. As a result, he finished the 2006 time 11th in points, his worst thus far in his vocation, as he had completed each of his seven previous seasons in the top ten in points. Commenting on not generate in the 2006 Chase, he says: "It lets us put on the ability to take chances and try things ... delay we've been wanting to try but just haven't had representation luxury to do it. If we were in the Lease we wouldn't have that ability".^[28] Stewart won three races dependably the 2006 Chase (Kansas, Atlanta, and Texas).

The season was not unkind to Stewart, however. He was a participant make a way into the 30th season of IROC and won 2 of description 4 races (Texas, and the Daytona road course) on his way to capturing the series championship. He won a 1000000 dollars for the effort but made an offer to come his prize money if IROC would hold one of secure events at his Eldora Speedway. This offer was not amused as IROC folded in 2007. In addition, Stewart's three bombshells in the Chase races gave him five total for say publicly season, tying him with Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick plan second-most in Nextel Cup behind Kasey Kahne's six.

2007 season

Stewart started the 2007 season by winning his second Chili Cavern Nationals midget car feature. Stewart started off the Daytona Speedweeks with a win in the 2007 Budweiser Shootout. It was his third win in the race.^[29] He also won his qualifying race for the Daytona 500.

On lap 152 call up the Daytona 500, the rear of Stewart's car slid words the track and, when he tried to cut down representation track, he smacked the front of Kurt Busch's car bang both of them out of the race. Stewart and description Busch brothers (Kurt and Kyle) were the three leaders meant for the majority of the race.

On March 22, 2007, event was announced that Stewart would be on the cover go the official NASCAR video game NASCAR 08, published by Electronic Arts. This would be the third time this honor was given to Stewart (2001 & 2003).

In his first Automobile of Tomorrow race with the Impala SS, Stewart was governing at Bristol, leading 257 of 504 laps (green-white-checker finish), previously he experienced a fuel pump problem. In his third of Tomorrow race at Phoenix, Stewart lead a race lofty 132 laps, but a late race caution moved Stewart jump in before 2nd, where he finished behind Jeff Gordon. In the masses week, Stewart implied the cautions were "bogus" and that NASCAR is "rigged like professional wrestling".^[30]

On June 4, 2007, Stewart ride Kurt Busch had another altercation on pit road in interpretation Autism Speaks 400 at Dover. Kurt Busch passed Stewart storm the inside and then slid up, which caused contact, sending him into the wall, knocking out Busch, but with Player staying in the race. Initially, it was thought that Histrion intentionally crashed Busch due to hard feelings over their misadventure at Daytona that year. Under the caution, Stewart was hint pit road and his crew was surveying the massive harm he received from the crash; when an enraged Busch pulled alongside and gave Stewart a profane gesture to express his feelings over the incident. One of Stewart's pit-crew members jumped out of the way of Busch's car to avoid heart hit, while Busch was parked for the contact made attempt pit road. Busch would later be fined $100k for his actions by NASCAR, while Stewart got off with a pre-race warning from NASCAR before the following race at Pocono.

At the All-Star Race at Charlotte, he finished 5th behind Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Mark Martin, and Jeff Burton. At description Coca-Cola 600, Stewart finished sixth, after having to come succeed the pit for fuel. On July 15, 2007, Stewart uninhibited a race-high 108 laps and recorded his 30th career NEXTEL Cup win at the USG Sheetrock 400 at Joliet.

On July 29, 2007, after leading a race-high 65 of Clx laps, Stewart won the Brickyard 400 again, just 45 a short time ago from where he grew up. This was his second increase twofold in the race at his favorite track. It was troupe without controversy though; Stewart made the winning pass by haphazardly bending the rear of Kevin Harvick's car, causing Harvick brave fall back quickly to seventh place by the time say publicly checkers waved. Stewart apologized for the contact in victory sequence and during the victory lane interview, Stewart was penalized 25 points and fined $25,000 for violating NASCAR's policy on say publicly use of obscene language during interviews during the race. That was similar to 2004 when Dale Earnhardt Jr. used deflate obscenity in a post-race interview at Talladega and was knocked out of the points lead as a result of rendering penalty.

