History of Tony Stewart in Timeline

Tony Stewart, nicknamed "Smoke", is a semi-retired American professional stock car racing driver and former NASCAR team co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing. He is a four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, winning two as a driver, one as owner/driver in 2011, and one as an owner in 2014. He currently competes in the NHRA.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1954: Eldora Speedway's Inception

In 1954, Eldora Speedway was founded and became known as "Auto Racing's Showcase Since 1954."

1966: James Hylton Finished 2nd

In 1966, James Hylton finished 2nd as a first-timer.

May 20, 1971: Birth of Tony Stewart

On May 20, 1971, Anthony Wayne Stewart, nicknamed "Smoke", was born. He later became a professional stock car racing driver and NASCAR team co-owner.

1979: First Go-Kart

In 1979, Tony Stewart got his first competitive go kart in Westport, Indiana, marking the beginning of his racing career.

1980: First Championship

In 1980, Tony Stewart won his first championship, signaling his early success in racing.

1987: Davey Allison's Rookie Record

In 1987, Davey Allison set a series record for wins by a rookie.

1987: World Karting Association Championship

In 1987, Tony Stewart won a World Karting Association championship, demonstrating his skill in go-kart racing.

1991: Racing at Eldora Speedway

In 1991, Tony Stewart began racing at Eldora Speedway and continues to participate in special events there.

1991: Joins UMRA and USAC, Named USAC Rookie of the Year

In 1991, Tony Stewart moved up to the United Midget Racing Association (UMRA) and then to the United States Auto Club (USAC) series, becoming the USAC Rookie of the Year.

1992: Alan Kulwicki Wins Championship as Driver/Owner

In 1992, Alan Kulwicki was the last driver/owner to win the championship before Tony Stewart in 2011.

1994: USAC National Midget Series Champion

In 1994, Tony Stewart was the USAC National Midget Series Champion.

1995: USAC Triple Crown Champion

In 1995, Tony Stewart became the first driver to claim all three United States Auto Club National championships in a single season, becoming a USAC Triple Crown Champion.

1996: Part-Time NASCAR Busch Series Season

In 1996, Tony Stewart competed part-time during the NASCAR Busch Series season with the team.

1996: Indianapolis 500 Debut

In 1996, Tony Stewart initially qualified on the outside of the front row for his Indianapolis 500 debut, later propelled to the pole position. He also made his NASCAR Busch Series debut, driving for car owner Harry Rainer, and had a one-time ride in the Truck Series with Mueller Brothers Racing, finishing 10th.

1996: Continued IRL Racing

Tony Stewart continued to improve his IRL standing in the 1996-97 season, struggling to finish early, but recovering to come in second at Phoenix.

1997: Winston Cup Series Deal Falls Through

After competing part-time during the 1996 NASCAR Busch Series season with the team, in 1997, Tony Stewart had planned to move up to the Winston Cup Series driving for Ranier-Walsh Racing; however the deal fell through when Stewart decided he was not yet ready for the move.

1997: First IRL Career Win

In 1997, Tony Stewart got his first career win at Pikes Peak, where he led all but seven laps of a 200 lap race and beat Davey Hamilton for the IRL title.

1998: USAC Midget Racing

In 1997 and 1998 Tony Stewart raced in several midget events, finishing thirteenth and eleventh in the USAC national points, and winning the Copper Classic both years.

1998: Ricky Rudd Wins as Owner-Driver

In 1998, Ricky Rudd was the last owner-driver in the Cup series to win a race before Tony Stewart in 2009.

1998: Racing for Joe Gibbs

In 1998, Tony Stewart raced a handful of Busch Series races for Joe Gibbs, while also racing a full-time IRL schedule. In the IRL, he won twice and finished 3rd in the championship.

1999: Start with Joe Gibbs Racing

From 1999, Tony Stewart drove the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing car, under crew chief Greg Zipadelli with The Home Depot as the primary sponsor, until 2008.

1999: Tri Star Motorsports Founding

In 1999 Tony Stewart founded Tri Star Motorsports, an IRL team, with Larry Curry, Andy Card, and Rick Ehrgott.

