Injured Tony Stewart far from forgotten at Texas Motor Speedway
Tony Stewart has had a forgettable swan song season to date. An ATV accident in January left him with an injured back and has sidelined him from racing this season.
The three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion will miss his seventh race of the season when the green flag drops Saturday night for the Duck Commander 500 at Texas Motor Speedway, and he still doesn’t know when he’ll return.
Stewart is patiently waiting until the end of the month when he undergoes more scans and tests as to firming up a timetable for his return.
I’ve definitely missed it. Probably more than anything, I’ve just missed driving the race car. It’s not been about the racing side of it as much as it’s just been driving the race car.
Tony Stewart
“I feel great, I’ve been doing everything now the last week that I’ve wanted to,” Stewart said after he was recognized for his charitable work at the TMS Hall of Fame gala Thursday night.
“I’m anxious to get the scans. It’s driving me crazy wanting to see what it looks like and then listen to the diagnosis and when they think they’re going to let me go. So I’m really anxious to get there.”
Stewart said he has missed racing competitively this season, although the silver lining has been seeing what his future will hold. He has announced plans to retire following the season and take on a full-time ownership role with Stewart-Haas Racing.
“I’ve definitely missed it,” Stewart said. “Probably more than anything, I’ve just missed driving the race car. It’s not been about the racing side of it as much as it’s just been driving the race car. That’s what I’ve missed the most up to this point.
How he has stepped into this role as kind of an owner, coach, mentor, whatever you want to call it, has been really impressive. I know it’s hard for him not to be in the car, but I think he is really enjoying it.
Brian Vickers
“It’s kind of been a window of what next year is going to be like in all reality. Some days it’s hard, some days it’s really easy because it gives me an idea of how much fun I’m going to have next year too. ... The good news is every Sunday when the race is over I’m not mad at anybody, and nobody is mad at me. I’m happy when I go home. That’s not happened in a long, long time.”
Stewart is far from a forgotten man, too, with the fan base. The 44-year-old remains one of the most popular drivers among fans, and all of his loyal followers are ready to see him return.
“It’s a disappointment that he’s still injured, but I hope he’s going to be here for the fall race when I come back,” said Lana Olson, a Rogers, Ark., resident who regularly attends TMS events and had three Stewart flags flying above her infield campground.
“Tony is a racer. I’ve watched Tony since he was in IndyCar and came over to NASCAR. He was a champion in both series. He’s also spicy — I like that.”
Stewart, known to racing fans as “Smoke,” has been known for his brashness on and off the track. He has won 48 Cup races in his career, including two at Texas. But he was recognized for his work off the track Thursday, being presented with the Maj. Gen. Thomas Sadler Award for Stewart’s involvement with Speedway Children’s Charities-Texas chapter.
Stewart had been scheduled to make a rare appearance earlier in the day for a SHR announcement unveiling a new TaxACT paint scheme for the No. 14 Chevrolet, but he hadn’t landed in time. Instead, his primary replacement, Brian Vickers, as well as teammate Danica Patrick took part in the announcement.
Each spoke about Stewart and made it clear he has remained fully invested in the team.
“Tony’s been a great asset,” said Vickers, who has filled in for Stewart in four of the six races and will do so again this weekend.
“How he has stepped into this role as kind of an owner, coach, mentor, whatever you want to call it, has been really impressive. I know it’s hard for him not to be in the car, but I think he is really enjoying it.”
I’ve watched Tony since he was in IndyCar and came over to NASCAR. He was a champion in both series. He’s also spicy — I like that.
Tony Stewart fan Lana Olson
of Rogers, Ark.For Patrick, it has been a relatively seamless transition from Stewart to Vickers as a teammate on the track.
“Brian has done a great job and fits in really well,” she said. “ He’s intelligent with the race car, he’s helpful as a teammate and he’s fallen into place really well.”
Vickers and Patrick, though, each expressed eagerness to see Stewart return to racing. Vickers has enjoyed his time in the car, but “hates” that it’s because Stewart is injured. And Patrick would like to see her boss finish his final season in the car.
So would countless fans who continue to don “Smoke” gear.
“For Tony’s sake, it’d be great to get in the car just cause it’s his last year and you want all the opportunities you can to go out with a win at some point,” Patrick said. “And have an ending to a great, great career.”
Drew Davison: 817-390-7760, @drewdavison
Duck Commander 500
6:30 p.m, Saturday, KDFW/4
This story was originally published April 7, 2016 at 4:33 PM with the headline "Injured Tony Stewart far from forgotten at Texas Motor Speedway."