[48] The injuries were bad enough that Stewart's streak of 521 consecutive Sprint Cup starts, dating back to the 1999 Daytona 500, ended. Photo: Courtesy of True Speed Communication. Stewart is the only driver to complete the Indianapolis 500Coca-Cola 600 Double Duty, finishing sixth and third respectively in 2001. 39-time event winner Matt Hagan will drive the Funny Car entry while Pruett will run the Top Fuel entry after finishing out her tenure with Don Schumacher Racing. This offer was not entertained as IROC folded in 2007. [64] He ended up retiring on lap 72.[65]. At Martinsville, Stewart almost won. He will join Mike Joy and Clint Bowyer in the booth for the inaugural running of the Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum as well as the 64th running of the Daytona 500. After leading 44 laps, his race ended before the halfway point due to a malfunctioning pop-off valve, which dropped him to 8th in the final point standings. In 1996, he made his NASCAR Busch Series debut, driving for car owner Harry Rainer. Jimmie Johnson afterward did so from 2006 to 2010. Or continue to use her maiden name. It's my fault I'm the one that hit him. 4 but changed to his USAC No. However, he only completed 1,090 miles (1,750km) of the scheduled 1,100, as he finished 4 laps down at Indianapolis. The three-time NASCAR champion was . Tony has always been associated with cars and women. On October 30, 2011, at Martinsville Speedway, Stewart won the Tums Fast Relief 500, leading three times for 14 laps and moving into championship contention in second place in the points standings. He also led laps at Phoenix in the early stages before a myriad of pit stop woes and mechanical issues led to his retirement. Tony Stewart was born Anthony Wayne Stewart on May 20, 1971, to his dad: Nelson Stewart and mother: Pam Stewart (now Boas). Stewart showed off the ring to kick off his series of photos. Married to Wife, Leah Pruett Tony brought surprise to his fans when the news of his engagement came across many. Did get Married: Stewart-Haas Racing co-owner Tony Stewart and NHRA driver Leah Pruett were married on Sunday according to a video on Instagram by Marco Andretti. He mentioned in a press release from his sponsor, "I plan to keep winning races and helping to drive down the cost of home improvement for The Home Depot customers.". Each driver claimed it was the other one's fault with Stewart saying, "if (Kenseth) thinks it's my fault and I (caused the wreck) he's screwed up in his head." Your IP: Stewart formally announced on September 30, 2015, confirming this and announcing that Clint Bowyer would replace him in the No. As of Richmond, he had only one Top 10 finish, which was at Phoenix. 1 qualifier June 9, 2018, Ryan Martin wins 2021 NPK Bradenton race in season finale, Ryan Martin wins 2021 Street Outlaws NPK Championship. If I'm within half a lap of him, I expect that to happen. Stewart and Pruett began dating in 2020. Stewart recovered to win three more races at Richmond, Infineon, and Bristol and, as he had done before, he ran near the front most of the season. "[98], After a few years of going through the process of the wrongful death lawsuit filed by the Ward family, it was announced in April 2018, that the suit had been settled out-of-court, just a few weeks before the trial was scheduled to begin. This was his second win in the race at his favorite track. 14 in 2017.[73]. He also raced in a few midget events, finishing thirteenth and eleventh in the 1997 and 1998 USAC national points, and winning the Copper Classic both years. In 2023, Stewart was apart of the FOX Sports broadcast booth for both the Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum as well as the 65th running of the Daytona 500. On October 12, 2010, Mobil 1 announced a sponsorship deal with Stewart-Haas Racing to sponsor Stewart's car, starting in 2011. Stewart declined and said he was not ready to try the big race yet, due to his focus on stock cars.[44]. [39] Stewart and Edwards were tied on total points, but Stewart claimed the tiebreaker by having five race wins, all during the Chase, to Edwards's one win. He became the leading contender for the series championship after a bad slump knocked points leader Davey Hamilton out of first place. Tri Star Motorsports (no relation to the TriStar Motorsports NASCAR team) was an IRL team that Stewart owned with Larry Curry, Andy Card, and Rick Ehrgott from 1999 to 2001. A furious Stewart climbed out of his wrecked car and angrily tossed his helmet at Kenseth's car, who exit out of the pit road, and then gestured applause at the fans. About halfway through the race, Stewart bumped Kevin Ward Jr., causing Ward to lose control and spin out, into the wall. Pruett debuted in Top Fuel in 2013 with Dote Racing after previously competing in Pro Mod and Nostalgia Funny Car. Getty The Hall of Fame racer, who is now a team owner and part-time TV commentator, thinks it helps them get home and see their kids before bed. Stewart had a strong run at Pocono. Stewart took half ownership of the team which was renamed Stewart-Haas Racing,[33] and Stewart became the highest-paid NASCAR driver. The season was not unkind to Stewart, however. In the last 20 laps, after Johnson was penalized for jumping the last restart, Stewart overtook Juan Pablo Montoya and held him off over the last three laps to score his sole Sprint Cup win of 2013. 55 for races Martin was originally intended to drive for MWR in.