Tony Stewart has announced his retirement from the sport, marking a dramatic change from his long involvement in motor racing. On Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour podcast, Stewart criticized the current direction of NASCAR and revealed his reasons for leaving. The Stewart-Haas race ended with a victory for the Haas factory team, which would arrive three weeks later, and Stewart’s departure marked the end of an era. Stewart left an indelible mark on NASCAR as a driver and team owner, and his decisions were based on deep personal and professional considerations.
During his 27 years of service, Stewart built an unparalleled legacy. Affectionately known as “Smoke,” he won four Cup Series championships, twice as a driver and twice as an owner. He has played a key role in shaping Stewart-Haas racing since its inception in 2009. His partnership with Gene Haas was a huge success, including winning two Cup Series championships. In the interview, Stewart regretted his NASCAR journey and felt a sense of finality when he left the sport. “To be honest, especially in the last two or three weeks, it’s starting to feel like a year ago when you found out your career was going to end,” he said. “When I think about the fun times we had together on the road, the times we rode the Xfinity car and the fun things we did together.
Like you said, I went to Talladega and from Talladega to Charlotte, I was in the store all day and saw as many people as I could in the store, and when I left the building, I knew some of them were there. . “I’ve known you for 16 years, but unfortunately I may never see you again.”The decision to leave NASCAR was not part of a premeditated plan, but it evolved over the years. “This is a time when the sporting landscape is changing dramatically. “If you look at what’s going on now with 23XI and Front Row Motorsports and the battle with NASCAR and the direction things are going, it’s not a direction I want to be a part of,” he said.
“It’s the right time, it wasn’t in the big plan, but as the year went on it became clear that it was the right time to leave the sport.”Stewart also said he is happy with his current position in the NHRA. “And I’m happy with what I’m doing now. I always worked in different series.