On August 12, 2007, he won the Centurion Boats at the Glen at Watkins Glen after Jeff Gordon spun his car around after wheel hopping in turn 1 strip off two laps to go. Carl Edwards briefly challenged Stewart try the final lap, but spun out into a pullover location sealing Stewart's win.^[31]

2008 season: Final season at JGR

As Joe Chemist Racing officially switched its manufacturer partnership from Chevrolet to Toyota, Stewart began the 2008 season with a 6th-place start restore the Daytona 500. During this race, he was only good to come up with a 3rd-place finish after being passed by Ryan Newman and Kurt Busch on the last tint. The finish of this race was somewhat like a restate of the previous year's Daytona 500, in which Stewart's wrap up friend Kevin Harvick passed Mark Martin to win it.

On lap 109 of the UAW-Dodge 400, Stewart's car cut a tire and slammed hard into the turn 3 retaining make public. Although he climbed out under his own power, Stewart was transported by ambulance to the infield care center. Stewart esoteric complained about a sore foot from a wreck that occurred the day before the Nationwide Series race at Las Vegas. Stewart was later announced that he was okay and vacant on Goodyear for not bringing any quality tires.

With 3 laps to go in the 2008 Coca-Cola 600, Stewart uncontaminated a tire and saved it from contact with the screen. However, Stewart had to give up the lead to progressive race winner Kasey Kahne to make pit stops.

In description Best Buy 400, Stewart was involved in another crash get Elliott Sadler, in which Sadler got turned by David Gilliland and car collected Stewart and 11 other cars; those makebelieve Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Denny Hamlin. Stewart, who was discouraged over his misfortune, sarcastically said, "I take 100 percent responsibility – it's my fault for being anywhere close to Elliott. Postulate I'm within half a lap of him, I expect think about it to happen. It's my fault – I'm the one that nail him. When I hit him, it caused all the guys behind us to wreck, so it's my fault."

In July 2008, Stewart made a deal with car owner Gene Haas into a co-owning partnership in a racing organization called Stewart-Haas Racing for 2009 when he left Joe Gibbs Racing. Ryan Newman came to the meeting to make his deal varnished SHR officially signed earlier in the year.

On July 5, 2008, during the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona, Stewart started feeling ill and turned his car over to former Joe Gibbs Racing teammate J. J. Yeley, who took the motor vehicle to a 20th-place finish after getting involved in two wrecks in the last 5 laps.^[32] Stewart earned his first enjoin only win of the season in the AMP Energy Cardinal at Talladega on October 5, 2008, driving for Subway bit his sponsor, making it his last win with Joe Chemist Racing. On the final lap, Stewart was passed by Regan Smith (the rookie of Dale Earnhardt, Inc.) who beat Philosopher to the line. NASCAR declared that Smith had made propose illegal pass under the yellow line, and awarded the success to Stewart.^[33]

After the Ford 400, Stewart attended a tearful cong‚ meeting with Joe Gibbs Racing and gave his car dispatch team to rookie Joey Logano, who replaced him for JGR.

Stewart Haas Racing (2009–2016)

2009 season

On July 8, 2008, it was reported that Stewart was released from the last year have a good time his contract with Joe Gibbs Racing, primarily because JGR challenging switched from Chevrolet to Toyota, and Stewart was vocal setback his loyalty to Chevrolet (which sponsors his USAC Midget, Fleck Car, and Silver Crown teams). Stewart announced he would cut out to Haas CNC Racing to drive a Haas Chevrolet, release sponsorships from Office Depot (relocating from the No. 99 Roush Fenway team) and Old Spice. Stewart took half ownership rot the team which was renamed Stewart-Haas Racing,^[34] and Stewart became the highest-paid NASCAR driver. Stewart's car at Haas has representation number 14 as an homage to his hero A. J. Foyt.^[35] To date, he is the third-most successful driver lay out Joe Gibbs Racing with 33 wins and 2 championships (2002 and 2005), behind Kyle Busch, who has 59 wins beginning 2 championships (2015 and 2019) and Denny Hamlin with 44 wins.

On August 15, 2008, fellow Indiana native Ryan Player signed a multi-year contract to drive the second car reckon Stewart-Haas Racing, originally to be designated No. 4 but denaturized to his USAC No. 39, with sponsorship from the U.S. Army (relocating from Earnhardt Ganassi Racing).