1999: Start of Consecutive Sprint Cup Starts Streak

In 1999 Tony Stewart started a streak of 521 consecutive Sprint Cup starts at the Daytona 500 which would come to an end after he broke his leg in 2013.

1999: Move to Cup Ride

In 1999, Gibbs had enough confidence in Stewart that he was moved up to a Cup ride for the 1999 season, ending his three-year career as a full-time IRL driver.

1999: Attempted 1,100 Miles on Memorial Day Weekend

In 1999, Tony Stewart attempted to race 1,100 miles on Memorial Day weekend, competing in both the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600, finishing in the Top 10 at both races.

1999: NASCAR Cup Career Start

In 1999, Tony Stewart began his NASCAR Cup career by qualifying his No. 20 The Home Depot-sponsored Pontiac on the outside pole for the Daytona 500.

2000: Six Wins in NASCAR Winston Cup Series

In 2000, Tony Stewart won a series-high six races (Martinsville, New Hampshire, Michigan, Homestead, and both Dover races) in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, finishing 6th in the standings.

2000: Statistically Worse Season

In 2001, Tony Stewart had a statistically worse season than 2000, but he finished 2nd to Gordon in the final points standings.

2001: 18-Car Crash at Daytona 500

During the 2001 Daytona 500, Tony Stewart was involved in an 18-car crash on lap 173, which led to him being transported to Halifax Medical Center. Despite this, Stewart recovered to win three more races.

2001: Tri Star Motorsports

From 1999 to 2001, Tony Stewart owned Tri Star Motorsports, an IRL team, with Larry Curry, Andy Card, and Rick Ehrgott.

2001: Controversial Season and Confrontations

In 2001, Tony Stewart faced several controversies. At Bristol, Jeff Gordon's "bump and run" led to Stewart spinning him out on pit road, resulting in fines and probation for Stewart. During the Pepsi 400 at Daytona, he confronted an official after ignoring a black flag and had an altercation with a reporter. Additionally, he argued with an official at Talladega for refusing to wear a head-and-neck restraint. These incidents contributed to Stewart's reputation as NASCAR's "bad boy".

2001: Cover of NASCAR Video Game

In 2001, Tony Stewart was featured on the cover of the official NASCAR video game.

2001: Inducted into the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame

Tony Stewart was inducted into the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2001.

2002: Jimmie Johnson Tied Rookie Record

In 2002, Jimmie Johnson tied Tony Stewart's series record for wins by a rookie with three.

2002: Stewart Wins 2002 Championship

In 2002, Tony Stewart won a championship with Joe Gibbs Racing.

2002: NASCAR Cup Series Championship

In 2002, Tony Stewart won his first NASCAR Cup Series championship as a driver.

2002: Winston Cup Championship win amid Controversy

In 2002, Tony Stewart's Daytona 500 ended early due to a blown engine, but he later won at Atlanta and Richmond. At Darlington, a crash sent him to the hospital, but he started the next race. An altercation with a photographer after the Brickyard 400 led to a fine and point deduction. Despite this, he won at Watkins Glen amidst controversy and ultimately claimed his first Winston Cup championship at the end of the 2002 season.

2002: Comparison of Championships

In 2005, Tony Stewart mentioned that he loved winning his 2005 championship better than his 2002 one because his 2005 season was more well-behaved than 2002.

2003: Incident-free Season

In 2003, Tony Stewart drove a Chevrolet instead of a Pontiac. He had his worst Cup season at this point, but it was still good enough for seventh in the points standings. He only won two races that season at Pocono and Charlotte but he led more laps than he did last year and was highly competitive in the final races of the season.

2003: Cover of NASCAR Video Game

In 2003, Tony Stewart was featured on the cover of the official NASCAR video game.

January 2004: Fourth Place in the 24 Hours of Daytona

In January 2004, Tony Stewart, teamed with Andy Wallace and Dale Earnhardt Jr. in a Boss Motorsports Chevrolet, finished fourth in the 24 Hours of Daytona sports car endurance race after dominating the race until the last two hours when the suspension cracked.

