Tony Stewart’s NASCAR Comeback That Never Was: How a Pandemic Stole “Smoke’s” Glorious Return
It was all set—the grand return of Tony Stewart, NASCAR’s beloved wild card. The helmet-throwing, fist-swinging, gas-pedal-abusing legend was ready to hit the track once again. The venue? Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The event? The 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series. The excitement? Sky-high.
But just as “Smoke” was revving up for an epic comeback, an invisible opponent took the green flag—COVID-19.
The Road Back: Full of Hope, Then Hit With a Red Flag
Since stepping away from full-time NASCAR racing in 2016, Stewart had focused on team ownership, dirt track dominance, and expanding his motorsports empire. Yet, the itch to race never left. In early 2020, he announced a highly anticipated one-off return for the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Indianapolis, set for July 4th weekend.
Fans were ecstatic. His rivals were intrigued. The NASCAR world was ready for one more ride from one of its fiercest competitors. But just as everything seemed set in stone, the world came to a screeching halt.
The COVID-19 pandemic threw NASCAR’s schedule into chaos, forcing event cancellations, empty stands, and restricted travel. Stewart’s return race was a casualty of the global shutdown, leaving fans and the driver himself in utter disappointment.
March 4, 2020: Tony Stewart announces his return to NASCAR at Indianapolis.
The pandemic shuts it all down.
As nascarman bluntly put it on X (formerly Twitter), it was as cruel as getting a race-winning car disqualified post-inspection—one moment of triumph, erased in an instant.
Stewart’s Reaction: Frustration Masked in Humor
Stewart didn’t hold back when asked about the letdown.
“It was frustrating, no doubt,” Stewart admitted, via Autoweek. “But hey, if I can survive a 500-mile race with Kevin Harvick as my teammate, I can survive a pandemic-induced delay.”
The sarcasm was classic Stewart, but beneath it lay genuine frustration. This wasn’t just about one race—it was a symbolic return to the sport that had defined his career. Having entered the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2020, he was already solidified as one of the greats. But this race was about proving he still had it.
Even fellow NASCAR great Dale Earnhardt Jr. understood the gravity of the missed opportunity.
“I know how much Tony loves racing,” Earnhardt Jr. told NBC Sports. “For him to come back at Indy, in front of those fans, it would’ve been a huge deal. It’s a shame it didn’t happen.”
COVID-19’s Impact on NASCAR and Stewart-Haas Racing
The pandemic didn’t just cancel Stewart’s return—it shook NASCAR to its core. Races moved to iRacing, teams faced financial strain, and fan attendance became a distant memory.
For Stewart-Haas Racing, the team Stewart co-owns, the crisis forced a shift in priorities. Instead of a personal return, he had to focus on keeping his team afloat.
“The pandemic changed everything for everyone,” Stewart told Racer Magazine. “Our priority became making sure our drivers and teams had everything they needed to compete under these new conditions.”
With his attention split between ownership duties and adapting to a new NASCAR landscape, his personal racing ambitions took a backseat.
Stewart’s Next Move: From NASCAR to 300+ MPH Drag Racing
While his stock car return never happened, Stewart didn’t exactly fade into the background. In late 2021, he stunned the motorsports world by announcing his entry into NHRA Top Fuel drag racing.
A new challenge, a different kind of adrenaline rush—and speeds of over 300 mph.
“I guess I just wanted something faster,” Stewart joked, via Motorsport.com. “Because NASCAR apparently wasn’t keeping up.”
This wasn’t just a hobby. Stewart fully committed to NHRA, proving that no matter the format, his need for speed was unshakable.
Will Tony Stewart Ever Return to NASCAR?
The burning question remains: Will Stewart ever get back behind the wheel of a NASCAR stock car?
He’s knee-deep in NHRA now, but he hasn’t ruled it out.
“There’s always that itch,” Stewart told NASCAR.com. “I’ll never say never, but right now, I’ve got my hands full.”
With Stewart’s history of comebacks, defying expectations, and a relentless drive to compete, nothing is off the table. The pandemic robbed fans of what could have been an unforgettable return, but that doesn’t mean the door is permanently shut.
One thing is for sure—if Smoke ever decides to fire up a stock car again, NASCAR fans will be ready.
