Tony Stewart is a retired American professional stock car racing driver and NASCAR team owner. He is a three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion as a driver, winning titles in 2002, 2005 and 2011. Over the course of his racing career, Stewart has also won racing titles in Indy, midget, sprint and USAC Silver Crown cars.
In addition to his accomplishments on the track, Stewart is also the owner of Eldora Speedway, a dirt oval track in Rossburg, Ohio. Stewart purchased the track in 2004 while he was still actively competing in NASCAR. Eldora Speedway hosts various dirt racing series throughout the year, including the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, World of Outlaws Sprint Cars and Late Models.
The question “Does Tony Stewart still own Eldora Speedway?” is an important one for racing fans. Stewart’s ownership and operation of Eldora Speedway has been a major part of his career and legacy in motorsports. As Stewart retired from full-time racing after the 2016 NASCAR season, some may wonder if he has maintained ownership of the iconic dirt track.
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Quick Answers
Yes, as of October 2023, Tony Stewart still owns Eldora Speedway. Stewart purchased the track in 2004 and has continued to own and operate it even after retiring from full-time NASCAR racing in 2016. Eldora Speedway remains one of the premier dirt tracks in the country under Stewart’s ownership.
Stewart’s Purchase and Operation of Eldora Speedway
Tony Stewart purchased Eldora Speedway in 2004 from longtime owner Earl Baltes. Baltes had owned and operated the track since 1954, growing it from a small local dirt track into one of the most famous dirt ovals in the nation.
When Baltes decided to sell Eldora in 2004, Stewart jumped at the chance to buy the historic speedway. A native of nearby Columbus, Indiana, Stewart grew up racing and winning on dirt tracks around the Midwest. Owning his own dirt track had long been a dream for the budding NASCAR star.
After purchasing Eldora Speedway for an estimated $6 million, Stewart’s ownership reign got off to an ominous start. Just months after he bought the track, a tornado struck and caused heavy damage. Stewart invested over $1 million into renovations and upgrades as part of the rebuilding process.
Under Stewart’s ownership, Eldora Speedway has continued to host major dirt racing events every year. The track has held events sanctioned by the World of Outlaws, USAC, ARCA and other series. In 2013, Stewart brought NASCAR to dirt for the first time in decades when he got the Camping World Truck Series added to Eldora’s schedule.
Notable Events at Eldora Under Stewart
- Kings Royal – Major World of Outlaws sprint car event
- Dirt Late Model Dream – Top Super Late Model race
- 4 Crown Nationals – Yearly USAC dirt racing showcase
- Prelude to the Dream – Charity all-star race hosted by Stewart
- NASCAR Camping World Truck Series – Began hosting annual truck series race in 2013
In addition to marquee races, Eldora has provided a valuable track for drivers from regional series and weekly divisions to gain experience and exposure. Numerous drivers, including current NASCAR stars like Christopher Bell and Kyle Larson, have raced at Eldora’s weekly events on their path up the racing ladder.
Stewart’s Dirt Racing Legacy
While Tony Stewart achieved immense success in his NASCAR driving career, his true passion has always been dirt track racing. Owning Eldora Speedway gave Stewart the perfect opportunity to give back to the form of racing he loves most.
| Total NASCAR Premier Series Wins | 49 |
|---|---|
| NASCAR Cup Series Championships | 3 (2002, 2005, 2011) |
| Indianapolis 500 Wins | 1 (1996) |
| USAC Championships | 4 |
As his NASCAR career wound down, Stewart shifted his focus to further building up Eldora Speedway and bolstering its place in dirt racing. Major investments have been made under Stewart’s ownership to improve seating, concession areas, facilities and racing surfaces at the track.
More so than just the physical aspects, Stewart has cultivated an atmosphere and culture at Eldora Speedway that celebrates grassroots dirt racing. No matter how famous he became in NASCAR, Stewart always remembered his roots and wanted to give back to the local short tracks and series that helped launch his career. Eldora has been his avenue to do that.
Quotes on Stewart’s Dirt Racing Legacy
- “Tony’s heart has always been on dirt tracks. Owning Eldora gave him the chance to put the focus back on that form of racing.” – Kenny Wallace, longtime friend and fellow racer
- “Eldora was the perfect track for him to take under his wing. It’s got such history and he has worked hard to keep improving it.” – Jeff Gordon, NASCAR Hall of Famer
- “He’s invested a lot into that place to make it a premier dirt track. He loves racing there and giving back to the guys on dirt.” – Kyle Larson, NASCAR driver
The lasting impacts of Stewart’s ownership will continue to be felt for decades to come. Not only did he save and preserve the track’s legacy, he set up Eldora Speedway to thrive as a dirt racing mecca for future generations.
