Tony Stewart Edged Out During USCS Action At Hattiesburg Speedway

Story By: TYLER ALTMEYER / TONY STEWART RACING – BROWNSBURG, IN – Despite getting the opportunity to compete in only one of two United Sprint Car Series (USCS) Outlaw Thunder Tour events conducted during the recent weekend, ‘Smoke’ Tony Stewart took complete advantage of the opportunity and nearly attained his third victory of the 2019 season, missing that feat by fractions of a second.

Smoke, driver of the Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing/Rush Truck Centers/Ford Performance/Curb Records/Sage Fruit/Absolute Automation & Security/No. 14 sprint car, joined the national-level 360c.i. sprint car series during a visit to Hattiesburg (Miss) Speedway on Saturday, March 16. It was Smoke’s first visit of the season to the Hattiesburg oval; his first start of the year in the state of Mississippi.

The evening, actually postponed one day due to Mother Nature, was nearly perfect for Stewart, as the Columbus, Ind., native cruised to a victory during his respective heat race, followed by a runner-up finish during main event competition. Advancing from the outside of row two, Smoke’s margin of defeat was a mere-inches, edged out by Glenpool, Oklahoma’s Matt Covington at the final checkers.

Stewart was the USCS national point leader entering the Hattiesburg program. Although USCS action continued on Sunday at Magnolia Motor Speedway, prior obligations kept Stewart from attending.

“We really wanted that one, and we were close, but we fell just a little short,” Tony Stewart explained, a USCS and All Star Circuit of Champions winner already in 2019. “We are having a lot of fun out here. Jimmy and Marty continue to give me great race cars and our results back that up. If we keep doing what we’ve been doing, the wins will come.”