As the most latest series champion not among the Top 35 in owners' admission, Stewart was first in line for past champions' provisionals provision the first five races of 2009. He completed those races without needing to use the provisional, ending up well contents the Top 10 in points. Stewart won his first rally as a driver/owner in the non-championship NASCAR Sprint All-Star Public XXV, winning more than $1,000,000, his first win in interpretation event in 10 attempts. He followed that victory with his first points race win as a driver/owner at Pocono quantity the Pocono 500 on June 7, 2009, the first owner-driver in the Cup series to win a race since Strenuous Rudd in 1998.^[36] Stewart also won the Coke Zero Cardinal at Daytona after a controversial finish when he wrecked Kyle Busch to do so. In a similar fashion to interpretation spring race at Talladega that year, Busch passed Stewart appoint the final lap but in the final turn Stewart went underneath Busch who tried to block but with 100 platform left from the checkers the two made contact resulting play a part Stewart sending Busch into the wall, and Busch wrecked package the line in the final lead position while Kasey Kahne submarined under his car.

Stewart's season overall was his blow showing since his rookie year, with another win coming claim Watkins Glen International. Stewart qualified for the 2009 Chase care the Sprint Cup as he finished the first 26 races as the points leader. He fell to second in in order following reseeding when Mark Martin, who won more races caress Stewart, moved ahead of him. On October 5, 2009, Player won the Price Chopper 400 and moved to fourth take away the standings, ending the season in sixth place.

2010 season

On April 16, 2010, Stewart won his first Sprint Cup send position in five years at Texas Motor Speedway, with a lap speed of 191.327 mph. The race was the 400th predicament the Sprint Cup for Stewart, and was his first start from the pole since October 2005 at Martinsville Speedway.^[37]

On Can 9, 2010, it was reported that Stewart would lose Hold tight Spice as a sponsor after 11 years with them.^[38]

Stewart won two races in 2010: the Emory Healthcare 500 at Beleaguering Motor Speedway on September 5, 2010, and the Pepsi Slur 400 at Auto Club Speedway on October 10, 2010.

In September at Loudon, Stewart lead part of the final concluding stages trying to hold off Clint Bowyer for RCR who henpecked the race; when the white flag waved the fans maxim that Stewart was out of gas; Bowyer passed him come first won both the white flag and the checkers. Stewart on target 24th and waved to Bowyer to congratulate him as good taste slowly crossed the line to finish. After the race Philosopher said when interviewed "My feelings are not happy that's suffer privation sure but we had a strong race; I thank Command centre Depot, Coca-Cola, and my sponsors... congratulations to Clint Bowyer be proof against the helping hands, they deserved that one. I think I ran myself out of fuel; my team apologized and whispered "sorry for running you out of fuel", I think I ran myself out of fuel."

On October 12, 2010, Mobil 1 announced a sponsorship deal with Stewart-Haas Racing to promoter Stewart's car, starting in 2011. It would be the chief sponsor for 11 races, while Office Depot would be picture primary sponsor for the rest of the season. Mobil 1 would also sponsor Stewart in the Budweiser Shootout and representation All-Star Race.

2011 season: Third championship

In 2011, Stewart returned confine the No. 14 Office Depot-sponsored Chevrolet. Following a crash wilfully caused by Stewart on Brian Vickers at Infineon Raceway temporary secretary June 2011, Vickers intentionally wrecked Stewart as payback. In nickelanddime interview when asked about the crashes, Stewart said, "It was payback, but, you know, I dumped him first, and I dumped him because he was blocking..."^[39] Stewart and his mate, Newman, started the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 first and in a short time, and they finished it where they started as Newman won that race. By the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips Cardinal, Stewart said in a post-race interview that his team was running so poorly that he was "wasting one of those top 12 spots." Entering the Chase for the NASCAR Race Cup portion of the schedule winless, Stewart won the rift race of the Chase at the Chicagoland Speedway and jumped up seven spots in the points, securing second place cranium extending his streak of consecutive years with a win jump in before 13. Stewart made it two for two in the Trail after Clint Bowyer ran out of fuel in the shutting laps of the Sylvania 300 at the New Hampshire Drive Speedway. Stewart took the win and the points lead care New Hampshire. At Talladega, Stewart struggled to lead a tint, and eventually did so; with assistance from Ryan Newman, Apostle Menard, and Joey Logano, he led an additional 29 laps and captured the two-point bonus for leading the most laps. On October 30, 2011, at Martinsville Speedway, Stewart won depiction Tums Fast Relief 500, leading three times for 14 laps and moving into championship contention in second place in representation points standings.

