Tony Stewart puts NASCAR on blast over charter agreements

The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season has come and gone. Tony Stewart is now out of the ownership ranks as he downsized his priorities. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have thoughts about the sport.

For more than 20 years, Tony Stewart has been in NASCAR as a driver or owner. At times, both. We know he has been critical of the sport in recent years. But recently he really let his feelings known.

Stewart went on Cars and Culture with Jason Stein a while back to talk racing. The charter agreements were brought up. Smoke is not a fan.

“At the end of the day, if you enjoy what you see [in NASCAR], that’s okay. But for someone like myself who has been in the sport for over 20 years, what it was when I started and where it’s at now and the direction it’s going, I don’t necessarily agree with it, I don’t necessarily like it,” Stewart explained. “There’s elements of it that I’m very disappointed in. But that’s okay. Not everybody has to agree on it. But for me, that’s why it’s the right time to make a change. You know, that’s not why we’re making the change but that’s okay with me that it’s happening now because of things that have happened as years progressed.

“The charter agreements are a joke. And if people aren’t smart enough to read between the lines – when someone like Rick Hendrick says, ‘I just got tired of arguing with them.’ Do you think Rick Hendrick runs his business and negotiations and just says, ‘I’m going to just sign this agreement because I’m tired of arguing with you.’ Rick Hendrick’s never done that a day in his life. So, if people aren’t smart enough to read between the lines and figuring out what that means, then you’re all missing the whole big picture all by itself. So, it’s just an area I don’t want to be a part of anymore. I’m a purist, I’m an old-school guy when it comes to racing.”

Tony Stewart is an old-school guy. He always has been. During his career, he was a no-nonsense driver. If you crossed him on the track, he was going to let you know about it.

While his name is Smoke, the Hall of Famer always brings the fire when he has to. The charter agreements are not going anywhere. But there is this lawsuit that could shake things up in a major way.