Back in 2016, at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Tony Stewart climbed out of his No. 14 Chevrolet for what felt like the final time. It was not a ride to the sunset ending, just a 22nd finish, but it closed the book on his 18-year Cup career. Stewart didn’t say goodbye, just, “I’m still going to race when I want to go race.” And he kept that promise. He returned to Daytona after 10 years in February, and even after a Lap 40 wreck, he walked away smiling. And while many thought that was a one-off comeback, that might not be the case. He might be planning another race, except this time in a head-to-head clash with his old partner in crime.

At the Happy Hour Podcast with Kevin Harvick, Tony Stewart joked about his recent return. That’s when Kevin Harvick stepped in with a simple suggestion: “No, I’m saying let’s do the same race.” And Stewart didn’t hesitate to answer. It felt almost on cue.

“We both run the same race? Hell, I’m in,” Stewart mentioned. “Let’s sit and figure a race out. Well, we’ll have to plan it for next year at some point. Not this year.”

Just like that, what started as a one-off comeback suddenly turned into a . But to really understand why this moment really matters to many of their fans, you have to go back to 2014.

Then at the thick of the championship run, Stewart did something that maybe a driver of today would never do. He handed over his own championship-winning pit crew to Harvick mid-playoff. Harvick paid it back by delivering a title, but that race showed the bond they shared. In fact, Harvick must be just as excited to get back in racing with his old friend.

“I might just make a comeback, why not?” Kevin Harvick admitted earlier this year. “Tony Stewart’s going to drive the truck race at Daytona. Why not? What should we race? I’m starting to get the bug again, I think. Cup is too much work. What could I just get in and drive?”

But, with the latest statement, it looks like Kevin Harvick is ready to put up with the ‘too much work’ for his showdown with Tony Stewart. And as far as Stewart is concerned, he never really stepped away from full-time racing. He just redefined how he wanted to be part of it.

Stewart has stayed deeply embedded in motorsports. He ran a NASCAR team (Stewart-Haas Racing) then jumped into NHRA Top Fuel competition, returned to his roots in dirt sprint cars, and even launched the Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) series. That’s what makes this potential showdown with Harvick so intriguing. It’s not about proving anything anymore. It’s just two veterans, years removed from full-time competition, getting back behind the wheel purely for the love of it.

Tony Stewart’s influence on Kevin Harvick

Tony Stewart has actually had a huge influence on Kevin Harvick’s career. In fact when Harvick was debating his future at Richard Childress Racing, after more than a decade with the organization, Stewart was the one who helped him come to a decision. He encouraged him to take a leap and move to Stewart Haas Racing in 2014 saying there he will be in a position to win a title. Harvick listened, and turns out it was one of the best decisions he took.

That very first season under Stewart’s co-ownership delivered a championship with five wins, including the final two races, in a clutch playoff performance that instantly validated the move. From there, the results kept coming. Over the next several years, Harvick became one of the most consistent drivers in the garage, regularly finishing inside the top three in points and stacking up wins.

Tony Stewart’s organization gave him the platform, stability, and speed to maximize his prime years. And boy, did Harvick deliver! That partnership lasted all the way until his retirement at the end of the 2023 season, closing out nearly a decade with Stewart-Haas Racing. Even after stepping away, Harvick stayed close to the sport through broadcasting, but like many greats, the competitive edge never really fades.

Now, with Stewart hinting at more races and openly inviting the idea of competing together, the dynamic has shifted. What was once owner and driver could soon turn into something far more intriguing with both legends returning.