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“Down to Earth and Humble” Tony Stewart Hailed For Approach to Exciting Chapter in Racing Career

Published 12/05/2022, 12:30 PM EST

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To say that Tony Stewart is making an impression in the drag racing arena would be an understatement. Last month, he made his debut in the NHRA second-tier series for McPhillips Racing. The former NASCAR and IndyCar champion acknowledged that this was an exciting chapter in his career and it was a learning curve.

Aside from being a decent competitor, he has also been getting along with his contemporaries. Recently, dragster Kim Parker spoke about the NASCAR legend. The Washington native said, “He was extremely down to earth and normal. It was nice to talk to another person that enjoys racing as much as I do. We talked about all of the different things both us have driven and what it’s like to race with your spouse.”

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How is Tony Stewart fairing in the drag racing scene?

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It is worth mentioning that Parker is not the only one who shares that sentiment. The 51-year-old has been in the good books of many grassroots drivers and seasoned veterans. This is mainly down to Smoke’s respectful approach to drag racing and making himself vulnerable. This is because he is still a rookie in this field and this is a brand-new experience. Owing to this, he is still learning as he goes and is steadily improving his race craft.

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Having come from disciplines like NASCAR and IndyCar, he is used to racing against many competitors at once. In essence, he is used to several cars, all vying for the same piece of tarmac. Additionally, that racing format is a lot more forgiving than drag racing. Stewart also hailed from a midget and sprint car racing background in America’s heartland. It is fortunate that he has his wife, Leah Pruett, as the one to show him the ropes and act as a benchmark.

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Who do you reckon is the most down-to-earth among the current crop of NASCAR drivers? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by:

Dhruv George

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Dhruv George is a senior Motorsports author for EssentiallySports, having authored nearly 12000 articles spanning different sports like F1, NASCAR, Tennis, NFL, and eSports. He graduated with a PG Diploma in Journalism from the Xavier Institute of Communications. Dhruv has also conducted interviews with F1 driver Pierre Gasly and Moto2 rider Tony Arbolino.
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Edited by:

Akash Pandhare