Tony Stewart said he might be even more busy in “retirement” than he was when he was competing in NASCAR. (Photo: Sam Draiss | The Podium Finish)
STAFFORD, Conn. – “Retirement” was a dirty word around the SRX pits last week at Stafford Motor Speedway, as the Superstar Racing Experience launched season three at the half-mile speed center.
With racing legends such as Tony Stewart, Ken Schrader, Paul Tracy, Ryan Newman, Tony Kanaan, Clint Bowyer and Bobby Labonte competing in the series, it would be easy to say that retired racers are well represented. There’s just one problem.
“I never used the word retirement,” Schrader said. “I just don’t have a Cup job. That’s a big difference.”
Schrader, who said he competed in about 100 races last year and 36 so far in 2023, everywhere from Alaska to Florida, said the love of racing doesn’t go away when drivers no longer have the opportunity to race in the top series, a sentiment echoed by many of his fellow competitors.
“That’s the problem. I’m still having as much fun as I ever have,” Schrader said. “This sport, basically, you’ve got to die out of it.”
“[SRX is] a lot of fun,” said Labonte, who also competes in a significant amount of modified races each year. “The grind isn’t bad and it’s with people you want to be around. It’s a lot of fun and we get to enjoy it. When you feel good about it, you keep doing it, and right now I’m still feeling good about it, so I’m going to keep doing it.”
Bobby Labonte says he is still having fun behind the wheel of a race car, and he will keep competing in modifieds and the SRX series until it isn’t fun anymore. (Photo: Sam Draiss | The Podium Finish)
Stewart, one of the SRX co-founders, is another driver who hasn’t shaken the racing bug. Stewart has already won a pair of Top Alcohol dragster races this year traveling with the NHRA, and he continues to be heavily involved in dirt racing.
“I’m the dumbest person you’ve ever seen when it comes to retirement,” Stewart said. “I must have read the line above or below ‘retirement’ but I totally screwed retirement up. I’m having a blast doing it though.”
Paul Tracy had a run outside of a racecar longer than many of his fellow competitors after stepping away from his IndyCar career. He said racing SRX gave him an avenue through which he could chase his passion once again.
“I was retired almost 10 years and didn’t drive anything. I was sitting in a TV booth and you’re sitting around all day doing nothing, talking about how you used to do it,” Tracy said. “To get the opportunity now to do this for my third year and race current level guys, who are still winning races, this is pretty cool for me.”
Ryan Newman and Tony Stewart have no plans to slow down as both will compete full-time in the SRX series in 2023, in addition to other racing ventures. (Photo: Sam Draiss | The Podium Finish)
Ryan Newman, who drove for Rick Ware Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series Crayon 301 over the weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, said he is happy to be busy behind the wheel.
“I’m not that old,” Newman said. “I just don’t race full time. I’m not retired, I’m just not full-time, and that’s OK. I’ll be at Loudon [over the weekend], and modifieds here and there, and obviously SRX the next six weeks. It’s the busiest time of the year for me, driving-wise, and I’m looking forward to it.”
As the drivers get set for the 2023 SRX season, it is clear that one thing is true: racers don’t retire — they just shift gears.
