Exclusive: Tony Stewart talks about his new role
After 18 years as a full-time NASCAR driver, three-time Premier Series champion Tony Stewart is still getting used to life outside the cockpit of the No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford.
And in an exclusive interview with FOXSports.com, Stewart said that being at a NASCAR race solely as a team co-owner instead of a driver is a much different experience than what he’s used to.
“I feel like Friday and Saturday I’m like the stuffed animal in the amusement park that just walks around and makes everybody smile,” Stewart told me Sunday morning in his motor coach at Phoenix Raceway.
“There’s not really much that I do,” said Stewart. “Compared to what I’m used to doing, I used to be a lot busier on Sundays. I’m still trying to figure out where I fit in.”
Of course, that’s just at the race track.
In the rest of his life, Stewart is crazy busy, as he always is, on a variety of fronts. His holdings include half of SHR, one of NASCAR’s elite teams; a sprint car team; several race tracks, most famously Eldora Speedway; and even a sanctioning body, the Arctic Cat All-Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Car Series.
Tony Stewart (far left) celebrates with co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing, Gene Haas (middle left), Kurt Busch (middle right) and crew chief Tony Gibson (far right) after Busch won the 2017 Daytona 500.
Last week, Stewart flew across the country, including to Liberty University in Virginia, where he and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger were keynote speakers at the Ignite Men’s Impact Weekend.
Stewart has always been a huge multi-tasker, so his insane schedule should surprise no one.
But at the NASCAR races, things are different now that he isn’t driving.
Stewart said that on Saturdays, he tries to help out SHR rookie XFINITY Series driver Cole Custer and his crew chief Jeff Meendering.
“It’s just little stuff I’m trying to help him with, get acclimated and get him comfortable,” Stewart said of Custer. “And I think he’s doing a really good job so far.”
Sundays, Stewart sits atop the pit box of the No. 14 SHR entry, the car he drove until retiring at the end of last year.
There, Stewart will talk with Mike Bugarewicz, crew chief for Clint Bowyer, the driver who replaced Stewart in the No. 14.
“Sunday, the guys have pretty much got a handle on it,” Stewart said. “I just kind of sit there. And if I think of something, I’ll tell Buga and he’ll tell Clint, or I’ll plant a seed in his head about something to think about.”
Stewart admitted that observing can be more taxing than being behind the wheel.
“I’m enjoying watching our four cars run,” Stewart said.
And then he added, “I’m not a very good spectator. I’m learning.”
And although he may still be getting used to his new role, Stewart said it’s an important one.
“I enjoy being here and being supportive of our guys,” Stewart said. “If that’s all they really want out of me, I’m happy to do that for them, because I’m proud of our guys. I’m proud of the work they do, proud of what they’ve done over the winter. And I want these guys to know I care.”
And that hasn’t changed one bit.