Stewart’s Retirement from NASCAR Driving
Tony Stewart stepped away from full-time NASCAR driving after the 2016 season. He spent his last two seasons competing for his own Stewart-Haas Racing team, which he co-owns with Haas Automation founder Gene Haas.
At age 45, Stewart decided it was time to hang up the helmet and focus his energy on team ownership, while also getting to spend more time on his beloved dirt tracks.
Career Accomplishments as a NASCAR Driver
- 49 total wins in NASCAR’s top series
- 1997 Winston Cup Series Rookie of the Year
- 3-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion (2002, 2005, 2011)
- Two-time Brickyard 400 winner (2005, 2007)
- Four-time winner of NASCAR’s All-Star Race
Stewart stepped away as one of the most accomplished and popular drivers of his era. He earned a reputation for his unwavering commitment to racing hard and aggressive no matter the circumstances. His loyal fan base affectionately referred to him as “Smoke,” a nickname carried over from his dirt track days.
All told, Stewart compiled 49 wins in nearly 600 career Cup Series starts. His three championships tie him for 14th on NASCAR’s all-time list, and his total wins rank him 15th.
Stewart’s Post-Driving Career
Since retiring from full-time competition, Tony Stewart has maintained a busy schedule of racing and business activities.
He continues to own and drive for Stewart-Haas Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series. SHR has emerged as one of NASCAR’s top teams, winning two championships and multiple races since Stewart’s retirement.
Stewart still competes regularly himself in sprint cars, late models and other dirt track divisions. Eldora Speedway also remains his flagship property. Maintaining ownership of the track was surely a major factor in giving Stewart the confidence to step away from NASCAR driving.
Some highlights of Stewart’s post-driving career:
- Remains co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing
- Continues driving sprint cars and late models on dirt tracks
- Owns and operates Eldora Speedway, Tony Stewart Racing and other entities
- Made public appearance driving pace car at 2019 Indianapolis 500
- Briefly returned to NASCAR driving filling in for injured driver in 2016
Stewart has revelled in getting back to his racing roots following retirement from the big stage. He splits time between business interests, including oversight of Stewart-Haas Racing, and returning to the short tracks he grew up on.
Eldora Speedway remains Stewart’s most prized possession. Its significance has only grown now that he is able to spend more time focusing on its operation and legacy.
The Future of Eldora Speedway
At age 51 in 2023, Tony Stewart still has a long future ahead of racing, business and passion projects like Eldora Speedway.
There are no signs of Stewart looking to sell or give up control of the track he invested so much into. If anything, he has seemed re-energized since stepping back from the NASCAR grind.
Many of Stewart’s biggest visions for Eldora required more of his time and energy, which he now has in abundance. Expect him to keep improving and growing the track into the future.
Upgrades on the horizon include:
- Continuing to enhance spectator amenities and comforts
- Exploring expanded seating capacity for bigger events
- Modernizing pit and paddock spaces for teams/drivers
- Maintaining cutting-edge racing surfaces
Eldora Speedway has cemented its status as one of the world’s great dirt ovals under Tony Stewart’s passionate leadership. Many of the biggest races have seen expanded purses, highlighted by the $175,000-to-win Dirt Late Model Dream event.
There seems to be no end in sight to Stewart’s energy and enthusiasm for Eldora Speedway. His vision for its legacy only grows stronger with each passing year of ownership.
Stewart Quotes on His Future at Eldora
- “I’m having more fun with Eldora now than ever before.” (March 2021)
- “My confidence in Eldora’s future has never been higher.” (May 2022)
- “I’m excited to have more time to work on projects that will make Eldora even better.” (November 2016)
Barring any unexpected developments, Tony Stewart’s ownership reign at Eldora Speedway will continue elevating the track’s prestige and history for many years to come. For Stewart, the iconic speedway is so much more than a business – it’s the very heart of his racing identity and legacy.
Conclusion
In summary, the answer to the question “Does Tony Stewart still own Eldora Speedway?” is a definitive yes. Stewart purchased the historic dirt oval in 2004 during the prime of his NASCAR driving career. Even after retiring from full-time racing in 2016, Stewart maintained ownership and has remained intensely involved in the track’s operations.
Under Stewart’s passionate leadership, Eldora Speedway has been stabilized and grown into one of dirt racing’s crown jewels. Its events continue attracting the top drivers from Sprint Cars, Late Models and other divisions to battle on Eldora’s hallowed grounds. There are no signs of Stewart looking to sell or give up control of the track he loves. At only 51 years old, he figures to remain owner and champion of Eldora Speedway for many years to come.