[autotag]Tony Stewart[/autotag]’s tenure in NASCAR as a Cup and Xfinity Series owner has come to an end. When the checkered flag waved at Phoenix Raceway in early November, Stewart-Haas Racing officially completed its final race before closing its doors. Gene Haas will keep one charter and rebrand the organization to the Haas Factory Team, but Stewart won’t be involved.
Following the season finale, Stewart joined Jason Stein on Cars and Culture and talked about racing. When NASCAR’s charter agreements were brought up, Stewart did not hold back his initial thoughts.
“The charter agreements are a joke,” Stewart said. “And if people aren’t smart enough to read between the lines – when someone like Rick Hendrick says, ‘I just got tired of arguing with them,’ do you think Rick Hendrick runs his business and negotiations and just says, ‘I’m going to just sign this agreement because I’m tired of arguing with you.’ Rick Hendrick’s never done that a day in his life.”
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“So, if people aren’t smart enough to read between the lines and figuring out what that means, then you’re all missing the whole big picture all by itself. So, it’s just an area I don’t want to be a part of anymore. I’m a purist, I’m an old-school guy when it comes to racing.”
Stewart wasn’t afraid to call NASCAR’s charter agreements a “joke” as 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports continued their lawsuit against the sport. Stewart won three NASCAR championships as an owner, but he nows enjoys his time in NHRA. It’s safe to assume that he will not return to NASCAR for the foreseeable future.
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