Tony Stewart hits back at critics over SRX decision: ‘They’re idiots’

The 2024 Superstar Racing Experience season was postponed earlier this month and Tony Stewart has had plenty of critics. Postponing SRX comes after Stewart sold his All-Star sprint car series, and the NASCAR icon focuses his efforts on moving up to Top Fuel and starting a family.

For some fans out there, this is a sign that Tony Stewart is focusing on other things. Stock cars aren’t what he wants to do anymore. There were folks online who had convinced themselves Stewart-Haas Racing was next.

On the Hot Rod Pod on the MotorTrend Channel the day after the SRX decision, Smoke opened up about his recent business consolidation.

“My life’s taken twists and turns and you just start writing everything on a piece of paper of what you’re doing it’s like, well … I don’t have any more room on my plate,” Stewart said. “And two NHRA drag racing teams on top of that. So, at some point, you go, ‘I’ve got to start taking stress out of my life, I don’t have time for all of this.'”

That’s when he brought up the fan noise.

“I read something after our [SRX] announcement yesterday, some know-it-all on the internet said, ‘Well, that’s it. SHR’s over, shut the doors down now.’ I don’t make calls on the car anyway,” Stewart said. “It’s not going to change, it’s not changing one thing we’re doing in North Carolina. No different than it’s not changing what we’re doing with the sprint car, it’s not changing what we’re doing with Eldora Speedway.

“So people who have that mindset are dumba--es, they’re idiots. They don’t know what they’re talking about.”

Tony Stewart doesn’t have time for internet warriors.

Tony Stewart taking on new challenges in 2024

While some things have had to go or be put on the back burner for now, Stewart still has a lot on his plate. He has four full-time Cup Series teams, two Xfinity Series teams, and then all of his drag racing and sprint car teams.

So, it makes sense he would downsize a bit. As Tony Stewart prepares for the 2024 NHRA season, he has to get used to the Top Fuel car. It is a jump he wasn’t planning on making yet. However, things change. And, his wife Leah Pruett is ready to start a family.

Throughout his career, Stewart has taken on challenge after challenge. He has risen to the tops of IndyCar, NASCAR, USAC, and is one of the most talented drivers of all time.

While Stewart is downsizing, he still has passion. It is clear that he doesn’t like people talking about his business when they don’t know about it. For now, let’s just appreciate all that Smoke has done and continues to do for motorsports.

Tony Stewart will likely always have his hand in racing. This year he faces new tasks and will face adversity. I think he’s going to do just fine, though. He always does.