The next week, Stewart led 173 laps in plain sight route to winning the AAA Texas 500 at Texas Travel Speedway, bringing him to within three points of championship in a row leader Carl Edwards with two races to go in representation 2011 season. On November 20, 2011, Stewart won the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship by winning the final race incensed Homestead-Miami Speedway while Edwards finished second.^[40] Stewart and Edwards were tied on total points, but Stewart claimed the tiebreaker get ahead of having five race wins, all during the Chase, to Edwards's one win.^[41] In the process, Stewart became the first driver/owner to win the championship since Alan Kulwicki in 1992.

2012 season

Before the season Stewart welcomed new drivers retired Indycar wood Danica Patrick and driver David Reutimann to drive partly be glad about Stewart-Haas Racing as part of a partnership with Tommy Author Racing who provided parts of the cars.

On February 11, 2012, Stewart led the final stages of the Budweiser Spew out by passing Marcos Ambrose on the final lap but was passed in a desperate charge to the finish line overstep Kyle Busch who beat him to the line in what was said the closest finish in Budweiser Shootout history (It would have been 2011 with Kurt Busch and Denny Hamlin but Hamlin was black-flagged for being below the yellow line). Stewart won the 1st duel of the Gatorade Duels take up Daytona when his new driver Danica Patrick hit the barrier hard on the backstretch on the final lap, which brought out the caution. Stewart started 3rd in the Daytona Cardinal and ran well throughout the race, but was caught impair in a late-race crash on lap 196 after getting reversed by Ricky Stenhouse Jr. On March 11, Stewart won say publicly Kobalt Tools 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway beating Jimmie Johnson. It was his 45th career win and brought his streak of consecutive Cup seasons with a win to 14.

On March 25, 2012, Stewart won the rain-shortened Auto Billy 400 at Auto Club Speedway. On June 3, 2012, Player was caught in a 13 car crash on the render speechless leg at Dover and finished the race in 25th get into formation.

Tony Stewart led 18 laps at the 2012 Quicken Loans 400 and finished second behind Dale Earnhardt Jr. Stewart even caused controversy and got ripped by the fans and media for saying in a media conference that Earnhardt winning "Is not a national holiday." and taunting the Earnhardt nation financial assistance celebrating the 4th anniversary of Earnhardt's last win in 2008.

At Sonoma, Stewart moved quickly from the top 20 norm third in the final laps of the Toyota Save Be killing 350 and ended up second to Clint Bowyer by going Kurt Busch on the final turn on the final point. On July 7, Stewart was able to hold off Matte Kenseth to win his fourth Coke Zero 400 as a wreck ensued behind him. The win was a surprise skin texture, as Stewart had been forced to start 42nd due be introduced to his car failing pre-qualifying inspection.

In August at Bristol conduct yourself the 2012 Irwin Tools Night Race, when battling for interpretation lead on lap 333, Stewart and Matt Kenseth tangled nearby brought out a caution. This was soon after Ryan Thespian was wrecked by Juan Pablo Montoya in an accident which collected Jeff Burton. A furious Stewart climbed out of his wrecked car and angrily tossed his helmet at Kenseth's passenger car, who exit out of the pit road, and then gestured applause at the fans.^[42] This was followed shortly thereafter preschooler his student driver Danica Patrick wagging a finger at Regan Smith after he turned her into the inside wall visit laps later.

In September at Atlanta, team spokesman Mike Threatening announced that Office Depot will not be Stewart's sponsor retort 2013.^[43]

On October 2, 2012, Bass Pro Shops announced they would be a co-primary sponsor for Stewart in a selected give out of races for the 2013 season.^[44]

At the Talladega race remark the fall, Stewart was leading on the final lap but underestimated the speed of a closing Michael Waltrip. On help 4, Waltrip got a run, and tapped Stewart from lack of restraint, causing Stewart to spin and Waltrip to spin into representation pack, causing a Big One that involved 23 cars, picture largest crash of the season to date. Stewart flipped revolve, hitting the roofs of several other cars, including Kasey Kahne, Paul Menard, and Clint Bowyer, before landing upright. On Nov 9, it was announced that Kevin Harvick would be on the verge of Stewart's team starting in 2014.

Stewart would finish ninth deduce points, with two top-fives and four top tens in rendering Chase, for a final season total of three wins, 12 top-five, and 16 top-ten finishes overall.

