In what was one heckuva retirement gift to him, Tony Stewart got to run a midget on a specially made 3/16 mile dirt track at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Tuesday night.
Yes, Stewart’s return to his home track and home state was meant to build interest for NASCAR’s upcoming Brickyard 400 on July 24.
But Stewart - who provided he enters the top 30 in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points will qualify for this year’s Chase for the Sprint Cup following his June 26 win at Sonoma Raceway - is a dirt man first and foremost, and you could tell was soaking it up on Tuesday.
“I was dead set that I was not going to get in anything … (but) I’m addicted,’’ Stewart told reporters Tuesday before, true to form, he got in a midget (via NASCAR TALK). “I’m going to have to run a couple of laps.”
Stewart wasn’t alone of course; Bryan Clauson and Sarah Fisher also joined in the festivities, as you can see below.
Here’s a social roundup of images and videos of “Smoke” going back on dirt.
We gave @TonyStewart a milk bottle filled with @IMS dirt track dirt and then he strapped in and "flung some dirt!" pic.twitter.com/WcS08ku2eW
— J. Douglas Boles (@jdouglas4) July 6, 2016
Thx for last night @tonystewart @BryanClauson @USACNation @DaveyRay33 @SarahFisher @gagewalker7 @carson_macedo @spencerbayston #Dirt@IMS
— J. Douglas Boles (@jdouglas4) July 6, 2016
And there @TonyStewart goes #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/ap6X2R450g
— brant james (@brantjames) July 5, 2016
He's really doing it. #nascar @IMS pic.twitter.com/hcmSqAOuxu
— brant james (@brantjames) July 5, 2016
Stewart straps in. pic.twitter.com/8HfQnGUHVy
— John Oreovicz (@IndyOreo) July 5, 2016
"It's been a long time since I drove one of these," Stewart said. "In 6 months I can do it any time I want." pic.twitter.com/DGJ1ZOEZSN
— John Oreovicz (@IndyOreo) July 5, 2016
ICYMI - @TonyStewart hit the dirt track with @BryanClauson, @SarahFisher and other @USACNation drivers yesterday! pic.twitter.com/LjkoKyjqjr
— Indianapolis Motor Speedway (@IMS) July 6, 2016
.@TonyStewart and @BryanClauson took a break from the dirt for a quick selfie #AlwaysRac14g pic.twitter.com/QnCyKDDqJY
— Indianapolis Motor Speedway (@IMS) July 5, 2016
.@BryanClauson @TonyStewart @SarahFisher @IMS dirt track pic.twitter.com/sxpEKbvGok
— BYRD Racing (@ByrdRacing) July 5, 2016
Just your average Tuesday night with @SarahFisher, @BryanClauson and @TonyStewart at @IMS! #AlwaysRac14g pic.twitter.com/zPLZnpGLN5
— SI Karting (@SIKarting) July 6, 2016
Damn glad to see a #HartmanOil 67 back at @IMS! @SarahFisher is back in the saddle tonight. @WinkHartmanKS pic.twitter.com/KpQOHMPB3C
— Kyle O'Gara (@kyleogara) July 5, 2016
I'll be in my happy place, even if it's a few demo laps. Lol. @kyleogara @IMS @WinkHartmanKS
— Sarah Fisher (@SarahFisher) July 5, 2016
3 legends of the sport, all in their own way. Glad to call them friends! pic.twitter.com/VkTjDwM1T8
— Kyle O'Gara (@kyleogara) July 6, 2016
ON #NASCAR.COM: BEST RETIREMENT GIFT EVER - @TonyStewart's day on the dirt at @IMS -> https://t.co/5kAG1ih8MS pic.twitter.com/trOtu9hTYF
— nascarcasm (@nascarcasm) July 6, 2016
Can confirm Tony Stewart did not wanna get out of the car. And almost couldn't. #IMS #SMOKE pic.twitter.com/jXztsHdiUv
— nascarcasm (@nascarcasm) July 5, 2016
That's a helluva retirement gift, @ims. #TonyStewart https://t.co/KuzNyfMGAd
— nascarcasm (@nascarcasm) July 5, 2016