Latest news with #Stewart-HassRacing
Newsweek
18 hours ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Tony Stewart Reaches NHRA Career Milestone In Bristol - 'Huge Accomplishment'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Tony Stewart secured his first career No. 1 qualifier and won the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge specialty race in the Top Fuel category in Bristol this weekend. Stewart beat Doug Kalitta in the final speciality race with a run of 3.803-seconds at 324.05 mph, before clinching the No. 1 qualifying spot and hitting a staggering 3.755 seconds at 325.77 mph in the first session on Saturday. Reacting to the new milestone while speaking to the media following the race, the three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion explained: "This is great, obviously. We've been in the final of the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge and haven't been able to finish it. Now, to win one and get our first low qualifier is big," explained the NASCAR Hall of Famer. Co-owner Tony Stewart of Stewart-Hass Racing talks with the media during a press conference introducing Josh Berry as the new driver of the #4 Stewart-Hass Racing Ford Mustang at Charlotte Motor Speedway on June 21,... Co-owner Tony Stewart of Stewart-Hass Racing talks with the media during a press conference introducing Josh Berry as the new driver of the #4 Stewart-Hass Racing Ford Mustang at Charlotte Motor Speedway on June 21, 2023 in Concord, North Carolina. More"For our team it's a huge accomplishment. We keep checking boxes off. We've got a car that is repeatable and consistent. "We've got tricky conditions out here. I know a lot of work has gone on here of since last year and I appreciate the effort that Bristol has put into it. That plays into our hands. We don't have a car that can go 3.64 or that runs 340-mph. "I'm actually encouraged about last week. In Epping, we were able to throw down and we were respectable. To see what we did in these conditions, we feel like our program is just getting stronger and stronger." He also shared a message to his fans on social media, stating: "Hey everybody, thanks for coming out to the Super Grip Nationals here in Bristol. Hope you guys had a great time, I know we've had a great weekend and it's always fun coming to Bristol. It doesn't matter if it's the circle track or the drag strip. The fans here are amazing and we hope you had as much fun as we did." This comes after the 54-year-old driver secured his first Top Fuel victory in April 2025 at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series: Points Standings after unofficial result
Newsweek
02-05-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Tony Stewart Issues Bold Daytona 500 Statement: "Going To Be Crucified For This"
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Former NASCAR driver and team owner Tony Stewart claimed that the iconic Daytona 500 race "doesn't mean the same now as it did 15-20 years ago." Stewart, who recently clinched his first NHRA victory, acknowledged that he would likely be "crucified by a lot of people" for his opinion. During an appearance on the Rubbin is Racing podcast (below), the former Stewart-Haas Racing co-owner explained: "When it comes to Daytona, now I'm going to be crucified by a lot of people for this. In my eyes, it doesn't mean the same now as it did 15-20 years ago. "Anybody can win, I mean, you look at some of the guys that won the Daytona 500. I don't want to go into the list of guys because they're guys that I do respect and have friendships with, but they're not guys that should have won the Daytona 500 and they've won the Daytona 500 and that's all they've won. Tony Stewart did not hold back in this interview. New episode of Rubbin is Racing out now! — Rubbin is Racing (@rubbinisracing) May 2, 2025 "They may have won one or two races outside of that. We won 49 Cup races, Jeff Gordon won 75 cup races, Richard Petty [won] 200 Cup races. Anybody in the field can win the Daytona 500 now. As much as it's a crown jewel, I would still go back, and I would trade some of my race wins to get the Daytona 500." Retired NASCAR Cup Series driver, Tony Stewart, co-owner of Stewart-Hass Racing, NASCAR looks on during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway on November 04, 2023 in Avondale, Arizona. Retired NASCAR Cup Series driver, Tony Stewart, co-owner of Stewart-Hass Racing, NASCAR looks on during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway on November 04, 2023 in Avondale, Arizona. Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images Stewart also insisted that he wouldn't trade any of his other NASCAR trophies, of which he has 49 from Cup Series races, 3 for Cup Series championships, and 41 for Xfinity Series races, for three Daytona 500 wins. He added: "No, absolutely not okay, no way, I wouldn't trade a Championship for three Daytona 500 trophies. "Even though I don't feel like it carries as much weight as it used to, it still carries the weight because it's still the Daytona 500. It is still the marquee event on the NASCAR schedule, it still has that rich history. "The cars have got so equal that and you look at guys that are winning some of these, they're not the ones that led the most laps, they're not the ones that were up front. They were the guy that was second or third or fourth when the last lap crash happened and NASCAR hit the button to freeze the field, and they were they're the winner. I don't hold as much stock now [in the Daytona 500]." Although Stewart stepped away from NASCAR racing in 2016 and closed Stewart-Haas Racing at the end of 2024, he recently admitted that he could be tempted back. During an interview with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio via Yardbarker, he commented: "I'm definitely planning on coming back to NASCAR races. As a member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, I get a hard card. I don't know if NASCAR has the ability to revoke that or not but until they do revoke it, I'm going to take advantage of having a hard card and I definitely want to come back and see everybody. "I miss a lot of things about NASCAR and most of all the people. The people are what I enjoyed about it and the relationships I had there. Definitely looking forward to coming back and seeing everybody."
