Tony Stewart Finishes Final NASCAR Race at 45
November 20th marked two big moments in Chevrolet NASCAR. On the one hand, Jimmie Johnson won his seventh NASCAR championship, tying the record held by Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt, Sr.
On the other hand, though, the 20th marked a sad day, as it was the final race of three-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart, who has driven and owned the No. 14 Always a Racer/Mobil 1 Chevrolet SS for the last 8 seasons. Stewart finished 22nd, two laps off pace, placing him at 15th in the standings.
Mostly, his comments were ones of pride. First, he was proud of his career and the opportunity to lead the field on a pace lap, saying, “It’s been an awesome 21 years racing in NASCAR in the Xfinity Series and the Cup Series. … I said all year I just wanted to be one of the guys racing and to be put out there [on that pace lap], it’s an honor, but it’s humbling at the same time.”
Then, he was also proud of fellow driver Jimmie Johnson, saying, “I was glad to race with him on the day he got his seventh.”
The event was clearly a special one, as in addition to leading a pace lap, Stewart’s car was set apart for friends and fans to approach for hugs and photos, and he also drove down pit road, hi-fiving crew members.
“The whole day was awesome. You couldn’t ask for it to be a better day,” he said. “[…] Probably the best part was your peers and fellow drivers and crew chiefs and crew members. Coming down pit road and high-fiving all those guys, it made me think back to when Dale Sr. won the Daytona 500. It was just an awesome moment.”
News Source: ESPN
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