Smoke Returns: Tony Stewart Talks About His Daytona Comeback with Kaulig

When Tony Stewart walked back into the Daytona garage on February 12, 2026, people noticed. Crews looked up from their work, conversations paused, and the reality settled in: Stewart was back in a firesuit at the World Center of Racing. It’s been years since he last mixed it up on the high banks.

He’s spent recent seasons building his NHRA program and handling the demands of team ownership, but the urge to climb back into a stock car, or in this case, a truck, never really disappeared. Standing outside the Kaulig Racing hauler, Stewart talked openly about why this moment mattered to him and why the timing finally felt right.

Stewart Feels The Pull Of The High Banks

For most people, retirement means stepping away. For Stewart, it meant shifting his focus. But Daytona has a way of staying with a driver. He admitted he missed the intensity of superspeedway racing, the strategy, the unpredictability, the constant calculation at nearly 200 mph.

Stewart said the decision to return wasn’t about chasing headlines or rewriting history. “I just missed racing the way Daytona forces you to race,” he explained. “You can’t fake anything out there. You’re either in it, or you’re not.”

He talked about missing the small things too: the garage atmosphere, the nerves before the command, the feeling of being inches from three-wide traffic. Those moments, he said, are what make a racer feel alive.

How The Kaulig Deal Came Together

The partnership with Kaulig Racing might seem unexpected, but the personalities match well. Matt Kaulig has built a team that’s aggressive, upbeat, and focused on winning — traits that line up with how Stewart has always approached racing.

He said the deal didn’t start with a pitch or a meeting. It was simply racers talking. Kaulig had an open seat and wanted someone who would race hard, not just log laps. They promised him a truck capable of running up front, and that made the decision easy. “If I was going to do this, it had to be with a group that wanted to attack,” Stewart said. “Kaulig races the way I like to race.”

Stewart Tackles The Challenge Of The Ram Truck

One of the most interesting parts of this return is the truck itself. Stewart will be driving a Kaulig Racing Ram, a new challenge for him and a notable moment for the manufacturer. He’s won in almost everything with wheels, but trucks behave differently than Cup cars or dragsters.

He was straightforward about the adjustment. The draft is stronger, the air moves differently, and the bumpers don’t match up the same way. Practice mattered. He had to relearn the timing of side-drafting and understand how the Ram reacts in traffic. Stewart said the learning curve was real, but also part of the appeal. “If it was easy, I wouldn’t be here,” he said. “I wanted something that made me think again.”

Why Stewart’s Return Matters

Stewart’s return isn’t just a headline. It shifts the dynamic of the entire garage. Stewart’s return carries weight far beyond a single race entry. His presence reconnects the sport with a level of competitiveness and personality that defined an entire era of NASCAR. Stewart said he understands the impact of coming back, but he doesn’t view it as a symbolic moment. He views it as unfinished business.

“I’ve been around this garage my whole life,” he said. “You don’t just turn that switch off. Coming back isn’t about nostalgia. It’s about being part of something that still means a lot to me.” His return brings a sense of authenticity that fans and competitors have been craving, and it reminds the garage what it looks like when a driver races purely for the love of the craft.

For Veterans

It’s a reminder that experience still matters, especially at Daytona. Stewart’s presence pushes the established drivers to elevate their game. When a driver with his résumé straps in, everyone pays attention.

For Rookies

It’s both exciting and intimidating. Many of them grew up watching him. Now they have to race him. Stewart’s presence forces younger drivers to measure themselves against someone who defined an era.

For NASCAR

Stewart brings something NASCAR can’t manufacture: authenticity. He’s blunt, competitive, and unapologetically himself. His return adds weight to the event and brings back a level of unpredictability that fans crave.

For Stewart Himself

This isn’t a farewell tour or a nostalgia trip. It’s a chance to reconnect with the part of racing he misses most. “I didn’t come back to wave at the crowd,” he said. “I came back because I still love competing.”

What’s Next

As the Craftsman Truck Series field rolls off, attention naturally shifts to the Kaulig Racing Ram with Stewart behind the wheel. He isn’t here for ceremony or sentiment. He’s here because the fire never went out. When the visor drops, it won’t feel like a comeback story. It’ll feel like Tony Stewart doing what he’s always done.

Whether he leaves Daytona with a trophy or not, his return brings something the sport has been missing: a reminder of what pure, unfiltered competition looks like. Stewart’s presence elevates the race, challenges the field, and reconnects fans with a driver who has always raced with his heart first. Smoke is back, and the sport is better for it.