Commentary

Stewart remains competitive as ever

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Tony Stewart is everybody's punching bag.

I kid because I care. As do those closest to him.

"Is Tony any different ...?" I began by asking Kevin Harvick.

"He's overweight and needs a haircut right now," Harvick interrupted.

"Did you see Tony making such a smooth transition from driver to owner?" I asked Joe Gibbs.

"I asked somebody, 'Did he have a lobotomy or what?' " Gibbs said.

Stewart takes the jabs in stride, understanding the quirky mix of sarcasm and love.

For all the controversial dust-ups in his career -- and one terribly tragic downturn -- Stewart remains an iconic part of NASCAR history.

Stewart is no accidental tourist to the party. His skill set as a driver is impeccable. Whether dirt tracks, stock cars or open-wheel racing, Stewart has always been a "wheelman," a one-size-fits-all compliment to someone who can drive any type of car.

But given Stewart's often-prickly history -- engaging one minute, enraged and combative in the other -- the unknown was how Stewart would morph into a successful full-time owner after he retired from Cup racing after the 2016 season.

Done deal.

It's a perfect marriage at Stewart-Haas. Tony brings the driver savvy and experience. Gene Haas handles the business aspect of things, which has allowed the team to expand from two drivers to the current four-car setup over the years.

"Gene can't do it without Tony and Tony can't do it without Gene," Harvick said.

The driver savvy came into play during the 2014 season when Harvick qualified for the title-race's Final 4 and drew all the media obligations and logistical bells and whistles that come along with the prize.

"When I got back to the bus, he and DeLana (Harvick, Kevin's wife) were laying out the schedule for the rest of the week. He felt like he had been there, done that, understood what it took. Tony is good to have because he looks at it from a driver's mentality."

Stewart began carving out a career shift in 2008 when he severed ties with Joe Gibbs Racing to move to then-Haas/CNC Racing as co-owner and driver, ending a 10-year run.

"When the opportunity presented itself to be an owner but still be a driver, I had to look at what my future was actually going to be," Stewart said Friday. "You look at so many of these drivers at the end of their driving career, they just disappear from the sport. That's not what I wanted to do.

"It was natural. The hard part was when do you say, 'It's time to stop the driving."

Despite the career-related divorce, Stewart and Gibbs remain close and complimentary of each other. Sitting next to Gibbs during a Championship 4 owner availability on Friday, Stewart spoke glowingly of lessons learned under Gibbs.

And then it was Gibbs' turn.

"I think he recognizes teamwork," Gibbs said. "The passion he has for this sport, on the racetracks, everything. If there's somebody who can speak to every part of our sport, it's Tony."

The road hasn't always been so hunky-dory.

The tragic twist occurred on a New York dirt-track in August 2014 when Stewart sideswiped Kevin Ward Jr. during a Saturday night dirt-track race.

Ward Jr., 20, who had scrambled out of his car, furious at Stewart for an accident on the previous lap, was killed. Although a New York grand jury did not indict Stewart on any charges related to the incident, Ward's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit, and the two sides settled in April of this year.

The incident was a sobering one for Stewart, who went into a depressive funk. He stayed home and in bed for long periods of time, to the point where a stylist had to come in to cut his hair. He eventually had to seek professional counseling.

Things have smoothed over as best they can, though it will never be forgotten. Stewart, now 47, remains one of the most likeable guys in NASCAR's insular family, always busting on anyone from high-profile drivers to regular guys on pit crews from across the spectrum.

Tony Stewart, people person. Who knew?

Now if he would only follow Harvick's advice and lose some weight and get a haircut.

Sports on 11/19/2018

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