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Tony Stewart ‘reconsidering’ competing in sprint car series he owns

tony-and-donny

Teammates Donny Schatz and Tony Stewart talk before racing Feb. 9 at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, Florida, with the Arctic Car Circuit of Champions Sprint Car Series (Photo: Tony Stewart Racing)

After withdrawing from an Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions event Saturday night at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, Florida, Tony Stewart is “reconsidering” racing in the series he owns, according to SpeedSport.com

The recently retired NASCAR champion had finishes of 17th and 21st the previous two nights of competing in the 410 winged sprint car series. Stewart’s publicist released the following statement after his withdrawal to Speed Sport.

“Tony Stewart has scratched for the evening and is reconsidering his schedule with the All Star Circuit of Champions due to his ownership of the series. Requirements of owning and managing the series supersede his own driving ambitions. We apologize for the change in tonight’s schedule and appreciate everyone’s understanding.”

The events at Bubba Raceway Park marked the beginning of a planned race schedule of more than 80 races for Stewart this year.

It also marked Stewart’s return to competing in sprint cars since Aug. 9, 2014, when his car struck and killed Kevin Ward Jr. during an Empire Super Sprint Series race at Canandaigua (N.Y.) Motorsports Park.

Stewart was cleared of any wrongdoing by a grand jury, but a lawsuit brought by Ward’s family remains in the court system. A mediation deadline was recently extended to April 21.

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