Tony Stewart explains parting with ‘generational – Sports News
Motorsport legend Tony Stewart has defined the ruthless resolution to half methods with “generational driving talent” Donny Schatz following a extremely profitable 18-year tenure that included eight World of Outlaws titles and 9 Knoxville Nationals wins. Stewart, 54, whose legendary standing in motorsport stretches throughout a number of racing collection, together with NASCAR and IndyCar, ended an 18-year partnership with Schatz, and the crew has already introduced Kerry Madsen as the motive force of the crew’s No. 15 by the top of the 2025 season.
Stewart, who exited NASCAR Cup Series crew possession on the finish of final season following Stewart-Haas Racing’s closure, defined in a assertion by Inside Line Promotions his pleasure within the crew’s success with Schatz, however reaffirmed their focus heading into 2026. Stewart additionally cited that performances weren’t the place he, the crew, or Schatz anticipated.
“The achievements we’ve accomplished together are something that I’ll always be proud of, but in the past few years we’ve weathered changes in the sport and our performance hasn’t been to the level that both Donny and I expect,” Stewart stated.
“We’re both competitors to our core and we both hold ourselves to a high standard of performance that we’ve struggled to obtain,” Stewart added. “Making a change now gives each of us the chance to reset and refocus before 2026.”
The pair first joined forces in 2008. Since then, Schatz racked up 234 World of Outlaws wins, eight titles on the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series, and 9 victories on the Knoxville Nationals. However, this yr, Schatz hasn’t recorded a win. Nonetheless, Stewart branded Schatz a “generational driving talent.”
“Donny has been an incredible part of TSR for nearly two decades, he’s helped build this organization into what it is today,” Stewart stated.
“We’ve had a driver-team proprietor relationship that has gone past that partnership, he’s turn into half of my prolonged household by the years, and I’ve the utmost respect for him and what his profession represents — a generational driving expertise.”
On Schatz’s replacement, Madsen, Stewart has full confidence in the “confirmed winner,” who will now look to steer the team in a new direction. “Kerry’s been in our car before and is a proven winner, so bringing him back feels natural,” Stewart stated.
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“He knows our team, we know his capabilities, and I’m confident he’ll give us everything he’s got as we close out the season.”
Schatz is but to touch upon what his subsequent profession transfer might be following his exit from Tony Stewart Racing. The 48-year-old will not be short of alternatives given his profitable historical past in Sprint Cars, the place he has crafted legend standing.
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