MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Shane Stewart will come out of retirement and reunite with team owner Bernie Stuebgen to compete in the July 12-13 Eldora Million at Ohio’s Eldora Speedway.
Stewart, who retired from full-time racing at the end of the 2020 season and is the owner and promoter of Port City Raceway in Oklahoma, will get back behind the wheel of the Indy Race Parts No. 71 to chase a shot at the biggest winner’s prize in sprint car racing history.
Stewart, who confirmed the news to FloRacing.com, and Stuebgen have raced together numerous times over the years, most recently when Stewart drove the Indy Race Parts machine during the 2021 Knoxville Nationals.
Stewart drove Stuebgen’s car to a World of Outlaws victory at Williams Grove Speedway in 2020. It was one of two World of Outlaws wins that season for Stewart, who has 36 career WoO triumphs.
Stewart has also won numerous times at Eldora through the years, including the 2015 Kings Royal.
• Stewart’s not the only former Kings Royal winner, returning to the wheel of a winged sprint car to chase the big Eldora sprint car prize.
Daryn Pittman will pilot Alex Bowman Racing’s No. 55 sprint car prepared by former driver Joe Gaerte. Pittman, the 2013 World of Outlaws champion, won the Kings Royal in 2008.
• Wisconsin sprint car driver Scotty Thiel and Premier Motorsports have gone their separate ways after competing in every All Star Circuit of Champions event this season.
The team, owned by Pete Grove expects to continue its season with another driver, while Thiel is seeking other opportunities.
• The Eldora Million is an unsanctioned race, but many of the top drivers in the sport have already filed entries for the prestigious event that will bay $1 million to the winner on July 13 at the legendary half-mile track.
Among the 34 drivers who have filed official entries for the event are 2021 Cup Series champion Kyle Larson, 10-time World of Outlaws champion Donny Schatz, Rico Abreu, Gio Scelzi, Logan Schuchart, Brad Sweet, Brian Brown, Kasey Kahne, Sheldon Haudenschild, Anthony Macri, Zeb Wise, Lance Dewease, reigning Kings Royal winner Brent Marks and Parker Price-Miller.
• After a successful four-day run culminating with David Gravel earning the $250,000 top prize, Huset’s Speedway officials announced the third annual High Bank Nationals will be run June 19-22, 2024 at the third-mile track in Brandon, S.D.
• After Kerry Madsen agreed to finish the season aboard the Vermeer Motorsports No. 55 sprint car, Guy Forbrook’s familiar No. 5 machine is without a driver.
• With three of the first five nights of PA Sprint Speedweek rained out, the series looks to get back on the track Wednesday night at Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway. Action continues Thursday through Monday with stops at Lincoln Speedway, Williams Grove Speedway, Port Royal Speedway, Selinsgrove Speedway and back at Port Royal for the Monday night finale.
Friday’s Mitch Smith Memorial at Williams Grove will pay $20,000 to win.