Tony Stewart to retire after 2016

[UVA_Guy81]

Tony Stewart will no longer drive competitively in NASCAR after the 2016 season, with a news conference scheduled for Wednesday to announce the news

Can't say I'm too surprised by this. He and Gordon should've revered which years they were retiring because it looks like Gordon still has a little bit left in the tank while Stewart looks like he's done. Also looks like the rumors were true that Bowyer is taking over for Tony in the 14 in 2017.

 

[4down20]

2 careers died that day.

 

[Retroram52]

Yep, the Kevin Ward incident pretty much took the competitive life out of Stewart in much the same way Adam Petty's death finished what racing career Kyle had left. It happens to all of us sooner or later. Time to focus on being an owner now that Stewart's partner Gene Haas is moving over to F-1.

 

[Psych-Ward]

Gotta feel for Tony. But you know every time he gets in that car after that accident 'He's hearing footsteps'

 

[Retroram52]

True indeed Psych-Ward. He has been totally depressed and mentally he just is not there anymore. Moving over to the ownership side of things will give Stewart what he needs-both space and time away from the pressure of the spotlight and sponsors to heal.

 

[Nascar Addict]

It's been so long. I can't even remember if Tony has won since the accident happened.

 

[UVA_Guy81]

It's been so long. I can't even remember if Tony has won since the accident happened.

If I remember right, he hasn't won since he got his leg messed up a couple years ago.

 

[wildturkey]

It's more than just the Ward thing. He lost the feel for the car 2 or 3 years ago. He's been more miss than hit ever since. Happens to everyone, just not at the same time. But once it goes, its gone. Some just choose to ride around coughDWcough for years and some just go ahead and retire.

 

[Hitman Hart]

Yeah, Stewart hasn't been the same since his leg injury. The Kevin Ward tragedy made things even worse.

 

[UVA_Guy81]

It's more than just the Ward thing. He lost the feel for the car 2 or 3 years ago. He's been more miss than hit ever since. Happens to everyone, just not at the same time. But once it goes, its gone. Some just choose to ride around coughDWcough for years and some just go ahead and retire.

I personally believe that getting rid of Grubb at the end of 2011 when they finally started to click and ended up winning the chase was the worst thing that he could've done. He just never ended up clicking with either one of his last two crew chiefs.

 

[Retroram52]

I agree UVA. Grubb could handle Stewarts sometimes irascible personality. That was definitely a mistake and perhaps the beginning of his present state.

 

[UVA_Guy81]

I agree UVA. Grubb could handle Stewarts sometimes irascible personality. That was definitely a mistake and perhaps the beginning of his present state.

Steve Addington was definitely not the guy to reign in Stewart, especially since he had had issues with Kyle Busch that season. The two guys that knew how to handle him were Grubb and Zippy. If Zippy was able to get out of his Gibbs contract at that point to be Tony's CC, I think Stewart would've been better off because Zippy and Logano never seemed like they were on the same page. Zippadelli would've been a lot happier as well since I heard he was miserable at JGR after Tony had left.

 

[Nascar Addict]

Honestly, I still don't see this as the end for Tony. I think that he will feel the itch to race again. And I'm not just saying this as a fan. I just think that he as shown time and time again, that he loves to race. And he won't leave racing in some form for long.

 

[UVA_Guy81]

Honestly, I still don't see this as the end for Tony. I think that he will feel the itch to race again. And I'm not just saying this as a fan. I just think that he as shown time and time again, that he loves to race. And he won't leave racing in some form for long.

I definitely don't dispute that Tony has that itch. Racing is in his blood and I don't think his desire to race will ever go away. He might race in Daytona 500's or other miscellaneous every now and then but I think him being a full time racer is coming to an end. He definitely needs some time away from being behind the wheel and focus on the business end of things because I think he's driving scared.

 

[Retroram52]

Mikey Waltrip tried this avenue of part-time racer, part-time owner and look what it got him.

 

[Used 2 B Hu]

Not surprised.

I have never liked the guy but I hope he can heal up mentally. He was great for the sport for many years.

 

[Retroram52]

I think he is going to step out of the race car for at least a year and do nothing but ownership stuff. His presser today, he looked relieved just talking about his impending retirement. I think he needs a break and he obviously thinks so as well.

 

[Nascar Addict]

I think the sport will take a hit when he leaves at the end of next year. Tony Stewart has been great for the sport.

 

[UVA_Guy81]

I think the sport will take a hit when he leaves at the end of next year. Tony Stewart has been great for the sport.

Definitely. I also think that whenever Jr decides to retire, there could likely be a massive drop off in attendance and overall interest in the sport. With the three biggest draws gone, I don't think that there will be anyone for a while that'll draw fan interest that he, Gordon and Stewart have.

 

[Nascar Addict]

I agree. When Petty retired, the sport dropped off some. When Earnhardt died, it somehow didn't because it was going through the greatest growth period in the sports history. But with Tony and Jeff leaving in the same year, I'm not really sure how well NASCAR can far in a so/so economy. It's going to be rough, to say the least. And as you said, when Dale Jr. retires; it will hit the sport hard again.

Tracks are just now being able to take advertising off unsold seats. Ticket sales are better. Not great. But better. And to lose two of the stars of the sport won't help, after the 16' season.