NSCS: 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Preview – Tony Stewart

Following a year filled with controversy and police investigations, Tony Stewart is set to get things back on track this season.

Looking back at 2014

If you look at Tony Stewart’s season on the track, it’s not one to write home about. For the first time in his career, he went winless for a season, posting three top-fives and seven top-10s in the 33 races. Compared to the championship held by Kevin Harvick and the pair of wins for Kurt Busch, it wasn’t special by any means for a three-time series champion.

Off the track, Stewart found himself in the middle of controversy and debate as a result of an incident at a sprint car event that resulted in the death of Kevin Ward, unfortunately. The incident would be distracting to any driver in dealing with the fallout, whether from outside sources in what they said or the inner emotions that Stewart felt himself. That said, without reasonable doubt, would result in a distracted driver and the under-par performance.

Looking ahead to 2015

Stewart needs to have a good season that results in no off-track distractions. In 2013, he missed 15 races due to breaking his leg in a sprint car incident. In 2014, he missed three races due to the incident with Ward. Stewart needs to find a way, whether that means locking himself in a bubble, to have a solid non-distracting season at any turn.

If Stewart is able to do that, the performance should come as he has performed in the past – previous series champion – and Stewart-Haas Racing has proven to have the equipment as evident by Harvick. Stewart has also recognized that Chad Johnson is a good crew chief and the sub-par performances are not his fault. Now whether that point is true or not, that has yet to be seen. If the performance doesn’t come and Stewart keeps things on track, perhaps there may need to be a crew chief change made by the Indiana native.