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Daytona 500: Is Tony Stewart going to race?

By Charles Rahrig V

Nov 13, 2015; Avondale, AZ, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Tony Stewart (14) during qualifying for the Quicken Loans Race For Heroes 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 13, 2015; Avondale, AZ, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Tony Stewart (14) during qualifying for the Quicken Loans Race For Heroes 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /
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With 2016 being Tony Stewart‘s final season in NASCAR, will he be racing at the Daytona 500?

After decades of racing, Tony Stewart is finally going to call it a career after the 2016. What a career it will have been for the three-time Sprint Cup Champion. However, it’s unfortunate that Stewart will not be taking part in the 2016 Daytona 500.

There’s nothing bigger than racing in the Daytona 500 for drivers and Stewart will not be taking part in this year’s race because of a back injury. Stewart suffered the injury as a result of an ATV accident in California. There’s currently no timetable on when he is going to return.

Stewart’s chance at competing for one last championship also becomes tougher as a result. Last season, Kyle Busch proved that coming back from an injury at the beginning of the season and winning a championship can be done, but he defied all odds to get there. Busch won four out of five races during won stretch and even then, he just barely got in on points.

Stewart is likely going to get the same set of rules that Busch had last season. Before the chase begins, he will have to win one race and be in the top-30 in points to have a chance to compete for a championship.

What will make this easier or tougher for Stewart, will depend on his ability to get back behind the wheel. If he can get back to racing sooner than later, his odds of getting in will be far better based on the amount of races he has to get there.

It’s a lot easier said than done considering the fact that Stewart didn’t win a race last year and put together one of his worst seasons as a driver. Stewart’s looking to end his career with a strong finish and unfortunately for race fans everywhere, it won’t be starting at the Daytona 500.

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