November 2004: Purchase of Eldora Speedway

In November 2004, Tony Stewart became the owner of Eldora Speedway, a half-mile dirt track in New Weston, Ohio, known as "Auto Racing's Showcase Since 1954".

2004: Altercation with Brian Vickers at Infineon

In 2004, At Infineon, Tony Stewart was involved in an altercation with rookie driver Brian Vickers after Vickers spun Stewart out in retaliation for an earlier collision. Stewart confronted Vickers and threw a punch through Vickers' window, resulting in a $50,000 fine, a 25-point deduction, and probation for the remainder of 2004.

2004: Carl Edwards' Nextel Cup Races

In 2004, Carl Edwards ran more than ten Nextel Cup races.

2004: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Obscenity

In 2004, Dale Earnhardt Jr. used an obscenity in a post-race interview at Talladega and was knocked out of the points lead as a result of the penalty.

2004: Second Place Finish in the Gatorade 125

In 2004, Tony Stewart started the season strong with a second-place finish in the Gatorade 125. He also dominated the Daytona 500, leading 98 laps, but ultimately lost the lead to Dale Earnhardt Jr. with 20 laps to go, marking his best finish in the Daytona 500.

August 16, 2005: Fined and Placed on Probation

On August 16, 2005, Tony Stewart was fined $5,000 and placed on probation until December 31 for hitting Brian Vickers after the completion of the Busch Series Zippo 200 at Watkins Glen.

October 2005: Stewart's Previous Pole Position

In October 2005, Tony Stewart last started from the pole position at Martinsville Speedway, prior to his pole win in April 2010.

November 20, 2005: Second Cup Championship

On November 20, 2005, Tony Stewart secured his second Cup Championship, becoming one of the few active drivers with multiple championships at the time. He expressed greater satisfaction with his 2005 win compared to his 2002 win due to better behavior. The 2005 season saw Stewart earn $13,578,168, including $6,173,633 for winning the championship, which was the largest season total in NASCAR history.

2005: Second Cup Title

2005 was one of Tony Stewart's most successful years in the Nextel Cup Series as he won his second Cup title. He won five races at Infineon, Daytona, New Hampshire, Watkins Glen and Indianapolis.

2005: Carl Edwards' First Full Cup Season

In 2005, Carl Edwards had his first full Cup season, but was not regarded as a rookie by NASCAR standards because he had run more than ten Nextel Cup races in 2004.

2005: Second NASCAR Cup Series Championship

In 2005, Tony Stewart secured his second NASCAR Cup Series championship as a driver.

2005: Stewart Wins 2005 Championship

In 2005, Tony Stewart won a championship with Joe Gibbs Racing.

2006: Jimmie Johnson Afterwards Did So

In 2006, Jimmie Johnson did secure multiple championships like Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart.

2006: Missing the Chase and Season Finish

In 2006, Tony Stewart missed qualifying for the Chase for the Nextel Cup by 16 points, becoming the first defending champion to do so. He finished poorly at Richmond after a wreck, dropping him out of the top ten, and concluded the 2006 season 11th in points, marking his worst career finish. Despite this, he won three races in the 2006 Chase.

2006: Denny Hamlin Finished 3rd

In 2006, Tony Stewart's future teammate Denny Hamlin finished 3rd in the point standings.

2006: Inconsistent Season and Shoulder Injury

Tony Stewart's 2006 season was marked by ups and downs. He secured early wins at Daytona and Martinsville but also faced periods of bad luck. A shoulder injury resulted from crashes at Charlotte during Memorial Day Weekend races, and he had to be substituted by Ricky Rudd during the Dover race and drive in pain in subsequent weeks.

2006: Worst Cup Season So Far

Up until 2006, Tony Stewart had his worst Cup season, but it was still good enough for seventh in the points standings.

March 22, 2007: Cover of NASCAR 08 Video Game

On March 22, 2007, it was announced that Tony Stewart would be featured on the cover of the official NASCAR video game NASCAR 08, published by Electronic Arts. This marked the third time Stewart received this honor, previously appearing on the cover in 2001 and 2003.

