Tony Stewart will make his NASCAR return at the upcoming Daytona season opener, driving Kaulig Racing’s No. 25 truck as part of Ram’s re-entry into the Craftsman Truck Series. The Hall of Famer hopes this move will help reignite enthusiasm for the sport, particularly around the high-profile race weekend in Daytona.
Kaulig Racing is fielding a five-truck team for the season, including full-time drivers Daniel Dye, Brenden Queen, Justin Haley, and Race for the Seat champion Timothy Tyrrell. Stewart will fill the rotating “Free Agent” seat in the No. 25 truck, marking Ram’s official return to the series after a period of absence.
Stewart Believes His Return Can Boost NASCAR’s Profile
Stewart expressed optimism that his participation will assist NASCAR in regaining momentum amid recent challenges. He acknowledged the sport’s current struggles and suggested that his involvement could spark renewed fan excitement, especially at Daytona.
“I think it’s going to contribute a lot to NASCAR, and I think, as we all know right now, NASCAR needs all the help they can get right right this minute. And it’ll get back sorted out. It’s going to get healthy again. It’ll be fine. But, this is a good way to kind of help with that and kind of get the fans excited about Daytona again, and it’s a small part of it,” he told Peter Stratta. (4:14 onwards)
In recent seasons, NASCAR has faced declining television ratings and was embroiled in a 15-month antitrust lawsuit, unveiling internal controversies involving executives’ disparaging remarks about fans, teams, owners, and competing series. Stewart, who retired from NASCAR competition in 2015, ended his involvement with the sport after Stewart-Haas Racing ceased operations in 2024.
Stewart Sees Truck Series Opener as a Catalyst for Energy at Daytona
Despite not aiming to overhaul the sport, Stewart believes starting the Daytona race weekend with the Truck Series can generate impactful excitement. He praised the efforts at Kaulig Racing, noting their quick work preparing for the event and the enthusiasm around the team.
“I’m not going down there and reinventing the wheel for anybody, and the NASCAR fans. But, to know that starting the big weekend of the 500 with the truck race there, I think that’s going to bring a lot of excitement to it. And, I know, being down at Kaulig a couple months ago and doing my initial seat fit, that it was pretty exciting. Those guys were working their tails off getting they have had a lot of work to do in a short amount of time, and those guys are knocking it out of the park,” he continued.
The diverse Kaulig lineup combining seasoned drivers and new talent like Race for the Seat winner Timothy Tyrrell aims to draw fresh interest to Ram’s comeback in the Truck Series.
Background on Stewart’s Return and Role at Kaulig Racing
Stewart revealed how the opportunity to race in the Truck Series at Daytona came about during the previous year’s Roadkill Nights event, sparking a conversation that led to this one-off comeback. Balancing his full-time NHRA commitments, Stewart has limited Truck Series experience, with only six starts and two wins to his record.
“We were at Roadkill Nights last year and we were walking around and and you and I had the opportunity to sit down for a while and and you looked at me and said, ‘Hey, would would you ever be interested in going and running a truck race next year?’ And that’s literally how it started, honestly,” Stewart added in the interview. (0:27 onwards)
Although Stewart was initially surprised given his complicated history with NASCAR, the chance to align with Ram made the potential race appealing. He also consulted his wife, Leah Pruett, about the decision before committing to the event.
“I told her when we went back to the hotel that night, I said, “Yeah, I think it would be really cool to come do a one-off race and, get my feet wet again.””
Balancing NHRA Career with NASCAR Return at Daytona
Beyond NASCAR, Stewart continues to compete full-time in the NHRA, piloting a Top Fuel vehicle for Elite Motorsports. His wife, Leah Pruett, is also resuming her NHRA campaign in a Tony Stewart Racing dragster slated to begin in March. The Daytona truck race serves as a unique crossover moment in Stewart’s versatile motorsports career.
Potential Impact on NASCAR and Daytona Weekends
Tony Stewart’s return to NASCAR, even for a single race, represents a hopeful sign for fans looking for revived energy in the sport’s marquee events. His involvement with Kaulig Racing and Ram’s return could uplift interest in the Craftsman Truck Series and contribute positively to Daytona Speedweeks, one of NASCAR’s most celebrated periods.
While the sport faces ongoing challenges, Stewart’s participation could play a small but meaningful role in boosting fan engagement and competitive excitement, setting the stage for a potentially more vibrant season ahead.
