Tony Stewart
FILE - Kyle Larson, center, talks with his crew chief Cliff Daniels, right, before qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 29, 2021 in Charlotte, N.C. Daniels, fresh off his first NASCAR championship as a crew chief, still isn’t getting much sleep. He’s in Nashville to celebrate the Cup title won with Kyle Larson and the No. 5 team while his wife is back in North Carolina expecting the birth of their second child at any moment. (AP Photo/Ben Gray, File)
Crew chief Cliff Daniels rode intense drive to NASCAR title

By Jenna Fryer Dec. 01, 2021 02:19 PM EST

Ben Rhodes (99) lifts the cup after winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway, Friday, Nov. 5, 2021, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
In The Pits: NASCAR caps 2021 looking ahead to future growth

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 29, 2021 02:50 PM EST

FILE - Sebastien Bourdais of France drives A.J. Foyt Racing's flagship No. 14 Chevrolet through the first turn during qualifications for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Saturday, May 22, 2021. Indy Lights champion Kyle Kirkwood, the most well-rounded driver of the next wave of young IndyCar newcomers, has at last found an open seat and will drive for A.J. Foyt Racing next season. Kirkwood will drive Foyt's No. 14 Chevrolet, the team said Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
Lights champ Kyle Kirkwood lands IndyCar seat with Foyt

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 10, 2021 11:01 AM EST

NASCAR driver Kyle Larson poses at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021, two days after winning the NASCAR Cup Series championship in Avondale, Ariz. Larson was the first driver to get an up-close look at what NASCAR plans when it shifts to the season-opening exhibition Busch Clash Feb. 6 on a purpose-built track inside the Coliseum. Larson, as the champion, is the only driver locked into the field so far. (AP Photo/Jenna Fryer)
NASCAR's new champion takes scouting trip to La-La-Land

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 09, 2021 05:16 PM EST

Fans attend a NASCAR Cup Series auto race on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Column: NASCAR ends season with new champions, new energy

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 08, 2021 02:09 PM EST

Kyle Larson celebrates after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race and championship on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Praise pours in for Kyle Larson following first NASCAR title

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 08, 2021 02:57 AM EST

Kyle Larson is introduced to the fans before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Larson wraps up comeback season with 1st NASCAR title

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 07, 2021 07:02 PM EST

Driver Chase Elliott speaks during media day ahead of Sunday's NASCAR championship auto race on Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Hamlin thriving amid chaos as he chases first NASCAR title

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 04, 2021 07:55 PM EDT

FILE - Kyle Larson (5) poses in victory lane after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Nashville Superspeedway, Sunday, June 20, 2021, in Lebanon, Tenn. Rick Hendrick, the winningest team owner in NASCAR history, is sending Kyle Larson and reigning Cup champion Chase Elliott to Phoenix Raceway next Sunday in search of a 14th title for mighty Hendrick Motorsports. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)
Larson seeks to cap comeback season with NASCAR championship

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 04, 2021 02:24 AM EDT

FILE - Kyle Larson (5) poses in victory lane after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Nashville Superspeedway, Sunday, June 20, 2021, in Lebanon, Tenn. Rick Hendrick, the winningest team owner in NASCAR history, is sending Kyle Larson and reigning Cup champion Chase Elliott to Phoenix Raceway next Sunday in search of a 14th title for mighty Hendrick Motorsports. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)
Larson seeks to cap comeback season with NASCAR championship

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 04, 2021 02:23 AM EDT

Ross Chastain (42) and Alex Bowman (48) get sideways during a NASCAR Cup series auto race Monday, Oct. 4, 2021, in Talladega, Ala. (AP Photo/Greg McWilliams)
Out of the way! NASCAR contenders want traffic to pull aside

By Jenna Fryer Oct. 23, 2021 10:36 AM EDT

Chase Elliott (9) drives during a NASCAR Cup Series auto racing race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021, in Concord, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)
Elliott eases into Texas following NASCAR-ordered cease fire

By Jenna Fryer Oct. 15, 2021 01:40 PM EDT

FILE - Leah Pritchett, now Leah Pruett, drives a Top Fuel dragster from the starting line on a practice run for an NHRA drag racing event in Brownsburg, Ind., in this Friday, July 10, 2020, file photo. Tony Stewart, who fell in love with NHRA while tagging along with fiancée Leah Pruett at her races the past two seasons, will be an official part of the sport in 2022. The NASCAR Hall of Fame driver will add two fulltime NHRA entries to Tony Stewart Racing next season — a Top Fuel entry for Pruett and a Funny Car for Matt Hagan. “It's a very unique opportunity to control my own destiny with my almost-husband in a sport I'm absolutely passionate about,” Pruett told The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
Stewart enters NHRA with fiancée Leah Pruett, Matt Hagan

By Jenna Fryer Oct. 14, 2021 11:03 AM EDT

IndyCar picks Levi Jones to run Indy Lights feeder series

By Jenna Fryer Oct. 11, 2021 11:43 AM EDT
Levi Jones, a veteran sprint car driver and current USAC executive, was named director of the Indy Lights on Monday as the junior racing series readies for its...

FILE - In this Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, file photo, Kevin Harvick waits in his garage before practice for a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, in Indianapolis. Chase Elliott, according to Harvick, doesn't race very smart. In fact, moving forward in NASCAR's playoffs, Harvick plans to run all over the reigning Cup champion. Those were the angry words Harvick had for Elliott after the race at Bristol Motor Speedway, Saturday, Sept. 18, where a feud no one saw coming took center stage. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
Harvick out to stop earliest playoff elimination of career

By Jenna Fryer Oct. 09, 2021 10:14 AM EDT

Kyle Larson drives through the Bus Stop during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race in Watkins Glen, N.Y., on Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex)
Larson finally chases down Hamlin atop NASCAR standings

By John Kekis Aug. 09, 2021 06:28 PM EDT

First place winner Marcus Ericsson, center, is flanked by second place winner Scott Dixon, right, and third place winner James Hinchcliffe as they hoist their trophies in the air in Victory Circle at the IndyCar Music City Grand Prix auto race Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Harrison McClary)
Music City launches a smash hit event in IndyCar return

By Dan Gelston Aug. 09, 2021 12:14 PM EDT

Chase Elliott competes at a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, July 18, 2021, in Loudon, N.H. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Chasing history: Elliott goes for three-peat at Watkins Glen

By John Kekis Aug. 07, 2021 11:33 AM EDT

FILE - In this May 14, 2021, file photo, Jimmie Johnson climbs out of his car following practice for the IndyCar auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis. Johnson is hopeful of testing in August at Homestead-Miami Speedway as part of a path toward running in the Indianapolis 500 in 2022. The seven-time NASCAR champion jumped this season to IndyCar and has competed in seven races for team owner Chip Ganassi. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
Johnson has sights set on bigger, better finishes in IndyCar

By Dan Gelston Aug. 07, 2021 05:38 AM EDT

FILE - In this July 12, 2008, file photo, Scott Dixon, of New Zealand, holds his guitar trophy after winning the rain-shortened IndyCar Series auto race in Gladeville, Tenn. The IndyCar series race will be held in downtown Nashville, Tenn., this weekend. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)
IndyCar's Nashville invasion takes winding road through city

By Dan Gelston Aug. 05, 2021 03:15 PM EDT