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SPORTSWednesday 3 February
NASCAR’S Tony Stewart hospitalized with back injury
BY JENNA FRYER art’s condition will not be Stewart Haas Racing co-owner and driver Tony Stewart talks to members of the media during the
AP AUTO RACING WRITER updated again until Thurs- NASCAR Charlotte Motor Speedway Media Tour in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- day. Stewart was in Arizona
Three-time NASCAR cham- on Saturday night at the Associated Press
pion Tony Stewart was Barrett-Jackson auction in
hospitalized Tuesday with Scottsdale and interviewed
a back injury and Stewart- on live television from the
Haas Racing said the team event.
was unsure of the extent of Stewart is retiring at the
his injuries just a week be- end of this NASCAR sea-
fore he is expected in Day- son, and he was due to re-
tona to prepare for his final port next week to Daytona
season in Sprint Cup. International Speedway
The 44-year-old Stewart to begin preparing for the
was injured Sunday during Feb. 21 Daytona 500.
an accident while he was “We have received word
riding an all-terrain vehicle from Stewart-Haas Racing
somewhere on the West of Tony Stewart’s accident
Coast, SHR spokesman and injury,” NASCAR chair-
Mike Arning told The Asso- man Brian France said in
ciated Press. He was be- a statement. “On behalf
ing evaluated at an undis- of everyone at NASCAR,
closed hospital and able to I wish Tony a full recovery
move all extremities. and look forward to seeing
Arning indicated Stew- him back in our sport when
he’s ready to return.” Both the injury to his leg
Stewart turns 45 in May and and Ward’s death took a
missed a third of the 2013 toll on Stewart, and he has
season with a broken leg not won a race since 2013,
he sustained in a sprint car before he was injured.
accident. A year later, his Stewart was 28th in the final
car struck and killed a fel- Sprint Cup standings last
low driver at a dirt track year with three top-10 fin-
in New York. Stewart was ishes and 24 laps led, both
cleared of any criminal career lows.
wrongdoing, but faces a
civil suit from the family of Speaking to reporters at the
Kevin Ward Jr. Rolex 24 at Daytona last
Stewart spoke last month week, AJ Foyt expressed
of his excitement over his sympathy for Stewart and
upcoming final season, said the driver has not got-
and said he’d likely return ten over Ward’s death.
to racing in non-NASCAR Stewart considers Foyt his
events upon his retirement. hero and idolized the four-
He has not competed in time Indianapolis 500 win-
anything out of a Sprint ner as a child.
Cup race since Ward’s “I feel sorry for Tony, I
death in 2014. think people don’t realize
But he also spoke of what that wreck really hurt him
he’d like to accomplish in more,” Foyt said. “He’s re-
this final season with a fo- ally a soft-hearted person
cus on winning his first Day- and something like that
tona 500. Stewart is 0-17 really bothers you. I know
in the crown jewel event I had an accident years
and came heartbreakingly ago when I ran IMC and a
close to winning it several guy ran through the cock-
times during his career. It re- pit with me and threw me
mains one of the few holes out on the race track and
on a resume that includes he lost his life. That bugged
the three championships, me and I had nothing to do
48 victories and more than with it.
$122 million in winnings. “Things like that bother
He goes into the year with you for a long time. If you
a new crew chief - his third don’t have no feelings, it
change since he won the wouldn’t bother you but
title in 2011 - and hopes to Tony’s got a lot of feelings.
find some success on the And I just hope he goes out
track after three long years. on top.”q
