Tony Stewart Recalls Ex-Teammate’s Selfless Act & Hesitant Sacrifice Against Carl Edwards Amid Championship Nostalgia

Stewart Haas Racing co-owner Tony Stewart will be bidding farewell to NASCAR Cup Series racing at the end of 2024. Although SHR’s exit was entirely a storied end, there are plenty of good memories for Smoke to look back on. He does have three Cup Series titles to his name, but his third one, which came in as owner/driver with the #14 team in 2011, still holds a special place in his heart.
However, the victory at the Homestead Miami Speedway was everything but simple for Tony Stewart. He needed help from his friend to stay alive in the title contention while putting his faith in his crew chief to pull off an incredible win.
Tony Stewart recalls his historic championship-winning race in 2011
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The championship races can prove to be wildcard events, often forcing the drivers to their absolute limit. This is what Tony Stewart had to experience while he raced for the championship against Carl Edwards in 2011. But early in the race, the #14 car ran into a series of issues, including a loose grille that forced Stewart to hit the pits during the green flag runs.
Despite battling his way driving a loose race car, the driver now faced an uphill climb to stay on the lead lap on the restarts. It looked like Stewart wouldn’t be able to put up a fight as Edwards stayed in the lead and on his way to championship glory. But there was a twist in the tale as Dale Jarrett helped his buddy stay alive in his pursuit of the third championship.
Recalling the vital moment while speaking with FOX Sports, Stewart said, “I remember on that restart, it’s like we were talking to each other without talking to each other. I mean, Dale knew when I took off on the restart that I wasn’t saving tires, that I was going 100 percent, and he gave me enough room to go because he’s in self-preservation mode. As far as I was concerned, he didn’t want me making a mistake that was going to cost him. So he let me get [back] to the lead [lap], and like I said, I didn’t take care of tires.”
via Getty BROOKLYN, MI – JUNE 12: Tony Stewart (L), driver of the #14 Old Spice/Office Depot Chevrolet, and crew chief Darian Grubb stand in the garage during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 12, 2010 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR)
Stewart worked his way up to 27th position before a caution debris stopped the race. After multiple restarts and more repairs on his race car, the SHR driver had the #99 Ford in his sights. Late in the race, he even traded paints with his rival’s race car, and this antics resulted in him getting warnings from the race control. But the championship win came down to the strategy calls, and Stewart’s team opted for fuel mileage racing.
Smoke trusted his crew chief’s call to help him win the championship
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The championship race at Homestead Miami Speedway wasn’t exactly a straightforward one. You had multiple cautions, chaotic restarts, and even rain tried to play spoilsport. This isn’t exactly what you call ideal racing conditions, but the drivers had no other option. On lap 202, Edwards decided to pit, but Tony Stewart decided to play the fuel mileage race.
At first, this didn’t look like the right option, but with the looming threat of rain, Darian Grubb advised his driver to stay on the racetrack. “I remember that call on the radio, and I sat there for a second before I made any changes driving the race car, and I called on the radio, I said, “Are you sure?” And he goes, “Yes, I need you to save fuel.” And hearing the tone in his voice gave me the confidence to do what I was asked to do. But it was one of the hardest things I think I’ve ever had to do in a race car,” Stewart added.
And guess what? This strategy worked. Although Edwards passed Stewart for the lead, a rain interruption saw him hit the pits again for fuel and two tires. Meanwhile, Stewart decided to stay out. After a lengthy stoppage, officials finally declared the track dry for racing. The SHR driver made the most of his relatively fresh tires to take the lead from the third spot. On the other hand, Edwards wasn’t able to catch his rival in time.
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This race saw Tony Stewart bag his third NASCAR Cup championship. But on the other hand, this was another bitter blow for Carl Edwards, who failed to clear the final hurdle once again.