Daytona Beach, Fla. – Tony Stewart’s return to NASCAR competition ended with a wreck on the 39th lap of Friday’s Fresh From Florida 250 at Daytona International Speedway, but the three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion remained upbeat about the experience and the potential for future starts.
Stewart, 54, competed in the No. 25 Kaulig Racing Ram, marking his first NASCAR race in a decade and his seventh career start in the Craftsman Truck Series. The return was facilitated by Ram’s “Free Agent” program, which allows various drivers to pilot the truck throughout the season. He last raced in NASCAR in 2016 and his previous Truck Series appearance was in 2005.
The wreck occurred during Stage 2 of the race, ending Stewart’s night prematurely. Despite the early exit, Stewart expressed a positive outlook, stating, “I didn’t suppose I was going to be here 10 years after I retired, so I think we have to learn to never say never,” according to FOX Sports.
The decision to return to Daytona was, in part, a response to a conversation with Ram boss Tim Kuniskis at last year’s Roadkill Nights event in Pontiac, Michigan, regarding the brand’s renewed involvement in the Truck Series. The “Free Agent” program’s limited commitment appealed to Stewart, allowing him to participate without a full-season obligation. “I think it’s a neat thing for us,” Stewart told media before the event. “I think it’s going to contribute a lot to NASCAR.”
Stewart acknowledged the challenges of jumping back into a competitive racing environment with limited practice. He noted the team was actively gathering data to improve performance for future races. “We’re gaining on it. So at least they’re building a notebook now. The rest of the guys are out there still digging, so they’ll build a good notebook for when we come back next time,” he said.
Prior to the incident, Stewart had been working to find his rhythm in the truck, focusing on preserving the vehicle through the early stages of the race to allow for pit stop adjustments. His last Xfinity Series race at Daytona in 2016 also ended in a late-race incident, resulting in a 26th-place finish.
The Fresh From Florida 250 also saw an early incident involving Cleetus McFarland, who lost control and crashed into the wall in Stage 1, ending his race.
