Q&A with race car driver, team owner Tony Stewart
Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowColumbus native Tony Stewart has had an award winning career in IndyCar and NASCAR. Now, he’s making a name for himself in drag racing events with the National Hot Rod Association.
Stewart is also a team owner, and Tony Stewart Racing is heading into its 25th season. TSR has teams in the World of Outlaws Sprint Series and NHRA.
Inside INdiana Business reporter Mary-Rachel Redman spoke with Stewart one-on-one at his headquarters in Brownsburg last week.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
What does it mean to be behind the wheel of a car for 25 years?
I don’t think there was ever a plan when we started the team that we thought, well, 25 years from now, we’re still going to be racing and still have a race team, but I’m really proud. We’ve had a lot of race cars in the last 25 years that have come in and out of this.
Talk about a moment in your career early on that sticks out to you that kind of defines who Tony Stewart is today.
I think from the ownership side, it was probably the first real big win we had at the Knoxville Nationals, which is kind of like the Indy 500 or Daytona 500 of sprint car racing. We were standing there on the stage and thinking about the great car owners and crew chiefs and drivers that have won that event, and sitting there going, ‘wow, I never thought I’d be here,’ because I wasn’t really a wing sprint car driver. We won the event and were going ‘we’ve done something that most people haven’t done and haven’t had the opportunity to do.’ It was kind of eye opening – this isn’t about me as a driver anymore; it’s about what we’ve put together as a team.
You’ve done it all – IndyCar, NASCAR and sprint car. Which of those series means the most to you?
There’s something unique and special about each one; the challenges are different with all of them. It’s hard to win in any form of motor sports or sports in general. There’s always great franchises and great dynasties that are in each form of motor sports. If you can be one of those people that upsets those dynasties and then creates one of your own, that’s something that you’re proud of. I loved driving an IndyCar, but I also like driving stock cars too. The driving styles are totally different.
You’ve kind of closed the door on NASCAR. What does the future hold for you moving forward?
It takes a lot of weight off my shoulders. It wasn’t part of a plan to do that this year. It was a financial decision; we had some things change and we were at a big deficit. It’s just the right time to go a different direction. A week after I went to my last NASCAR race as an owner, I got to welcome my son into the world. I feel like it’s like a chapter in a book – one chapter ended and a new one is starting.
What’s it like going from driver to dad?
I can’t wait to see him every morning, because I know every day there’s something that changes. It’s neat for me as a father to see what is that new thing that’s different today that wasn’t here yesterday? I feel like to a certain degree, it’s a lot like having race cars. There’s times race cars aren’t happy and they’re not exactly the way they need to be, and you have to make adjustments and tweak them. This little boy is the same: he’s not always happy and he’s telling you he’s not happy. You just have to figure out what it is.
Your wife, Leah Pruett, is your coach now and you’re the 2024 NHRA Rookie of the Year. What’s that dynamic like?
Honestly, it’s been the best experience I’ve ever had. We’re so in line with our passion and desire to be successful in motorsports and we know the work it takes to do that. I told Leah early on that you cannot be afraid to tell me that I’m making a mistake and if I’m doing something 98% right, I’m not happy with 98%. I want to be 100%, so you have to have the confidence to tell me when I’m doing something wrong or not doing it the right way, and have the confidence knowing that I’m going to take it the right way and that we’ll work through it. She’s so detail oriented, more detail oriented than I am, and I think that’s why we had such a successful season in NHRA.
You’ve been such a passionate advocate for dirt track racing. What do you think the future holds for grassroots racing?
When COVID hit, we were worried that a lot of those racetracks and a lot of race teams were going to shut down. I’ve seen it go the other way; I’ve seen it thrive. I feel like dirt track racing is in the best spot it’s ever been in right now. All you have to do is go to the racetrack and look at the haulers going in and out of the racetracks. They have nice equipment, so people aren’t struggling to go dirt track racing right now. We’re seeing the fan base continue to grow, and events are getting bigger and bigger each year.
Looking back at all the fans that have supported you over the years – what message do you have for them?
We couldn’t have done it without them. Our fans are die hard, and they will go to war with somebody that disagrees with who they pull for. They’re as much a part of this team and part of TSR as anybody else.
What’s the future of TSR?
We’ve never really had a template; we’ve never had long-term plans. We just go year to year. We don’t have an end in sight. We’re just now getting our feet embedded in the NHRA side and we’ve been part of the sprint car side forever. I’m very passionate about it. It’s just fun to sit there every winter and prepare for the next season and try to figure out how you’re going to win more races and how you’re going to contend for more championships.
How long do you think you’re going to sit behind the wheel of a car?
I don’t know. My dad’s 86 years old, and I got to race against him twice this year in the three quarter midgets. So if that gives you any indication, I’m going to be around for awhile.