June 4, 2007: Altercation with Kurt Busch at Dover

On June 4, 2007, at the Autism Speaks 400 at Dover, Tony Stewart and Kurt Busch had another altercation. Busch made contact with Stewart, sending him into the wall. After the crash, Busch made a profane gesture towards Stewart on pit road, leading to a fine for Busch, while Stewart received a warning.

July 15, 2007: Win at USG Sheetrock 400

On July 15, 2007, Tony Stewart led 108 laps and secured his 30th career NEXTEL Cup win at the USG Sheetrock 400 in Joliet.

July 29, 2007: Brickyard 400 Win and Interview Controversy

On July 29, 2007, Tony Stewart won the Brickyard 400, his second win at his favorite track. The win was controversial, as Stewart made the winning pass by accidentally bending Kevin Harvick's car. Stewart was also penalized 25 points and fined $25,000 for using obscene language during the victory lane interview.

August 12, 2007: Win at Watkins Glen

On August 12, 2007, Tony Stewart won the Centurion Boats at the Glen at Watkins Glen after Jeff Gordon spun his car. Carl Edwards briefly challenged Stewart on the final lap but spun out, securing Stewart's victory.

2007: IROC Championship and Chase Wins

In 2007, Tony Stewart participated in the 30th season of IROC, winning two of four races and capturing the series championship, earning a million dollars. He offered to return the prize money if IROC held an event at his Eldora Speedway, but the offer was not taken as IROC folded in 2007. Additionally, his three wins in the Chase races brought his season total to five, tying him for second-most in Nextel Cup.

2007: Chili Bowl Nationals and Daytona Speedweeks Wins

In 2007, Tony Stewart started the season by winning his second Chili Bowl Nationals midget car feature. He also won the 2007 Budweiser Shootout, marking his third win in the race, and his qualifying race for the Daytona 500.

2007: Chevrolet Sponsors Racing Cars

Since 2007, Tony Stewart's open-wheel short-track racing cars have been sponsored by Chevrolet.

July 5, 2008: Stewart Falls Ill During Coke Zero 400

On July 5, 2008, Tony Stewart became unwell during the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona and handed his car over to J. J. Yeley, a former teammate, who finished 20th after multiple wrecks.

July 8, 2008: Stewart Released from Joe Gibbs Racing, Joins Haas CNC Racing

On July 8, 2008, Tony Stewart was released from his contract with Joe Gibbs Racing and announced he would be moving to Haas CNC Racing to drive a Haas Chevrolet, with sponsorships from Office Depot and Old Spice, taking half ownership of the team which was renamed Stewart-Haas Racing.

July 2008: Stewart Partners with Gene Haas to Form Stewart-Haas Racing

In July 2008, Tony Stewart reached an agreement with car owner Gene Haas, creating a co-ownership partnership known as Stewart-Haas Racing, which would be effective in 2009.

August 15, 2008: Ryan Newman Signs with Stewart-Haas Racing

On August 15, 2008, Ryan Newman, also from Indiana, signed a multi-year contract to drive the second car for Stewart-Haas Racing, sponsored by the U.S. Army.

October 5, 2008: Stewart Wins AMP Energy 500 at Talladega

On October 5, 2008, Tony Stewart secured his first and only win of the season at the AMP Energy 500 at Talladega, marking his final victory with Joe Gibbs Racing after NASCAR declared that Regan Smith's pass was illegal.

2008: Feud with Kurt Busch Erupts

In 2008, Kurt Busch tapped Tony Stewart's bumper on the last lap at Richmond, leading to a shoving match between the two after the race.

2008: Daytona 500 and Finish

In 2008, as Joe Gibbs Racing switched to Toyota, Tony Stewart started the season with a 6th-place start in the Daytona 500 and finished 3rd, after being passed by Ryan Newman and Kurt Busch on the last lap.

2008: Near Wreck at Coca-Cola 600

In 2008, during the Coca-Cola 600, Tony Stewart experienced a tire issue with three laps remaining, narrowly avoiding contact with the wall. He was compelled to relinquish the lead to Kasey Kahne to make necessary pit stops.

2008: Earnhardt's Last Win Anniversary

In 2008, the anniversary of Dale Earnhardt's last win was celebrated, which Tony Stewart referenced in a controversial statement after the 2012 Quicken Loans 400.

