Tony Stewart told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio on Thursday night that he would like to race at Daytona International Speedway again after this season, but it won’t be in a Sprint Cup car.
Stewart has said this will be his final season competing in NASCAR’s premier series — but not his final season of racing.
“When Homestead is over, I’m in full car owner mode on the Cup side, and I actually just talked to Jimmy Carr, who’s my sprint car crew chief, today and said, ‘You better get stuff ready for next year. We’re going back sprint car racing again,’’ ’ Stewart told Claire B. Lang on “Dialed In.’’
Stewart, who missed this year’s Daytona 500 after suffering a burst fracture of his L1 vertebra in a Jan. 31 sand dunes accident, explained what he wants to do at Daytona after this season.
“I still want to go back to Daytona and try to win the 24 Hours,’’ Stewart told Lang.
Stewart was leading with about 17 minutes left in the 2004 race when a suspension piece broke, preventing him from winning. He was a teammate to Dale Earnhardt Jr. in that race.
Stewart also wants to return to New Hampshire Motor Speedway to race — a modified car that is. Stewart said he also would like to run a Camping World Truck at his Eldora Speedway.
“It’s almost a shame to not go back there and at least run that race one time to say I did it,’’ Stewart said on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
As for a return to the Indianapolis 500?
“That is not going to happen,’’ Stewart said.
Stewart has been sidelined since his sand dunes accident. Brian Vickers drove Stewart’s car in the Daytona 500 and is in the car this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Ty Dillon drove Stewart’s car last weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
No timetable has been set for Stewart’s return. He said back X-rays are scheduled Wednesday. Doctors took X-rays of his back after his surgery Feb. 3 and will check the progress.
Stewart said he’s been told by doctors to be either in bed or walking on a treadmill three to four times a day for 15-20 minutes at a time to help his back’s recovery.
“The biggest thing I think they were worried about was the plane ride out and back (to Las Vegas),’’ Stewart said.
Stewart said he spent much of the flight to Las Vegas on his back.
“They don’t want you sitting, they don’t want you standing, they want you either laying down or walking,’’ Stewart told Lang about his orders from doctors.
