“It brought me back to a moment back in 2009.” Tony Stewart was heavy with emotions following his latest victory. He won his first NHRA Top Fuel race in Las Vegas, adding to an eclectic resume that has NASCAR, IndyCar, IROC, SRX, and other championships. However, the latest victory reminded him of his time in NASCAR, when he was embarking on uplifting Stewart-Haas Racing. While the legend’s mind lingers around the sport, Dale Earnhardt Jr’s mind also lingers around Stewart.

The two Cup Series veterans raced together in NASCAR during their prime. From resolving a hot-headed conflict to appearing in a popular band’s music video, Dale Jr and Tony Stewart have been close for a long time. That is precisely why Junior wants his old friend back in his home ground.

Tony Stewart’s old sport wants him back

After all, ‘Smoke’ laid down a golden legacy in NASCAR. Tony Stewart’s 49 Cup Series wins and three championships hold stories of resilience and high versatility. His skill as a master of any race car was visible within the sport when he made the shift from Joe Gibbs Racing to SHR as a racer/owner in 2008. Despite people doubting him, Stewart led SHR to 16 wins as well as the 2011 championship. So even as Stewart is celebrating his NHRA 4-Wide Nationals victory with a run of 317.42 mph, his old sport’s veteran wants him back. Dale Earnhardt Jr, a 26-time Cup Series race winner, longs to see his friend. Even if it’s not Cup, Dale Jr wants to make the most out of owning a championship-winning team in the Xfinity Series.

In a recent Dale Jr Download episode, Dale Jr at first lauded his old competitor. Tony Stewart is currently living the life, being the father to little Dominic and a doting husband to NHRA star Leah Pruett. “He won this weekend…I think the world of that guy, and I’m so happy for him being a dad and how he’s enjoying that, and happy for Leah…I love that he’s into this drag racing, I love that he’s in it…beyond the ‘no return.'” After Stewart-Haas Racing shut down last year, this may be the first time Stewart is feeling happy, as a father, a husband, and a drag racer. But Dale Jr slipped his ardent wish in three words: “I miss him.”

Junior wants ‘Smoke’ back on NASCAR circuits, running like a thunderous star like he used to. “I wish he was driving in circles, you know. But I miss him at the NASCAR tracks, as a competitor…I want to see him do one or two Xfinity races a year. He was always cool when he was in the race, in the field. I’d love to see him race in Xfinity…go back to Daytona or something.” With JR Motorsports being the cream of the Xfinity field, who knows, maybe Dale Jr can fix his old friend up for a ride?

What is more, Tony Stewart has already hopped on a ride owned by Dale Jr. In March 2003, the rock band 3 Doors Down recruited Stewart and Dale Jr to star in the music video for “The Road I’m On.” On the band’s insistence to sponsor one of Dale Jr’s cars, Stewart hopped aboard the plan. Later that year in August, Stewart entered his first Busch Series (Xfinity) race since 1998. He piloted Earnhardt’s No. 8 Chevrolet in the Cabela’s 250 at Michigan International Speedway. He even led for 86 laps, until a rain delay dropped him to an 11th-place finish.

Clearly, if Tony Stewart wanted, he could be dazzling his fans again in the Xfinity Series. What motivated Dale Jr to want his old friend back more was his lesser-known personality.

Trending

1

Embarrassment for Joe Gibbs Racing as Early Leak Leaves NASCAR Fans Gutted

2

NASCAR’s Nearly $40 Billion Sponsor Sends Chilling Warning to the USA Over President Trump’s New Policies

3

NASCAR Rumor: Rick Hendrick Pulls Away Toyota Prospect As Dale Earnhardt Jr. Lets Slip Major Xfinity Update

4

Kevin Harvick Opens His Door For NASCAR’s Next Female Driver Switching Up her Career After Nearly 10 Years

5

NASCAR Fans Confused as Kyle Larson’s Insanity Forces Roger Penske to Bring the “Larson” Rule to IndyCar

Soft behind a hard wall

Well, people in NASCAR know Tony Stewart for his signature aggression. The legend’s unmatched spirit was visible, especially during the 2011 Cup Series championship. Carl Edwards dominated the regular season consistently until Stewart appeared as a dominant force out of nowhere. He entered the Chase without a single win, clinching five of the final ten races to force a tiebreaker for the championship. Stewart even mounted a psychological war against Edwards, telling the media, “He’d better be worried.” Indeed, Stewart went on to snatch the championship from Edwards, showing people how aggressively determined he can be. But even as this feisty side to Stewart’s personality is well-known, Dale Earnhardt Jr. wanted to point out a less popular side.

During a 1998 Xfinity Series race at Pikes Peak, Tony Stewart engaged in an intense battle with Dale Jr. The latter even had a push-and-shove session with Stewart’s crew chief. But a week later in Milwaukee, Stewart confronted Junior and said, “Let’s be friends. Let’s not run into each other anymore.” This willingness to iron out differences heartened Dale Jr, who reflected on Stewart’s softer side recently. “Tony is a teddy bear,” Earnhardt said. “He’s very sensitive, and behind closed doors, he has regrets and sometimes regrets his actions that he’s had in the past.”

Evidently, Dale Earnhardt Jr has a soft corner for ‘Smoke’, inviting him back to NASCAR. We can only wait and see if Stewart accepts his invitation or not.