2008: End with Joe Gibbs Racing

Tony Stewart's time driving the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing car, under crew chief Greg Zipadelli with The Home Depot as the primary sponsor, ended in 2008 after starting in 1999.

June 7, 2009: Stewart Wins Pocono 500

On June 7, 2009, Tony Stewart achieved his first points race win as a driver/owner at Pocono in the Pocono 500, becoming the first owner-driver in the Cup series to win a race since Ricky Rudd in 1998.

October 5, 2009: Stewart Wins Price Chopper 400

On October 5, 2009, Tony Stewart won the Price Chopper 400, advancing to fourth place in the standings, but finished the season in sixth place overall.

2009: Stewart-Haas Racing Officially Forms

In 2009, Stewart-Haas Racing was officially formed after Tony Stewart's departure from Joe Gibbs Racing.

2009: Fence Climbing, Exercise, and Home Depot Promotions

In 2009, following a win in the Pepsi 400, Tony Stewart started climbing the fence after victories, similar to Hélio Castroneves. After winning the All-Star race, he jokingly mentioned being too fat to climb fences and purchased exercise equipment. The Home Depot capitalized on this with promotions, such as discounts on ladders, fencing, and bricks. Stewart aimed to keep winning races and help lower home improvement costs for The Home Depot customers.

April 16, 2010: Stewart Wins First Sprint Cup Pole in Five Years

On April 16, 2010, Tony Stewart secured his first Sprint Cup pole position in five years at Texas Motor Speedway, marking his 400th Sprint Cup race and his first pole since October 2005.

May 9, 2010: Stewart Loses Old Spice Sponsorship

On May 9, 2010, it was reported that Tony Stewart would lose Old Spice as a sponsor after 11 years of partnership.

September 5, 2010: Stewart Wins Emory Healthcare 500

On September 5, 2010, Tony Stewart secured a win at the Emory Healthcare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

October 10, 2010: Stewart Wins Pepsi Max 400

On October 10, 2010, Tony Stewart won the Pepsi Max 400 at Auto Club Speedway.

October 12, 2010: Mobil 1 Announces Sponsorship Deal with Stewart-Haas Racing

On October 12, 2010, Mobil 1 announced a sponsorship deal with Stewart-Haas Racing, sponsoring Tony Stewart's car starting in 2011.

2010: Jimmie Johnson's Championships

From 2006 to 2010 Jimmie Johnson also secured multiple championships.

June 2011: Stewart and Vickers Incident at Infineon Raceway

In June 2011 at Infineon Raceway, Tony Stewart intentionally crashed into Brian Vickers, leading to Vickers intentionally wrecking Stewart in retaliation.

July 27, 2011: First World of Outlaws Win

On July 27, 2011, Tony Stewart won his first-ever World of Outlaws race at Ohsweken Speedway.

October 30, 2011: Stewart Wins Tums Fast Relief 500

On October 30, 2011, Tony Stewart won the Tums Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway, moving into championship contention.

November 20, 2011: Stewart Wins 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship

On November 20, 2011, Tony Stewart won the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship by winning the final race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, tying on total points with Carl Edwards but winning the tiebreaker due to having more race wins.

2011: Mobil 1 Sponsorship Begins

In 2011, Mobil 1 began sponsoring Tony Stewart's car for 11 races, with Office Depot sponsoring the remainder.

2011: NASCAR Cup Series Championship as Owner/Driver

In 2011, Tony Stewart achieved a significant milestone by winning the NASCAR Cup Series championship as an owner/driver.

February 11, 2012: Stewart Narrowly Misses Winning Budweiser Shootout

On February 11, 2012, Tony Stewart almost won the Budweiser Shootout but was passed by Kyle Busch in a close finish.

March 25, 2012: Stewart Wins Rain-Shortened Auto Club 400

On March 25, 2012, Tony Stewart won the rain-shortened Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway.

June 3, 2012: Stewart Involved in 13-Car Crash at Dover

On June 3, 2012, Tony Stewart was caught in a 13-car crash at Dover and finished the race in 25th place.

