Set To Race With Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions
Story By: TYLER ALTMEYER / ALL STAR SERIES MEDIA
Photos By: DAVE DALESANDRO / RACERSGUIDE.COM
CONCORD, N.C. —January 19, 2017- Tony Stewart appears set to return to the seat of a winged sprint car by competing in at least three Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions races during Florida Speedweeks.
Stewart, who has not raced a sprint car since the 2014 season, told MRN.com, which broke the story, during a press conference on Wednesday that he will race in the Feb. 9-11 All Star events at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, Fla., and may also compete in races at Volusia Speedway Park Feb. 15-18. If he does not drive the Tony Stewart Racing No. 14 at Volusia’s half-mile dirt track, Chili Bowl Nationals winner Christopher Bell will take his place.
“It really just depends on how I feel after running Ocala,” Stewart explained. “I don’t feel like I need to run every race. Volusia is a fast half mile, so I’m not really sure if I’m in shape enough to run it or if I am comfortable yet…I feel like a rookie.”
Stewart, who earlier in the day announced he would drive for Hoffman Auto Racing in the Little 500, said his short-track schedule could include as many as 80 races.
“There are some on the schedule this year that I feel like are big races, it depends on how we run early on,” he noted. “Some of the races that we are going to run soon I am very excited about because they are races I’ve never run before.”
“You know I haven’t been in a car for two-and-a-half years so I don’t know how long it’s going to take to get back in the swing of things.” Stewart said. “I don’t know if I’m going to be as good as I was before but it’s going to be fun trying.”
Stewart said he does not plan to compete in the August Knoxville Nationals, but noted that his performance in February will help determine a portion of his schedule.
Stewart is a former winner with both the All Stars and the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series.
