Tony Stewart Returns to NASCAR Truck Series at Daytona

Veteran driver aims to boost fan excitement and leverage superspeedway expertise in strategic comeback.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Tony Stewart, a celebrated figure in both NASCAR and NHRA racing, is set to return to Daytona International Speedway this weekend for his first NASCAR event in a decade. Joining Kaulig Racing under Ram's Free Agent program, Stewart will compete in the Craftsman Truck Series, marking only his seventh start in this category. His choice to race at Daytona with a pickup truck signals a strategic move to reignite excitement at one of NASCAR's most iconic venues.

Why it matters

Stewart's return to NASCAR could help revitalize interest and bolster the sport's fan base, which has faced challenges in recent years. Leveraging his veteran status and expertise in superspeedway racing, Stewart's presence on the track represents a hopeful sign of renewed energy in the sport's present and future.

The details

Throughout his career, Stewart has been known for his fierce competitiveness and adaptability, holding the rare distinction of winning championships in both NASCAR and IndyCar. Though he stepped away from NASCAR competition in 2016, he has remained active in motorsport by competing in the NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster series since 2022. A key conversation with Ram's CEO Tim Kuniskis at the Roadkill Nights event in Pontiac, Michigan last year fueled his interest in returning to NASCAR, especially given the Free Agent program's structure featuring rotating drivers and limited commitments.

  • Tony Stewart last competed in a NASCAR event 10 years ago.
  • The Daytona Truck Series race will take place this weekend.

The players

Tony Stewart

A celebrated figure in both NASCAR and NHRA racing, known for his fierce competitiveness and adaptability, having won championships in both NASCAR and IndyCar.

Tim Kuniskis

The CEO of Ram, who had a key conversation with Tony Stewart at the Roadkill Nights event in Pontiac, Michigan that fueled Stewart's interest in returning to NASCAR.

Kaulig Racing

The NASCAR team that Tony Stewart will be joining for the Daytona Truck Series race under Ram's Free Agent program.

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What they’re saying

“I think it's a neat thing for us. 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 this minute. And it'll get back sorted out, it's gonna get healthy again. It'll be fine. But this is a good way to kind of help with that and get the fans excited about Daytona again, and it's a small part of it, trust me. I'm not going down there to reinvent the wheel for anybody in the NASCAR fans.”

— Tony Stewart, NASCAR Driver (theconwaybulletin.com)

“I haven't been in a NASCAR anything for 10 years. So as much as technology's changed, and all of these different variables changed, all these drivers know — these guys that are running the truck series, they know the handling characteristics of these trucks. But when you go to a place like Daytona and Talladega, they aren't necessarily the same handling characteristics, and the things that you truly need to know about that is the draft. It doesn't matter how much technology changes, the one thing that doesn't change at Daytona is the air. So I think our record book shows we have a pretty good success rate at Daytona, and at least that we understand that part of it.”

— Tony Stewart, NASCAR Driver (theconwaybulletin.com)

“For these kids in the truck series, the majority of them are trying to figure out the same things. So I feel like making that decision to run Daytona was more out of the things that I knew about restrictor plate racing, and the variables that are the same variables these kids are going to have to learn. So, I feel it puts us more on an even playing field as far as what they know versus what I know right now. So that was really ultimately the decision for why I picked a truck race at Daytona.”

— Tony Stewart, NASCAR Driver (theconwaybulletin.com)

What’s next

While Stewart has not revealed plans for further races in the Free Agent truck this season, he hinted that additional starts at superspeedways like Talladega could be likely. His future participation will also likely depend on how Ram performs at Daytona.

The takeaway

Tony Stewart's comeback at Daytona represents a strategic move to reengage NASCAR fans and leverage his veteran expertise in superspeedway racing. His presence on the track could help revitalize interest in the sport and signal a renewed energy in NASCAR's present and future.