It’s been a decade since NASCAR icon Tony Stewart stepped onto a track for one of their races, but that streak is set to come to an end when NASCAR goes to Daytona in a few weeks.
According to FOX NASCAR insider Bob Pockrass, Stewart is returning to NASCAR to compete for Kaulig Racing in the Freshman From Florida 250 of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. It will mark his first NASCAR race since 2016 and his first truck race since all the way back in 2005.
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“Tony Stewart back in NASCAR for one night. Three-time Cup champ — a Dodge driver in NHRA — will drive a Ram truck for Kaulig in the season opener at Daytona. He hasn’t competed in NASCAR since 2016 and this will be his first truck race since 2005,” Pockrass wrote on X.
Stewart may not have made his career racing trucks, but he had no shortage of success doing so under the NASCAR umbrella. He competed in six NASCAR truck races over 11 years, winning two and finishing top-10 in three others.
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He’s never driven trucks at the iconic Daytona International Speedway though.
HOMESTEAD, FL – NOVEMBER 18: Tony Stewart, driver of the #14 Always a Racer/Mobil 1 Chevrolet, stands on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 18, 2016 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)
An Unrivaled Legacy
Stewart is one of the most accomplished and versatile drivers in American motorsports history. He began his NASCAR Cup Series career in 1999 and quickly established himself as one of the elite, winning three Cup Series championships in 2002, 2005, and 2011. Stewart was known for his aggressive driving style, adaptability, and competitive fire, recording 49 Cup Series wins over his 18-year career.
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Beyond NASCAR, Stewart has enjoyed success across multiple racing circuits. Before NASCAR, he won the 1997 Indy Racing League (IRL) championship and competed in both the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day in 2001, a feat known as “The Double.” After retiring from full-time NASCAR competition in 2016, Stewart transitioned into team ownership with Stewart-Haas Racing, winning championships as an owner, and later returned to driving in NHRA Top Fuel drag racing, where he continued to collect wins and championships.
This story was originally published by The Spun on Jan 13, 2026, where it first appeared in the NASCAR section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