October 2, 2012: Bass Pro Shops to Co-Sponsor Stewart in 2013

On October 2, 2012, Bass Pro Shops announced that they would be a co-primary sponsor for Tony Stewart in a selected number of races for the 2013 season.

2012: Last Chase Appearance Since 2012

After winning at Sonoma, Tony Stewart moved into the Chase for the first time since 2012.

2012: Stewart Throws Helmet at Kenseth's Car

In 2012 at Bristol in the Irwin Tools Night Race, Tony Stewart and Matt Kenseth tangled while battling for the lead, leading Stewart to climb out of his wrecked car and throw his helmet at Kenseth's car in anger.

2012: Regan Smith Fills In For Dale Earnhardt Jr.

In 2012, Regan Smith drove two races in Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s car after Earnhardt was sidelined with a concussion, leading to speculation that Smith might replace Stewart after his injury in 2013.

2012: Stewart's Controversy After Quicken Loans 400

In 2012, Tony Stewart stirred controversy following the Quicken Loans 400 by stating that Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s win "Is not a national holiday," taunting Earnhardt's fans for celebrating the anniversary of Earnhardt's last win.

August 5, 2013: Leg Injury in Sprint Car Crash

On August 5, 2013, while leading a sprint car race at Southern Iowa Speedway, Tony Stewart was involved in a multi-car crash that resulted in him breaking both the tibia and fibula bones in his lower right leg. He underwent surgery and was hospitalized.

August 8, 2013: Second Surgery on Broken Leg

On August 8, 2013, Tony Stewart underwent a second surgery on his broken leg, during which a metal rod was inserted into his tibia.

August 11, 2013: Max Papis Fills In

On August 11, 2013, with Tony Stewart injured, Max Papis was named as the replacement driver for the race at Watkins Glen International.

August 19, 2013: Stewart Ruled Out For Remainder of Season

On August 19, 2013, Tony Stewart was ruled out for the remainder of the season due to his leg injury. Mark Martin was signed to drive his car for most of the remaining races.

2013: Leg Injury

In 2013 Tony Stewart had a leg injury and some claimed his poor showing in 2014 had something to do with it, but Tony dismissed these claims.

2013: Leg Injury in Sprint Car

In 2013 Tony Stewart had a leg injury in a sprint car, which he drove again in 2014.

2013: Bass Pro Shops Co-Sponsors Stewart

In 2013, Bass Pro Shops became a co-primary sponsor for Tony Stewart for select races.

2013: Nationwide Series Win at Daytona and Daytona 500 Crash

In 2013, Tony Stewart won the opening Nationwide Series event at Daytona, but his win was overshadowed by a crash involving Kyle Larson and injuring 28 spectators. The next day in the Daytona 500, Tony Stewart was caught up in an early crash with Kevin Harvick and Kasey Kahne.

2013: Sole Sprint Cup Win

In 2013, at Dover, Tony Stewart recovered from an early setback to win his sole Sprint Cup race of the year after overtaking Juan Pablo Montoya in the final laps. The win propelled him into a Wildcard spot and extended his streak to 15 seasons with at least one race win.

2013: Office Depot Ends Sponsorship with Stewart

In September at Atlanta in 2013, Mike Arning, a team spokesman, announced that Office Depot would not be Tony Stewart's sponsor.

February 15, 2014: Return to Sprint Car Racing and Win

On February 15, 2014, Tony Stewart returned to sprint car racing, driving the same car in which he broke his leg in 2013. He won a sprint car race at Tri-City Motor Speedway.

August 9, 2014: Death of Kevin Ward Jr.

On August 9, 2014, Tony Stewart struck and killed Kevin Ward Jr. with his sprint car during a race at Canandaigua Motorsports Park. Ward had exited his car after a spinout and was walking on the track when Stewart's car hit him.

August 15, 2014: NASCAR Rule Change

On August 15, 2014, NASCAR announced a rule change requiring drivers involved in accidents to remain in their vehicles until emergency crews arrive, except in emergencies.

August 17, 2014: Jeff Burton Replaces Stewart

On August 17, 2014, Jeff Burton replaced Tony Stewart for the race at Michigan and the following race at Bristol. Stewart had a waiver to maintain Chase eligibility despite missing races.