[55]. ), (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, Results are overall/class). At the end of the season, Stewart held off Mark Martin to win his first Winston Cup championship. NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Tony Stewart is engaged to Leah Pruett, the NHRA drag racer he began dating at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. [5] Stewart is the only driver to win the Cup Series championship under the old points system and the chase playoff format, and is the only driver to win the title under three different sponsorships (Winston in 2002, Nextel in 2005, and Sprint in 2011). [100][101], Following the 2008 season, Stewart was given a 50% stake in Haas CNC Racing, which was owned outright by Gene Haas and fielded Chevrolet vehicles. Stewart's 2013 season start was considered his worst start to a Sprint Cup season yet. Stewart replied by confronting Vickers after the race and throwing a punch through Vickers' window. In January 2015, Stewart purchased the All Star Circuit of Champions from Guy Webb. RELATED: Ryan Martin wins 2021 Street Outlaws NPK Championship. It's no secret that Tony Stewart truly did fall in love with drag racing. [31] Stewart earned his first and only win of the season in the AMP Energy 500 at Talladega on October 5, 2008, driving for Subway as his sponsor, making it his last win with Joe Gibbs Racing. He was the 1994 USAC National Midget champion; in 1995, Stewart became the first driver ever to claim all three of United States Auto Club National championships in a single season and is one of only six USAC Triple Crown Champions. To date, Stewart racing has also won seven USAC Silver Crown Series titles.[80]. He is a four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, winning two as a driver (2002, 2005), one as owner/driver (2011), and one as an owner (2014). At Richmond, Stewart was involved in a controversy with 28 laps to go in the race. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[728,90],'thecapitalsportsreport_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_2',127,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thecapitalsportsreport_com-medrectangle-3-0');Stewart and Pruett got engaged earlier this year. At Bristol, Stewart blew his tire on lap 3 and cut a brake line; he came back out over 20 laps down, unable to contend for the victory. On the final lap, Stewart was passed by Regan Smith (the rookie of Dale Earnhardt, Inc.) who beat Stewart to the line. He finished sixth in the Indianapolis 500 and third in the Coca-Cola 600, running all 1,100 miles (1,800km) of the two races.[17]. Proudly powered by WordPress | Stewart did not do as well in the 2015 season as hoped, as he failed to score a win for the second year in a row and missed the Chase. The racing community is a large family, as you guys know. Stewart made it two for two in the Chase after Clint Bowyer ran out of fuel in the closing laps of the Sylvania 300 at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway. They have no children. On August 12, 2007, he won the Centurion Boats at the Glen at Watkins Glen after Jeff Gordon spun his car around after wheel hopping in turn 1 with two laps to go. Stewart owns a dirt late model Chevrolet Impala that carries No. Residence: Columbus, Ind. Stewart retaliated by reversing into him, smashing Keselowski's front in. On March 22, 2007, it was announced that Stewart would be on the cover of the official NASCAR video game NASCAR 08, published by Electronic Arts. However, with a fast racecar, he was able to make his way up the field and finish fourth, his first top-five finish since the previous year's Brickyard 400. It was the first time since 2008 that the two got together in a feud. Please disable your ad blocker to view the video content. Tell me how a lap before (the incident) everything was fine, but the following lap was poor lighting. However, he showed signs of a rebound in the following weeks, scoring a solid 7th-place finish at the Coca-Cola 600 while avoiding several wrecks. Admittedly, Stewart was engaged once upon a time, but things never progressed beyond that. [75] Four days later, Stewart-Haas Racing announced he had suffered a burst fracture in his lumbar vertebra, which would prevent him from competing in the Daytona 500. Does Tony Stewart have a wife? In 2010, Stewart appeared in a commercial for the Burger King Steak House XT, which he endorsed. On July 1, 2006, Stewart dominated the Pepsi 400 but after a pit stop seemed like an unlikely contender for the win. At Talladega, Stewart struggled to lead a lap, and eventually did so; with assistance from Ryan Newman, Paul Menard, and Joey Logano, he led an additional 29 laps and captured the two-point bonus for leading the most laps. It featured 305 Sprints, Stadium Trucks, Late Models, and the Camping World SRX series. On Thursday, March 18, Stewart announced that he and girlfriend Leah Pruett, a popular NHRA Top Fuel drag racer, would be getting married. Stewart got a podium finish in the inaugural 2021 SRX Series race at Stafford Motor Speedway, finishing third. The race was the 400th in the Sprint Cup for Stewart, and was his first starting from the pole since October 2005 at Martinsville Speedway. [36], On May 9, 2010, it was reported that Stewart would lose Old Spice as a sponsor after 11 years with them.