Part of Friday’s video tribute circled around Carl Edwards and his rib at Stewart that he wouldn’t see Stewart going forward “because he never goes into a gym or anything.”
Stewart had a comeback for that, of course.
“I hate to ruin the deal, but I’m actually going to have to go to a gym this winter because I’m still driving race cars next year … and unfortunately, the ones I’m going to drive … the steering wheel’s a lot closer, so I’m going to have to get this (stomach) away from it. So I’m going to have to go to a gym … or at least pull in the parking lot once in a while.”
Stewart also looked all the way back to his career beginnings on the dirt, when the Ranier family caught wind of his USAC achievements and signed him to drive for their then-NASCAR Busch Series team.
“From the time that Lorin and Harry Ranier came to Eldora Speedway and watched me run a midget in ’94, the first time to now … it’s been an awesome journey. From racing go-karts with my father to joining Joe Gibbs Racing and now Stewart Haas Racing … it’s just been a lot of fun.”
Stewart then reiterated that just because he’s leaving Sprint Cup competition, that the racing world isn’t rid of him, by any means.
“I keep telling everybody; I haven’t retired … I’m not retiring from anything. I’m still going to be the same pain in the ass in the garage area to all the NASCAR officials next year. I’m certain there’s already a pool going at the officials’ table on the over-under for how many times I’m going to get called to the trailer as an owner next year.”
“At the end of the day, it’s just been unbelievable. I’ve gotten to race with some of the greatest personalities and some of the greatest race car drivers in the world, and that’s been a huge honor for me to come from Columbus, Indiana and do what we do.”
“I think Denny Hamlin said it best about a month ago, when he said ‘We’ll see you on the other side,’ and that’s the way I’ve looked at it. I’m still gonna be racing; I’m still gonna be having fun and I’m still gonna be harassing as many people as I can. Kevin, DeLana … your rear ends are still in jeopardy,” Stewart joked.
Stewart then paid tribute to champion car owner Rick Hendrick, who he credited for his stepping into the ownership side of the sport.
“Rick, if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be a car owner in this sport. I would have retired as a driver and this would be the end of it for me. But because of you, I had the courage to make a big change in my life and join you and Joe Gibbs and J.D. Gibbs and be an owner in this sport. That’s something I’m really looking forward to in the future.”
“If I ever grow up, I want to be you,” he laughed, “but the quest continues and I’ll do the best I can.”
At the end of the night, it was one more look at the man that was, and is, Tony Stewart … and he closed his time on stage for the last time as only he could: with a laugh, a smile, and a jab at those he thought highest of.
It was a sendoff fitting of the man they called ‘Smoke’ from the very beginning.
About the Writer
Jacob Seelman is the Managing Editor of Race Chaser Online and creator of the Motorsports Madness radio show, airing at 7 p.m. Eastern every Monday on the Performance Motorsports Network.
Seelman grew up in the sport, watching his grandparents co-own the RaDiUs Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series team in the 1990s.
The 22-year-old is currently studying Broadcast Journalism at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., and is also serving as both the full-time tour announcer for the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series and the co-track announcer at Millbridge Speedway.
Email Jacob at: editor@racechaseronline.com
Follow on Twitter: @Speed77Radio or @JacobSeelman77
Email Race Chaser Online: news@racechaseronline.com
Follow RCO on Twitter: @RaceChaserNews