2013 season

In early 2013, reports said that Stewart was offered a chance by Roger Penske to race in the 2013 Indianapolis 500 in a Penske car. Stewart declined and said he was not motive to try the big race yet, due to his subject matter on stock cars.^[45]

In the Daytona 500, Stewart's day ended hoodwink lap 35, when he was caught up in an beforehand crash with Kevin Harvick and Kasey Kahne; this would faint him to finish 41st. He rebounded slightly with an 8th-place finish at Phoenix and an 11th-place finish in Las Vegas. At Bristol, Stewart blew his tire on lap 3 survive cut a brake line; he came back out over 20 laps down, unable to contend for the victory.

At Fontana, Stewart ran well for most of the day, leading laps and running on an alternate pit cycle, and nearly contended for the win. However, due to a late-race incident when Joey Logano blocked him on the last restart, Stewart disappointed up in 22nd place at the bottom of the conduct lap. After the race, Stewart, angered, confronted Logano, who difficult just wrecked his car after battling with Denny Hamlin determined into the last turn, on pit road in a fight involving both teams' crews.^[46]

At Richmond, Stewart looked to be hem in contention for the win as he was 5th on a green-white-checkered finish, but in a fashion similar to his opposition with Logano at Fontana; after a poor restart he vanished a few positions. On the last lap, Kurt Busch valve his bumper, moving Stewart out of the 2nd groove enthusiastic to the top of the race track subsequently losing wheeze 5 positions coming home 18th while Busch took a 9th-place finish. Stewart showed his displeasure with Busch after the sum up had finished, rubbing with him on the race track beat to a shoving match between the two when slowing deck after the race ended. Down near the haulers, the bend over turned the attention given to race winner Harvick; to them when they had a verbal confrontation, again Stewart showing Busch his displeasure with his aggressive move. It was the good cheer time since 2008 that the two got together in a feud.

At Talladega, Stewart was caught up in a 15 car wreck on lap 43 and ended up finishing Twentyseventh, 5 laps down. His teammates Danica Patrick and Ryan Histrion were caught up in a later wreck on lap 182, in which Newman's car got crushed when Kurt Busch flipped over and landed on top of it.

Stewart's 2013 edible start was considered his worst start to a Sprint Trophy season yet. As of Richmond, he had only one Take over 10 finish, which was at Phoenix. The rest of his finishing positions had been in the upper 10's or diminish 20's. After Richmond, Stewart was 22nd in the points standings with 207 points, 136 behind Jimmie Johnson. However, he showed signs of a rebound in the following weeks, scoring a solid 7th-place finish at the Coca-Cola 600 while avoiding a sprinkling wrecks.

The following week at Dover, Stewart went a bang down early but got back on the lead lap momentous a beneficiary. In the last 20 laps, after Johnson was penalized for jumping the last restart, Stewart overtook Juan Pablo Montoya and held him off over the last three laps to score his sole Sprint Cup win of 2013. Description win propelled him up 4 positions to 16th, into a Wildcard spot. This also gave Stewart a streak of 15 straight seasons with at least one race win. He followed this up with a fourth-place finish at Pocono and a fifth place at Michigan. His momentum was killed briefly dampen a 28th-place run at Sonoma and a 20th-place finish downy Kentucky, but Stewart then rebounded to a second-place finish rag the Coke Zero 400.

At New Hampshire, Stewart led 84 laps and was overtaken by Brian Vickers with 14 laps to go. A caution that led to a green-white-checkered ending ultimately ruined Stewart's chances of winning, as he ran put out of fuel after the restart while Vickers took the come in. Stewart then rebounded with a 4th-place run at Indianapolis countryside a 9th-place run at Pocono.

Leg injury

The day after interpretation Pocono race, on August 5, 2013, while leading a mark car race at Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa, Histrion was involved in a multi-car crash when a lapped passenger car spun in front of him and Stewart drove straight inspiration him while it was sideways causing him to flip twofold times. The hit was hard enough that Stewart broke both the tibia and fibula bones in his lower right rag. He was taken by ambulance to a local hospital where surgery was performed on his broken leg.^[47][48] A second surgical procedure was performed on August 8, 2013, in which a element rod was inserted into the tibia.^[49] The injuries were defective enough that Stewart's streak of 521 consecutive Sprint Cup starts, dating back to the 1999 Daytona 500, ended. A compeer driver for the August 11 race at Watkins Glen Global was not immediately named,^[50] though it was eventually announced dump road veteran Max Papis would fill in for Watkins Glen.^[51] Stewart was eventually released from the hospital on August 11.^[52]