[37]. At New Hampshire, Stewart led 84 laps and was overtaken by Brian Vickers with 14 laps to go. The top power couple in professional motorsports has kicked off the offseason with an extravagant wedding. A replacement driver for the August 11 race at Watkins Glen International was not immediately named,[49] though it was eventually announced that road veteran Max Papis would fill in for Watkins Glen. Stewart spent most of his rookie season wowing people, as his car was often in the Top 5. 14 car in NASCAR. However, he also had strings of bad luck. GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Tony Stewart usually lets the guys with families hit the runway first after NASCAR races. Stewart has raced in a few sports car races, including the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Stewart gained 12 spots in the standings, from 32nd to 20th.[57]. GAINESVILLE, Fla. Tony Stewart usually lets guys with families hit the runway first following NASCAR races. With 15 minutes left in the race and Stewart driving, one of the rear wheels came off, finally ending their run. Meanwhile, Pruett married Gary Pritchett, before filing for divorce in 2019, retaining her maiden name. My fault. Retired NASCAR driver Tony Stewart is getting married, and the Stewart-Haas Racing team owner and his fiancee, NHRA Top Fuel driver Leah Pruett, announced their engagement on their social. He moved up to the United Midget Racing Association (UMRA) where he raced TQ (three quarter) midgets until 1991 when he again moved up this time to the United States Auto Club (USAC) series with the help of one of his karting sponsors and friend Mark Dismore. ", At Michigan, Stewart ran in the top-five. and taunting the Earnhardt nation for celebrating the 4th anniversary of Earnhardt's last win in 2008. Stewart was fined $50,000, stripped of 25 driver & owner points, and put on probation for the rest of 2004. He rebounded slightly with an 8th-place finish at Phoenix and an 11th-place finish in Las Vegas. [122] Stewart co-hosted the show with Matt Yocum, and took listener calls. Alabama hires Doug Marrone as offensive line coach, Murder Nova: OG Murder Nova now not for sale. Before the season Stewart welcomed new drivers retired Indycar driver Danica Patrick and driver David Reutimann to drive partly for Stewart-Haas Racing as part of a partnership with Tommy Baldwin Racing who provided parts of the cars. On the final restart, he pulled out in front of Dale Earnhardt Jr. but having older tires, got over-taken by Earnhardt with four laps to go. Every driver referenced in the song (Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Jimmie Johnson) has since retired from the sport. Late in the race, Stewart tangled with rookie Kyle Larson when Larson threw a block, leaving Stewart with an 11th-place finish. It's just ridiculous." Before Pennelope, Tony's name had been named alongside many women. TONY STEWART: Driver, Owner, Philanthropist Birthdate: May 20, 1971 Birthplace: Columbus, Ind. In addition to placing fourth overall, the trio placed third in the Daytona Prototype class. However, due to a late-race incident when Joey Logano blocked him on the last restart, Stewart ended up in 22nd place at the bottom of the lead lap. Stewart started the 2007 season by winning his second Chili Bowl Nationals midget car feature. Stewart's bid for a fourth title ended after poor finishes caused him to be eliminated from the first round of the Chase. Stewart felt very sick during the race at Watkins Glen International and nearly withdrew from it due to food poisoning, stomach cramps, a headache, and a sinus infection. and now married to - a 14-year-old man." And so, Stewart said, "We have a lot going on, but I've got to make sure I take care of her, too . NHRA icon Don Prudhomme first introduced the couple, but they only started dating in March 2020. This allowed Stewart to become an owner-driver, as he left his long-term team at Joe Gibbs Racing to start the venture. This time, he was racing for Joe Gibbs, NFL Hall of Fame head coach of the Washington Redskins, who was having major success with Bobby Labonte in the Winston Cup Series. As Stewart approached under full-course caution he hit Ward, impacting him with his right rear tire. Pruess, a Canadian, proposed to Stewart in March 2021. The wedding took place in Los Cabos. Boasting a net worth of $70 million, Tony Stewart is one of the highest-paid NASCAR names in the United States. The Hall of Fame driver who's now a team owner and part-time television My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and everyone affected by this tragedy. Gordon did not get off the hook however and was penalized with a $15,000 fine and a 50-point deduction for his actions. He has been in the sports journalism field since 2002 and has covered numerous high-profile events, including 12 Heisman Trophy ceremonies. Anthony Caruso III is the Publisher of The Capital Sports Report. It would be the primary sponsor for 11 races, while Office Depot would be the primary sponsor for the rest of the season. The race driver is engaged to Leah Pruett. On the Busch side, he finished in the top-five five times in 22 starts. This was Stewart's last season driving a Pontiac. The event raised over 4 million dollars for various NASCAR and driver charities including The Victory Junction Gang Camp. The win was very popular amongst the garages and the win vaulted Stewart from 34th to 31st in the standings, just 9 points out of the top 30.