NASCAR News: Smoke Rising Again: Tony Stewart’s Return to Daytona
Tony Stewart—”Smoke”—(pictured) has never been one to quietly fade away. The three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion (2002, 2005, 2011), IndyCar title winner, and Hall of Famer built a legacy on raw talent and unfiltered opinions. As co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing, he fielded some of the sport’s top teams, but cracks began to show as his frustrations with NASCAR’s direction deepened.
–by Mark Cipolloni–
The falling out built over years. Stewart openly criticized the sport’s heavy reliance on aerodynamics and downforce, which he felt turned racing into an engineering contest rather than driver skill. Escalating costs, sponsorship struggles (especially after Kevin Harvick’s retirement), and a charter system he viewed as politically rigged and unfair pushed him further away. By 2024, he and Gene Haas pulled the plug on Stewart-Haas Racing entirely, selling charters and citing the unsustainable business model and NASCAR’s corporate shift as key reasons.
Adding fuel to the fire was Stewart’s venture into the Superstar Racing Experience (SRX), which he co-founded with Ray Evernham in 2021. Originally pitched as a fun, throwback summer series reviving the spirit of the old IROC races—short-track battles featuring legends and stars from various disciplines—it quickly gained traction. Drivers like Denny Hamlin participated, and the “look and feel” began resembling NASCAR more closely. Behind the scenes, NASCAR executives saw it as a direct threat.
Revelations from the 2025 antitrust lawsuit filed by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports exposed the hostility: Leaked texts showed then-President Steve Phelps calling SRX “this trash series” and saying they needed “to put a knife in it.” Executives compared it to LIV Golf’s disruption of the PGA and even discussed legal action. NASCAR invoked exclusivity clauses to block SRX from key Speedway Motorsports tracks, protecting revenue streams. While SRX officially suspended operations after 2023 due to sponsorship and scheduling hurdles, these actions undoubtedly contributed to its demise—and deepened Stewart’s bitterness toward NASCAR leadership.
Seeking a cleaner break, Stewart dove into NHRA drag racing with Tony Stewart Racing. Alongside wife Leah Pruett, he chased straight-line glory in Top Fuel dragsters, earning wins and embracing a discipline where horsepower and reaction time reigned supreme.
But the oval tracks kept calling. On January 13, 2026, the announcement dropped: At age 54, Tony Stewart is returning to NASCAR—for one race, anyway. He’ll drive the No. 25 Ram Trucks Chevrolet for Kaulig Racing in the Craftsman Truck Series opener, the Fresh From Florida 250 at Daytona on February 13. It’s his first NASCAR start since retiring in 2016 and his first Truck race in over two decades, part of Ram’s creative “free agent” program showcasing veteran stars.
“I’ve raced just about everything with four wheels at Daytona, but never a truck. So when a seat in the new Ram was offered up for their first race back in NASCAR, I didn’t hesitate,” said Stewart, a 19-time winner at Daytona across the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and IROC. “Ram’s Free Agent program is another great way for me to stay sharp and have a little fun.”
The Free Agent program is designed to bring legendary drivers and rising stars into the spotlight, giving fans a unique mix of experience and fresh talent behind the wheel of Ram trucks.
“We’re not just returning to the track; we’re rewriting the playbook. Bringing Tony in as the first Free Agent will generate a crazy amount of excitement, which is exactly why we created the program—allowing fans to watch an all-time favorite driver get back into the seat, but this time, it’s a Ram truck,” said Tim Kuniskis, Head of American Brands, SRT Performance, NA Marketing and Retail Strategy at Stellantis. “This is about honoring a legacy. Tony represents grit, determination, and the spirit of racing—pure adrenaline for the fans.”
Why now? Stewart hasn’t detailed it, but the appeal is clear: a chance to draft and bang doors on Daytona’s high banks in a truck where old-school skills still shine, without full-season commitments or boardroom battles. After years of tension—from the sport’s evolution to the SRX saga—this feels like a personal reconciliation, on his terms. A reminder that the racing itself, not the politics, is what hooked him decades ago.
As Speedweeks looms, fans are buzzing at the prospect of Smoke charging through the pack under the lights. Win or not, Tony Stewart is back—reminding everyone why he’s one of racing’s most enduring, uncompromising legends.
Kaulig Racing Press Release
NASCAR fans, get ready: Tony Stewart, three-time Cup Series champion and motorsports icon, is officially returning to the NASCAR stage at Daytona in 2026. Stewart will team up with Ram Trucks and Kaulig Racing as the first competitor in Ram’s groundbreaking Free Agent program within the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series.
Stewart, known to fans as “Smoke,” last competed in the NASCAR Truck Series in 2005 and the Cup Series in 2016 before shifting his focus to NHRA drag racing with Dodge. His return marks a monumental moment for the sport—blending Stewart’s legendary competitive spirit with Ram’s bold re-entry into NASCAR.
“I’ve raced just about everything with four wheels at Daytona, but never a truck. So when a seat in the new Ram was offered up for their first race back in NASCAR, I didn’t hesitate,” said Stewart, a 19-time winner at Daytona across the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and IROC. “Ram’s Free Agent program is another great way for me to stay sharp and have a little fun.”
The Free Agent program is designed to bring legendary drivers and rising stars into the spotlight, giving fans a unique mix of experience and fresh talent behind the wheel of Ram trucks.
“We’re not just returning to the track; we’re rewriting the playbook. Bringing Tony in as the first Free Agent will generate a crazy amount of excitement, which is exactly why we created the program—allowing fans to watch an all-time favorite driver get back into the seat, but this time, it’s a Ram truck,” said Tim Kuniskis, Head of American Brands, SRT Performance, NA Marketing and Retail Strategy at Stellantis. “This is about honoring a legacy. Tony represents grit, determination, and the spirit of racing—pure adrenaline for the fans.”
Ram will field five trucks in the 2026 season with Kaulig Racing, signaling a major investment in NASCAR. Stewart’s involvement and the Free Agent Program underscore Ram’s innovative approach on and off the track.
“Having Tony Stewart in one of our Ram trucks is the kind of thing you dream about,” said Matt Kaulig, Founder and Owner of Kaulig Racing. “He’s a legend—his name alone brings energy to the sport. We couldn’t be more fired up to have him in our camp as we roll into Daytona for our first race. This is going to be a ride worth watching.”
In addition to his NASCAR and drag racing success, Stewart is the first and only driver to win all three USAC National championships (Midget, Sprint, Silver Crown) in one year (1995). He also took an Indycar championship in 1997. Stewart’s career is celebrated as a member of the NASCAR (2020) and National Sprint Car (2022) Halls of Fame.
Fans can expect exclusive behind-the-scenes content, new Ram Truck announcements, and immersive race-day experiences as part of this historic collaboration at Daytona in February.
The Kaulig Racing lineup has one more spot for Daytona:
- Brenden “Butterbean” Queen
- Daniel Dye
- Justin Haley
- Tony Stewart (Free Agent)
- Race For The Seat
Ram Brand
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Ram is improving market competitiveness and growth while maintaining pricing power through products, services and electrified offerings. Aligned under the global presence of the Stellantis Pro One commercial vehicle organization, Ram currently offers a wide range of products globally, from the Ram 700 compact pickup to the Ram 5500 Chassis Cab and a range of ProMaster vans.
Ram is part of the portfolio of brands offered by leading global automaker and mobility provider Stellantis. For more information regarding Stellantis (NYSE: STLA), please visit www.stellantis.com.