After losing Jeff Gordon at the end of this season, NASCAR will be losing another driver. Tony Stewart will retire from NASCAR at the end of the 2016 season.
The decision will be made official at a news conference on Wednesday. Clint Bowyer, who currently drives for Michael Waltrip Racing, will replace Stewart in the number 14 Stewart-Hass Racing car in 2017, according to Motorsport.com, which first reported the news. Bowyer will be released from his contract at the end of this season as Michael Waltrip Racing is closing after this season. He is expected to drive for HScott Motorsports next year before replacing Stewart.
Stewart made the move from IndyCar to NASCAR in 1999. He has struggled the past couple of years. His last win came in June 2013 at Dover International Speedway. This season Stewart has no wins, two top tens, missed the Chase for the Sprint Cup, and is 25th in points, according to ESPN. Stewart has 48 career Sprint Cup Series wins, tied for 13th all-time, and three Sprint Cup Series championships. He also has an IndyCar championship.
Stewart has also had a tough year away from the racetrack. Last August he was involved in an accident which killed sprint car driver Kevin Ward Jr., and the Ward family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Stewart. It will be interesting to see if things turn around for Stewart on and off the track before he retires.
Featured Image courtesy of R. O'Neil/INFphoto.com