- Stewart returned to NASCAR in Feb 26, ending a decade-long absence.
- He’s floated another comeback, even sparking similar thoughts for Harvick.
- Stewart’s current commitments however lie with NHRA.
Tony Stewart last raced in NASCAR in 2016, closing that season in P15 in the standings. While that marked his exit from driving, the groundwork for that move had been in place two years prior.
For fans, it signalled the end of an era as another beloved figure stepped away from the sport, even as he remained connected through his ownership of Stewart-Haas Racing.
The final parting shot came in 2024, when Stewart cut ties with NASCAR by shutting down SHR. Yet, in a big surprise that few saw coming, Stewart returned in February 2026, driving a Ram truck for Kaulig Racing at Daytona.
That outing began as a one-off tied to a marketing push and ended in a crash, but it also opened the door, with Stewart stating “never say never” when asked about future starts.
Kevin Harvick gets the scoop that Tony Stewart is considering another NASCAR comeback
Stewart’s return came in the Craftsman Truck Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway on February 13, 2026. Driving the No. 25 Ram truck for Kaulig Racing, Stewart made his first start in a NASCAR national series since 2016.
It also marked his first Truck Series race since 2005, drawing a wave of interest from fans, media, NASCAR insiders, and so on. He started from P15, but the comeback came to an end on lap 37 after he was swept up in a multi-car crash, leaving him with a P36 finish.
The stint formed part of a Ram Trucks “Free Agent” program with Kaulig Racing, which features a rotating cast of drivers through the 2026 season. Stewart led the line as the first Free Agent driver for the No. 25 entry, headlining the field for the Truck Series opener at Daytona.
In a sit-down with former Stewart-Haas Racing driver and FOX Sports analyst Kevin Harvick, Stewart looked back on the call to return to a track known for its twists.
Stewart said, “It was somewhat a suicide mission to go run that race. I felt like I was doing the right thing for the company and for Kaulig, helping those guys out, so that’s why we picked Daytona.”
Despite the result, during the interview, Leah Pruett said she took heart from seeing Stewart back behind the wheel. She noted that the crash did not wipe away his mood, as he stayed upbeat through the weekend.
Because of that, Pruett said she would like to see Stewart line up for another Truck Series race.
“It was awesome to see because the fun that he had that week leading up to the race, he didn’t let that crash eliminate that fun, and it just kept going. I was really happy to see happy Tony, really, in his natural atmosphere. It was fun for me. I’m a proponent of him doing it again,” Pruett shared.
While some might have taken the Daytona run as a one-off that fell short of its mark, Stewart signaled he is not done.
When Pruett voiced her wish for another run, Harvick pressed Stewart on whether he would return. Stewart said he is “pretty sure” he will be back.
“I’m pretty sure I’m gonna do it again,” Stewart said. Harvick, who also floated the idea of select Truck Series starts, then suggested the pair could share the track next season. “Us both run the same race? Hell yeah, I’m in,” Stewart replied.
Stewart’s current racing commitments
Despite the NASCAR cameo and talk of another start, Stewart’s main focus sits with the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. For the 2026 season, he is driving a Top Fuel dragster for Elite Motorsports.
He is racing head-to-head with his wife, Leah Pruett, who returned to her seat at Tony Stewart Racing this season after a year away.
In fact, earlier in April, Stewart and the R+L Carriers Top Fuel team broke through with a nitro win for Elite Motorsports at the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals at In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip. It marked Stewart’s third Top Fuel win and his first at Pomona.
After delays due to weather and on-track incidents, Stewart lined up against Justin Ashley in the final under the lights. Ashley left the line first, but the R+L Carriers machine reeled him in by the 60-foot mark and held the edge. Stewart crossed the line in 3.683 seconds at 332.51 mph, beating Ashley’s 3.714 at 328.54.