September 24, 2014: No Indictment in Kevin Ward Jr. Death

On September 24, 2014, a grand jury declined to indict Tony Stewart on charges related to the death of Kevin Ward Jr. The District Attorney stated that videos showed no aberrational driving and that Ward was under the influence of cannabis.

October 7, 2014: Three Career World of Outlaws Main Event Victories

As of October 7, 2014, Tony Stewart had three career World of Outlaws main event victories.

November 12, 2014: Probation Ends

On November 12, 2014, Tony Stewart's probation, stemming from an incident at the Charlotte race, ended.

2014: Worst Statistical Year as a Driver

In 2014, Tony Stewart finished his season with a last-place finish at Homestead-Miami, ending his 15-year winning streak. This year marked his worst statistical performance as a driver. However, he did win the Owner's Championship with Kevin Harvick.

2014: NASCAR Cup Series Championship as Owner

In 2014, Tony Stewart won the NASCAR Cup Series championship as a team owner.

2014: Kevin Harvick Joins Stewart's Team

On November 9, 2014, it was announced that Kevin Harvick would be joining Tony Stewart's team.

September 27, 2015: Plans to Retire

On September 27, 2015, it was reported that Tony Stewart planned to retire from racing after the 2016 season.

September 30, 2015: Retirement Announcement

On September 30, 2015, Tony Stewart formally announced his retirement from racing after the 2016 season. Clint Bowyer was announced as his replacement in the No. 14 car in 2017.

2015: Crash at CampingWorld.com 500

During the 2015 CampingWorld.com 500, Tony Stewart crashed on lap 288, resulting in a caution. His teammate Kevin Harvick eventually won the race.

2015: Kyle Busch Wins 2015 Championship

In 2015, Kyle Busch won a championship with Joe Gibbs Racing.

2015: Winless Season and Chase Miss

In the 2015 season, Tony Stewart failed to score a win for the second year in a row and missed the Chase. He did not finish higher than 6th place.

January 31, 2016: Back Injury While Dune Buggy Riding

On January 31, 2016, Tony Stewart injured his back while riding a dune buggy outside of San Diego with Greg Biffle.

April 24, 2016: Return to Racing at Richmond

On April 24, 2016, Tony Stewart returned to racing at the Toyota Owners 400 in Richmond, finishing 19th, after missing the first eight races of the season due to a back injury.

2016: Richmond Controversy and Retirement

In 2016 at Richmond, Tony Stewart wrecked Ryan Newman, causing a pileup and ending Newman's chase chances. Stewart's bid for a fourth title ended after poor finishes, and he finished his career with a 22nd-place finish at the Ford EcoBoost 400.

2016: Final Full-Time Season in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

In 2016, Tony Stewart last competed full-time in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (now known as the NASCAR Cup Series), driving the No. 14 Chevrolet SS for Stewart-Haas Racing, under crew chief Mike Bugarewicz.

2016: Retirement Announcement

On September 30, 2015, Tony Stewart formally announced his retirement from racing after the 2016 season.

2017: Clint Bowyer Replaces Stewart

On September 30, 2015, it was announced that Clint Bowyer would replace Tony Stewart in the No. 14 car in 2017 after Stewarts retirement.

May 22, 2019: Vote into NASCAR Hall of Fame

On May 22, 2019, Tony Stewart was voted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

2019: Kyle Busch Wins 2019 Championship

In 2019, Kyle Busch won a championship with Joe Gibbs Racing.

January 31, 2020: Induction into NASCAR Hall of Fame

On January 31, 2020, Tony Stewart was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame alongside the 11th Hall of Fame class.

2020: Xfinity Series Return Plans Canceled

In 2020, Tony Stewart planned to return to the now-Xfinity Series for the Pennzoil 150 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's road course, but plans were called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

November 21, 2021: Marriage to Leah Pruett

On November 21, 2021, Tony Stewart married NHRA Top Fuel Drag Racer Leah Pruett.

2021: SRX Series Championship

In 2021, Tony Stewart got a podium finish in the inaugural SRX Series race, swept the two dirt track races, and won the championship by 45 points over Ernie Francis Jr.