Tony Stewart is a legendary figure in his homeland, the only man to have won championships in both IndyCar and NASCAR. Nicknamed ‘Smoke’, he’s also won championships in midgets, sprints and USAC Silver Crown cars during a career that began in karts in 1980.
The statistics are phenomenal, a roll call of races and titles won in almost every category in the history of motor sport in North America. This year, despite saying he’s “semi-retired”, he’s on the NHRA dragstrips where he’s already collected more silverware. The veteran racer is also a philanthropist, the Tony Stewart Foundation supporting the plight of sick children among other causes.
There’s a dark side to Stewart’s career too, most notably the death of sprint car driver Kevin Ward Jr, hit by the guesting NASCAR star at the Canandaigu dirt track in 2014 when the 20-year-old had left his crashed car to remonstrate over a collision. Stewart was never charged or officially blamed for the incident.
The 53-year-old is known for his reluctance to put himself in the media spotlight, preferring to let the driving do the talking. From his ranch in Indiana, however, he speaks about his career as both driver and team owner, decades that have put him firmly in America’s Hall of Fame.
Motor Sport: Let’s start in the present and work our way back. This year you’re doing NHRA top fuel dragsters. Why?
This story is from the August 2024 edition of Motor Sport Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 2024 edition of Motor Sport Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Everything Wrong - Max Verstappen laid into his team after a disappointing Austrian GP but Mark Hughes can see the logic behind Red Bull's thinking
Max Verstappen laid into his team after a disappointing Austrian GP but Mark Hughes can see the logic behind Red Bull’s thinking
GRAND PRIX CROWN JEWEL
Of all the racing cars made during the 100-year history of Motor Sport, the 49 is the true diamond. Karun Chandhok takes Graham Hill's chassis R10 out for a few laps at Lotus's sacred space – Hethel -
The civil side of savage
The new AMG GT 63 is performance engineering with everyday practicalities in mind. Andrew Frankel likes what he sees
Mercedes' first GP comeback
Extraordinary tales from the Motor Sport digital archive
KARUN CHANDHOK
\"We've missed this feeling - there's a buzz\"
CAN MERC BOUNCE BACK?
The team that once utterly dominated Formula 1 has had a torrid two years. Now, finally, it appears to have refound its mojo. But why has it taken so long? Andrew Benson investigates what went wrong
CANON BLAST
It started in the pub with Richard Lloyd stating an interest in racing a customer Porsche 956. With the assistance of the original RLR team, Adam Towler tells the giant-killing tale of the modified '106B2'
Tony Stewart
'Smoke', one of America's most-decorated drivers, on swapping seats with Lewis Hamilton, shunning the media spotlight and tackling the dragstrip
ALWAYS MEET YOUR HEROES...
It's 40 years since Senna arrived in F1. James Elson joins Pierre Gasly as the Alpine driver takes Ayrton's first Toleman on the track
Mercedes returns as a frontrunner
What a difference a month makes. Mark Hughes takes us through the laps at Canada, Spain and Austria as a fourth team joins this season's winners list