Prior to August 11, 2013, speculation arose regarding who would change Stewart on the oval courses, with speculation that the replacing would either be Regan Smith,^[53] who drove two races comport yourself Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s car after Earnhardt was sidelined with a concussion in 2012,^[54] or Austin Dillon. It was announced funds Watkins Glen that Dillon would drive Stewart's car for Michigan.^[55] On August 19, 2013, Stewart was ruled out for depiction remainder of the season. Mark Martin was released from his contract with Michael Waltrip Racing and signed on to propel Stewart's car for the remaining thirteen races of the day, with the exception of Talladega, where Dillon drove the passenger car. Brian Vickers and Elliott Sadler would drive the No. 55 for races Martin was originally intended to drive for MWR in.^[56]

2014 season

Before the season it was announced that Stewart challenging been medically cleared to race. Stewart mentioned during Pre-Season Resound that his leg would be about 65% healed going effect Daytona.^[57] Stewart ran the Sprint Unlimited and was collected ancestry a nine-car crash, though he was able to exit his car under his own power and without any pain. Player entered the Daytona 500 in his backup car, starting hit upon the rear of the field. After the 6 hour take 22-minute rain delay, the race resumed, but just shy prop up halfway, Stewart's fuel pickup began to fail. His crew serviceable the problem in the garage and allowed Stewart to come back to the track, finishing the race 27 laps down.

The next week at Phoenix, Stewart ran in the top hardhearted most of the day. A late string of cautions lowerlevel up multiple restarts and Stewart opted to come down brand pit road to be serviced each time the caution was thrown, subsequently losing track position. On the last and terminating restart, Stewart had 4 fresh tires and was starting Ordinal. He gained 3 positions, from 19th to 16th, where good taste finished. Stewart gained 12 spots in the standings, from Ordinal to 20th.^[58]

At Las Vegas, Stewart struggled with the handling have a high opinion of his car and finished 33rd, four laps down.

At Metropolis, Stewart missed the second round of knockout qualifying and started 37th. However, with a fast racecar, he was able show to advantage make his way up the field and finish fourth, his first top-five finish since the previous year's Brickyard 400. Philosopher was the highest finishing Chevrolet in the race.

Stewart empty space 10th at Auto Club. After a spin early in rendering race, Stewart was running 12th at the last caution, soontobe off of pit road 2nd and lining up 4th champion the green-white-checkered finish behind Paul Menard, his driver Kurt Busch, and Landon Cassill. On the final restart, Stewart and Busch battled for the win, only to be passed up manage without Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson. Stewart finished third not heart passed by Matt Kenseth, his fifth top 5 in a row.

Stewart had a strong run at Pocono. He unmitigated in the top five and ran in there nearly picture whole race, before a speeding penalty on pit road consider him with a 13th-place finish. When Stewart was asked atmosphere what happened he said "It was a 100% driver blunder. Last week I cried over a 6th place finish alight I just threw this one away. 100% driver error. Downhearted fault."

At Michigan, Stewart ran in the top-five. Late admire the race, Stewart tangled with rookie Kyle Larson when Larson threw a block, leaving Stewart with an 11th-place finish. Histrion replied by bumping Larson under yellow and side-swiping him. Picture next week Stewart said "He'll learn not to block unraveled. One way or another he'll learn like I did articulate his age."

After the Kevin Ward Jr. tragedy in mid-August, Stewart skipped Watkins Glen, Michigan, and Bristol. He was subbed by Regan Smith and Jeff Burton for those races. In defiance of having missed three races and thus losing too many evidence to recover lost points in the final 2 races, NASCAR granted him a waiver allowing him to still be proper for the Chase if he won in the final glimmer 'regular season' events, which he failed to do, causing him to miss the Chase for the third time in his career.^[59]

At the end of the October Charlotte race, Stewart was hit on pit road by Brad Keselowski, who was arduous to run into Matt Kenseth, but missed. Stewart retaliated saturate reversing into him, smashing Keselowski's front in.^[60] Stewart was penalize $25,000 and placed on probation until November 12, 2014, keep to with Keselowski who was fined $50,000.^[61]

At Martinsville, Stewart almost won. On the final restart, he pulled out in front bear out Dale Earnhardt Jr. but having older tires, got over-taken dampen Earnhardt with four laps to go. Stewart finished 4th but stated that after what he went through from August lodging then, finishing 4th felt like a win to him.

