Tony Stewart gets special sendoff in final NASCAR race

Although more subdued than Jeff Gordon’s farewell a year ago, Tony Stewart’s NASCAR goodbye on Sunday certainly wasn’t lacking the emotion that’s expected when an icon heads into retirement.

Stewart’s day began with a standing ovation in the pre-race driver’s meeting inside a white tent setup in Homestead-Miami Speedway’s infield where, unlike 12 months ago at this time as Gordon prepared for his final race before retirement, there were no outwardly signs that this was Stewart’s final Sprint Cup start. None of Stewart’s fellow drivers wore hats with the No. 14 as they did with Gordon and his iconic No. 24.

Stewart did receive a standing ovation following a video package spotlighting his career accomplishments, which includes three championships and 49 wins across an 18-year career, and NASCAR vice chairman Mike Helton offered a couple of good-natured jabs at the expense of the Stewart-Haas Racing co-owner, who will continue in that role going forward.

“Godspeed, Tony,” Helton said. “And just so you understand, we still invite owners to the (NASCAR) hauler sometimes.”

Shortly after the meeting wrapped, it was time for Stewart to head to the grid. His car was deliberately placed at the far end of pit road toward Turn 4 stationed off by a gate. Those allowed beyond the barrier were family and friends, the No. 14 team’s crew, SHR drivers of past and present, and assorted others.

There were the obligatory pictures taken and hugs and handshakes given, though the overall mood didn’t match Gordon’s emotional farewell. That’s also how Stewart insisted the proceedings be conducted.

Back in January, even before the 2016 season started, Stewart made it known having tracks pay tribute to him on a weekly basis wasn’t something he would be comfortable with. Largely, the tracks agreed to this request, thus Stewart’s retirement tour marched on rather quietly.

But once the engines were fired and the cars began rolling on Sunday that’s when it became obvious just how much NASCAR was going to miss Stewart, one of its all-time best drivers whose larger than life persona is in a league of its own.

As Stewart drove down pit road, crewmembers from various teams came out to shake his hand in a scene reminiscent of what occurred after Dale Earnhardt finally won the Daytona 500 in 1998. It was this touching scene Stewart admitted afterward that meant the most, and the one he’ll look back with great fondness.

“Probably the coolest thing about the day was just pulling away and coming down pit road and high fiving all those guys,” Stewart said after finishing 22nd. “It was just an awesome moment. It made me feel good because those are guys that like us and we have mutual respect for each other.

“That was the best part of the day.”

NASCAR also scheduled an extra pace lap, allowing Stewart to a ceremonial lap at the front of the field. He circled the 1.5-mile oval behind a truck pulling a large flag with the message, “Thank you Smoke.”

As Stewart stood beside his car post-race on Homestead’s pit road fielding reporters’ questions, a stream of well-wishers came to thank him for his contributions. Among them, Kyle Busch, who had just fallen short of winning a second consecutive Sprint Cup championship; former team owner Joe Gibbs, who Stewart thanked for “shaping him,” while Gibbs chided Stewart for making his hair turn white.

And fittingly Gordon, a former rival who’s now a good friend, came over to speak with Stewart. The two drivers with long roots to sprint car racing in Indiana had memorable exchange about their offseason plans, referencing an excursion they were a part of this past January where Stewart broke his back going off a 25-foot drop.

“We going sand racing tonight?” Stewart asked.

“Can we leave tomorrow morning?” Gordon replied.

“If we break my back now, I’m not too worried about it,” Stewart said

“No, we’re going to have fun,” Gordon said.

“Damn right we are,” Stewart said.