NASCAR insider Tommy Baldwin recently discussed Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart’s achievements on road courses, emphasizing that their success came without competing against Shane van Gisbergen’s current dominance. Baldwin highlighted that top road course specialists like van Gisbergen were not in the mix during the era when oval racing stars mainly shaped the sport.
Van Gisbergen has demonstrated strong skills at tracks such as Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez and the Chicago Street Course, where many drivers are still adapting to the layouts. However, his ability to win at Sonoma Raceway—a venue familiar to many Cup Series regulars—cements his status as potentially one of the greatest road course drivers in NASCAR history.
Debating van Gisbergen’s Place Among Road Course Greats
The topic of van Gisbergen’s road racing success was recently explored on the Door Bumper Clear podcast. Host Freddie Kraft raised the question of whether van Gisbergen’s current achievements rival the records held by all-time leaders in the discipline.
“Jeff Gordon had nine road course wins. Tony had seven. They only ran two a year. You know, you let them guys run five a year, they’re gonna stack up a bunch,” he said [0:45 onwards].
Baldwin responded firmly to this, putting Stewart and Gordon’s victories into historical context.
“They won them without SVG there. SVG is a really good road racer. That’s it. End of story,” he replied.
This year, van Gisbergen matched Tony Stewart’s record by securing three wins in just 33 Cup starts. Stewart accomplished this milestone during his 1999 rookie season with Joe Gibbs Racing.
Tony Stewart’s Affinity for Road Course Competition
In 2017, Tony Stewart shared insights about his feelings toward road course racing in a conversation surrounding the appointment of Aric Almirola as Stewart-Haas Racing’s #10 driver. Stewart revealed that his future in racing would not involve a Cup car, citing dissatisfaction with NASCAR’s emphasis on aerodynamics over driver skill as a factor in his decision to step away.
Despite stepping back from full-time Cup competition, Stewart expressed a continued interest in competing in road course events within the Xfinity Series.
“If I come back, it won’t be in a Cup car. Everyone has talked about me running a Truck at Eldora. And you know, there are some road course races. I loved road course racing during my time as a Cup driver, so there are some road courses on Xfinity races that I’ve never been to and I would like to try. I’ve explored doing that somewhere down the road,” he said via Autoweek.
Retiring from NASCAR in 2016, Stewart transitioned into managerial and ownership roles at Stewart-Haas Racing. His final season included a poignant victory at Sonoma Raceway, securing a playoff berth after three winless years.
Stewart’s Racing Success Outside NASCAR
Currently, Tony Stewart competes in the NHRA Mission Food Drag Racing Series with his own team, Tony Stewart Racing. Recently, he earned his first Top Fuel event win in Las Vegas and continued his strong form with another victory at Joliet, Illinois. Currently leading the standings by 52 points, Stewart has demonstrated ongoing competitiveness in motorsports beyond stock cars.
The Lasting Impact of Stewart’s Road Course Achievements
Tony Stewart’s road course legacy remains a significant chapter in NASCAR history, marked by his seven wins despite fewer road course events per season during his era. The debate about Shane van Gisbergen’s rise underscores how challenging it is to evaluate records across different periods and competition levels. Stewart’s continued involvement in racing, albeit in a different format, highlights his enduring passion for motorsports and influences the road course racing narrative as new talents emerge.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why did Tony Stewart quit racing?
A. At 35, Stewart has lost 19 pounds and trimmed several inches from his waist, resembling his appearance as a rookie in 1999. This lifestyle change began after he didn’t qualify for the Chase for the Nextel Cup. However, it wasn’t missing the Chase alone that influenced him—it was also due to physical factors.
Q. Why did Tony Stewart stop racing?
A. Stewart-Haas Racing is shutting down after 16 years partly due to difficulties in securing sponsors for their four-car team. Stewart is leaving at a moment when tension exists between NASCAR and its teams about the sport’s future.