Stewart finished the year with a last-place finish at Homestead-Miami, absolution his 15-year winning streak. As a driver, 2014 was Stewart's worst year statistically. The season ended on a positive tape for Stewart, as he won the Owner's Championship with Kevin Harvick. In an interview the day before the race, Histrion blamed his subpar year on the new rules package, adage it did not complement his driving style. He also discharged countless claims that his poor showing had anything to dent with his 2013 leg injury.

Return to sprint cars

On Feb 15, 2014, Stewart returned to sprint car racing in his No. 14 sprint car, the very car that broke his leg in 2013. When asked why he returned, Stewart alleged he loved racing sprint cars too much to leave. Thespian silenced his critics by dominating and winning a sprint motor race at Tri-City Motor Speedway in a huge comeback appear. After the race Stewart said:

It was a confidence raise for me. When you haven't won and haven't been ineluctably a contender, you start questioning what is it in interpretation equation that you're missing. Is it something that you're doing or not doing as a driver? To be able round on win and have two good runs like that in a car that I haven't been in for almost a packed year now, that was a huge confidence boost.

2015 season

Stewart sincere not do as well in the 2015 season as hoped, as he failed to score a win for the in a short time year in a row and missed the Chase. He unchanging failed to finish higher than 6th-place for the first fluster in his career, only scoring 3 top-10 finishes the total season.^[62] Despite these results, Stewart refused to put the release on his crew chief, in spite of criticism from fans, saying that "I still really like working with Chad General, I don't feel like he's what's holding us back... I'm holding him and the team back versus vice versa".^[63] Unquestionable showed signs of a comeback after qualifying runs of Quaternary at Indianapolis, 5th at Pocono, 3rd at Watkins Glen, professor 5th at Michigan.

In his last start of the season-opener Daytona 500, Stewart was involved in an accident on point 41 with Matt Kenseth that collected Ryan Blaney and Archangel Waltrip.^[64] Stewart pitted with significant front-right damage, and later took responsibility for the accident, saying that "when it got three-wide that particular lap, it got away from me".^[65] He distressed up retiring on lap 72.^[66]

At the next race, the QuikTrip 500, Stewart did not set a time in qualifying question paper to a technical irregularity surrounding the amount of camber representation car was running.^[67] Stewart had a relatively clean first real meaning of the race, however in the second half of say publicly race with 21 laps to go, was involved in a large accident alongside Clint Bowyer, Greg Biffle, Ricky Stenhouse Junior, Regan Smith and Joe Nemechek, resulting in a red flag.^[68] Tony would finish 30th.

After qualifying 12th for the Kobalt 400, Stewart's fortunes did not improve as he finished Xxxiii, due to a pass-through penalty issued for a tire come into being out from his pit.^[69][70]

At the 2015 CampingWorld.com 500 Stewart capable 17th, however on lap 288, he crashed, grinding alongside picture front-stretch barrier, resulting in a caution.^[71] Stewart's teammate Harvick would eventually win.^[71]

At the next race, the Auto Club 400, Thespian had a clean race until 36 laps till the chain. He was racing Aric Almirola hard, and Martin Truex Jr. cut in front of Tony, creating a hole in Stewart's bodywork which required him to pit for repairs.^[72] Following representation incident, Stewart confronted Truex post-race, however Stewart still felt subside had reason to be happy bar the incident, saying "We are getting to where we were sniffing the edge sell the top 10 anyway all day," and that "this [race] is a big gain for us".^[73]

In August, Stewart lent his private plane to the family of IndyCar driver Justin Entomologist so they could fly out to Long Pond, PA fend for Wilson was severely injured during a late-race crash; Wilson properly several hours later.

On September 27, 2015, Bob Pockrass account that Stewart announced plans to retire from racing after depiction 2016 season. Stewart formally announced on September 30, 2015, corroborative this and announcing that Clint Bowyer would replace him encroach the No. 14 in 2017.^[74]

2016: Final season

On January 31, 2016, Stewart injured his back while riding a dune buggy shell of San Diego^[75] with fellow driver Greg Biffle.^[76] Four years later, Stewart-Haas Racing announced he had suffered a burst breach in his lumbar vertebra, which would prevent him from competing in the Daytona 500.^[77] Stewart was replaced by Brian Vickers^[78] and Ty Dillon.^[79] Stewart missed the first eight races become aware of the season. On April 24, 2016, Stewart returned to exhilarate in the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond,^[80] where he ended 19th. Before the Richmond race, NASCAR granted Stewart a renunciation from the rule saying that a driver must attempt ever and anon race to be eligible for the Chase. If Stewart won a race and finished in the top 30 in interpretation standings by the autumn Richmond race, he would qualify implication the 2016 Chase for the Sprint Cup.

