Tony Stewart’s Groundbreaking Return to NASCAR: A Shocking Comeback After 21 Years

Tony Stewart, a name synonymous with NASCAR, has made a monumental announcement that has taken the racing world by storm.

After a staggering 21-year hiatus from driving in the NASCAR Truck Series, many had believed that Stewart had hung up his racing boots for good.

However, the recent revelation has shattered those assumptions, signaling a dramatic shift in his career trajectory.

Stewart’s last appearance in a NASCAR Truck Series race was back in 2005 at Dover Motor Speedway, where he impressively finished in second place.

His final NASCAR race of any kind occurred in 2016 when he retired from full-time competition in the Cup Series.

Since then, he has been actively involved in various racing ventures, including a successful stint in NHRA drag racing and ownership of dirt track facilities.

Yet, the three-time Cup Series champion is now gearing up to make a sensational return to the NASCAR scene.

On February 13, 2026, Stewart will be behind the wheel of the number 25 Ram truck for Kowick Racing during the Fresh from Florida 250 at the Daytona International Speedway.

This race marks the season opener for the Truck Series, and the timing couldn’t be more perfect as it also coincides with Kowick Racing’s inaugural season in the Truck Series, with Ram as their manufacturer partner.

The team has introduced a unique concept known as the “free agent program,” allowing different drivers to rotate through the number 25 truck throughout the season.

Who better to kick off this program than a racing legend like Tony Stewart?

For those who may not be familiar with Stewart’s history in the Truck Series, he has competed in six career races and secured victories in two of them, both at Richmond Raceway in 2002 and 2003 while driving for Andy Petri Racing.

What adds intrigue to his return to Daytona is the fact that Stewart has never participated in a Truck Series race on a super speedway before.

However, his extensive experience at Daytona, where he boasts four Cup Series victories, places him in a unique position.

While he has never clinched a Daytona 500 win, which remains a sore spot for him, he has dominated in the Xfinity Series at Daytona with an impressive seven wins.

The last time Stewart raced at Daytona in a non-Cup Series event was in 2013, driving for Richard Childress Racing in what was then known as the Nationwide Series, and he emerged victorious in that race.

Clearly, he possesses the skills and experience necessary to tackle one of the most challenging tracks in all of NASCAR.

The announcement of Stewart’s return is not just about his individual comeback; it comes amid significant changes for Kowick Racing.

Back in November, rumors began circulating that Stewart might be involved with Kowick Racing’s new program, but he was tight-lipped about it, refusing to confirm or deny any speculation.

It turns out that behind the scenes, discussions were actively taking place, leading to this exciting announcement.

Kowick Racing is entering a new era with their Truck Series program.

They made the tough decision to pause their Xfinity Series operations, which had been competitive and even championship-caliber.

Now, they are fully committed to the Truck Series, fielding five full-time entries.

So far, they have announced Daniel Dye in the number 10 truck, rookie Brendan Queen in the number 12 truck, and Justin Haley in the number 16 truck.

The number 14 truck still awaits a driver, but the excitement lies in the free agent program associated with the number 25 truck.

Stewart’s announcement is just the first of many big names expected to grace the number 25 truck throughout the season.

Team owners Matt Kowick and Chris Rice have promised to make this experience enjoyable for fans, as they still need to fill 24 more races with the number 25 truck.

One name that has emerged as a potential candidate is Casey Conley, a driver with strong ties to the involved manufacturers and an impressive Truck Series record.

Conley has five wins in six career Truck Series starts and hasn’t raced in the series since 2015.

However, he made a return to NASCAR last year with a single Xfinity Series start, indicating he is keeping his skills sharp and could potentially jump back into a truck during the 2026 season.

As Stewart prepares for his return, he has also taken the opportunity to reflect on the evolution of NASCAR and its relationship with dirt track racing.

In a recent interview, Stewart discussed the changing dynamics between top-level stock car racing and dirt track competition.

As a passionate advocate for dirt racing, he owns several dirt track facilities and has always maintained a connection to that side of motorsports, even as he achieved remarkable success in NASCAR.

Stewart reminisced about his time driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, where he spent 10 of his 17 Cup Series seasons.

He noted that Gibbs was not fond of his drivers participating in races outside of NASCAR, fearing the risks associated with competing in other forms of racing.

This attitude was prevalent among team owners during that era.

However, Stewart pointed out that times have changed, highlighting Ty Gibbs, Joe’s grandson, who currently competes full-time in the Cup Series while also racing sprint cars and midgets.

This shift in philosophy represents a significant departure from the past, and Stewart takes pride in having helped break down those barriers.

Furthermore, Stewart expressed concern over the current state of driver development in American motorsports.

He pointed out that in the early days, drivers often participated in various disciplines, from dirt tracks to paved ovals and road courses.

This diverse experience helped mold well-rounded drivers capable of adapting to different racing situations.

However, Stewart lamented that this approach is no longer prevalent, especially in series like IndyCar, where drivers follow structured development paths that often exclude dirt racing.

Tony Stewart’s upcoming race at Daytona on February 13 serves as a nostalgic reminder of a bygone era in NASCAR, where drivers raced anything and everything.

Fans can tune in to watch this historic event on Fox Sports 1 at 7:30 p.m.

Eastern Time.

Regardless of the outcome, Stewart’s return to the track symbolizes a revival of the old-school spirit of racing, igniting excitement among fans and rekindling memories of a time when NASCAR was all about the thrill of competition.