Tony Stewart Earns Back-To-Back Runner-Ups During Starts In Kentucky & Tennessee

Story By: TYLER ALTMEYER / TONY STEWART RACING – BROWNSBURG, IN – Increasing his overall top-five count to eight in 2018, three of which occurring during his last three starts, Smoke Tony Stewart made the most of his recent weekend of competition by joining the ASCS Sprint Car Dirt Series, as well as the USCS Outlaw Thunder Tour, for a pair of 360c.i. sprint car events in Kentucky and Tennessee.

The pilot of the Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing/Rush Truck Centers/Textron Off Road/Ford Performance/Curb Records/Sage Fruit/No. 14 sprint car finished second during each of his weekend starts, nearly outperforming some of the best 360c.i. racers in the country.

Tony Stewart kicked-off his recent weekend with a runner-up finish during ASCS Sprint Car Dirt Series competition at Paducah (Ky.) International Raceway on Friday, April 27. A charge from fourth to win his respective heat race set the tone for the entire evening, eventually lining up sixth on the main event grid.

Making moves right from the drop of the green flag, Stewart quickly battled his way forward to third, soon taking the runner-up spot from Pennsylvania native, Mark Smith, with a move in traffic on lap 16. Although displaying strength, race leader, Matt Covington, was stronger, utilizing clean air to run away from Stewart during the closing laps.

A USCS Outlaw Thunder Tour start at Lexington (Tenn.) 104 Speedway capped off Stewart’s weekend on Saturday, April 28. Stewart, who owns one victory during USCS action in 2018, finished third during his respective heat race to transfer into the evening’s Tennessee Tangle Speed Spectacular main event. Smoke cruised on to finish second after starting third.

“The consistency is important. It just shows that our team is capable of being competitive anywhere in the country,” Tony Stewart explained, who started his podium streak with a runner-up finish during MOWA action in Jacksonville, Illinois. “I’m very proud of this team. Our schedule has been all over the place the last few weeks. The team’s ability to adapt and be ready on the spot is impressive. We are due for another win here soon. I think we’ll get one sooner than later.”