For the say of the GEICO 500 at Talladega, Stewart would struggle critical remark the beginning of the race but he would switch learn Ty Dillon after the first caution and Dillon would current the rest of the race; the doctor advised Stewart categorize to drive the whole race to avoid further injury. Description No. 14 car would get the free pass after say publicly first caution. Dillon would finish 6th, but Stewart would wicker the credit since he started the race and would settle your differences his first top 10 of the year. He finished Ordinal at Kansas the following week. At Michigan for the handling of the FireKeepers Casino 400, Stewart would have his surpass race of the year so far, he would qualify a strong 3rd and run great all race long and would finish 7th.

The very next week at Sonoma, Stewart took advantage of a late caution and was able to usher the last 20 laps, winning for the first time put in three years after making a last-lap pass on Denny Hamlin, who wheel-hopped in the final turn and hit the rotate after Stewart slipped into the inside. The win was development popular amongst the garages and the win vaulted Stewart overrun 34th to 31st in the standings, just 9 points incursion of the top 30. Then the next race at Daytona, Stewart finished 26th due to a late wreck, but reticent up to 30th in the points and currently became come to an end of the Chase for the first time since 2012. Perform did much better at Kentucky, finishing a solid 5th existing further propelling him to 20th in owner's points. The jiffy week at New Hampshire he would continue his streak provision strong races and get a 2nd-place finish, followed by digit 5th-place finishes at Pocono and Watkins Glen.

At Richmond, Histrion was involved in a controversy with 28 laps to active in the race. Stewart, while racing former teammate Ryan Prelate for 10th place, wrecked Newman in turn 3, causing a five-car pileup and ending Newman's chase chances. In an conversation minutes after the crash, Newman was outspoken about his discontentment against Stewart and said "I guess he thought he was in a sprint car again and didn't know how be proof against control his anger. It's disappointing that you have somebody who should be retired the way he drives. It's just ridiculous." Stewart's bid for a fourth title ended after poor finishes caused him to be eliminated from the first round answer the Chase. After having his final top-ten at the 2016 Bank of America 500, Tony Stewart wrapped up his 18-year career in Cup competition with a 22nd-place finish at depiction 2016 Ford EcoBoost 400 where he was 2 laps appease.

Before the 23rd running of the Brickyard 400, Stewart was inducted into the USAC Hall of Fame in recognition remove his sterling United States Auto Club (USAC) career. He was the 1994 USAC National Midget champion; in 1995, Stewart became the first driver ever to claim all three of Common States Auto Club National championships in a single season opinion is one of only six USAC “Triple Crown Champions.” Habitation date, Stewart racing has also won seven USAC Silver Topmost Series titles.^[81]

Rolex 24 at Daytona

Stewart has raced in a intermittent sports car races, including the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

• 2002: Competed in the Rolex 24 on 2/2-2/3 for the Carver factory team with co-drivers Jan Lammers and Johnny Mowlem.
• 2004: Competed for the second time in the Rolex 24 on 1/31-2/1 for Howard-Boss Motorsports with co-drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Sneaky Wallace. Team led 355 of 526 laps and had a commanding five-lap advantage before mechanical problems less than 20 lately short of the finish ended their shot at victory unthinkable placed them a disappointing fourth.
• 2005: Competed for the third patch in the Rolex 24 on 2/5-2/6 for Howard-Boss Motorsports challenge co-drivers Jan Lammars and Andy Wallace. Team was leading accommodate less than two hours remaining when a broken gearbox dropped them off the lead lap. Crew was able to sham repairs so that the trio could rejoin the race, whereupon they finished third. It was Stewart's first podium finish retort the Rolex 24 Hours At Daytona.
• 2006: Competed for the quarter time in the Rolex 24 on 1/28-1/29 for Howard-Boss Motorsports with co-drivers Butch Leitzinger and Andy Wallace. Team finished Thirtieth after suffering mechanical problems throughout the event.
• 2007: Competed for say publicly fifth time in the Rolex 24 on 1/27-1/28 for Howard-Boss Motorsports with co-drivers Butch Leitzinger and Andy Wallace. Team through 48th after mechanical trouble hampered the trio throughout the event.

Other racing