In May 2024, Tony Stewart went through a painful breakup. For 16 years, Stewart-Haas Racing had reached the pinnacle of NASCAR success. Clinching 2 Cup Series championships and 69 race trophies, the team’s achievements went a long way. However, financial concerns came knocking on the door like messengers of death, and Stewart had to take the tough call to end SHR’s legacy. Yet his heart was heavy with sadness – and it grew heavy once more in recent times following another breakup.

Tony Stewart has established legacies grander than any other across motorsports disciplines. These include NASCAR, sprint car racing, drag racing, and others. But one of his sprint racing partnerships was rather successful, and that is why its abrupt ending baffled people. Yet Stewart explains that it was not abrupt at all.

Tony Stewart points out the rusty parts of the bond

18 years ago, sprint car racing witnessed the birth of a powerful partnership. Donny Schatz was the primary racer in Tony Stewart’s sprint car operation, even before the latter launched his Cup Series team. Over nearly two decades, Schatz produced eight titles on the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series and nine victories at the Knoxville Nationals. He also racked up 234 WoO wins over this time period. However, in 2025, Schatz was winless. Shortly after turning 48 years old in August, he parted ways with Stewart’s team. His 11th-place finish in Saturday’s Knoxville Nationals from the 20th-starting spot marks his final race with TSR. According to Stewart, it was not easy. “After 18 years, it’s very tough,” he said.

However, the veteran driver also observed the reasons for the breakup in a Dale Jr Download episode. With a heavy heart, Tony Stewart went over the details, “I wanted Donny Schatz to retire as a sprint car driver in a TSR car…But it just comes to a point where things cycle through and decisions are made along the way. The variables in the equation change. And finally, it got down a path that we couldn’t recover from. And you have to make that tough decision. Honestly, I probably should have done it two years ago for the sake of our people.” 

No amount of technical adjustments and strategic shifts could fit Donny Schatz into Tony Stewart’s fold anymore. The latter continued, “I mean, we changed everything. Anything he asked for, we gave him. And we just can’t get the results. You just realize at some point that you’re just butting heads.” Then, Stewart also spoke about his own depleting interest in sprint racing, a sport he so loves. He said, “I haven’t been this excited about sprint car racing in a long time. I mean, it’s always my number one passion…But it’s been hard the last couple of years to get excited about going to the racetrack, ’cause it’s just been so much friction and such a toxic atmosphere with Donny and the team.”

Tony Stewart also divulged his turbulent emotions before taking the tough decision. He said, “I remember going to bed the night before I called Donny, and I said, ‘I feel like I’m getting ready to sign the divorce papers tomorrow.’ That’s how bad it felt.” Now, however, Donny Schatz is moving on, having signed with Big Game Motorsports for 7 WoO races this season. Stewart is also looking forward to a bright future with Rico Abreu. “It is a hard decision, but that’s what’s so great about partnering up with Rico now and having him come on board,” Stewart said.

What is more, Tony Stewart now faces the fruits of long efforts for a partnership. That may help him recover from his breakup better.

The culmination of a long friendship

When one door closes, another opens. And another door has opened for Tony Stewart as he will partner up with 33-year-old Rico Abreu for 2026. The latter will merge his No. 24 family-owned team and join forces with Stewart’s Brownsburg, Ind., operation. He will bring over crew chief Ricky Warner, who spearheaded 10 World of Outlaws championships and 10 Knoxville Nationals with Schatz before joining RAR in 2022. Car chief Zack Middlebrooks and tire specialist Brady Forbrook will also be part of the jump. While this upheaval seems new to fans, it is certainly not so for Abreu and Stewart.

For a long time, Abreu and Stewart envisioned a partnership. The current High Limit Racing championship leader reflected, “Over the last decade or so of friendship, Tony and I would talk about finding a way to do something together. We’ve thrown a lot at the wall over the years, but it was always if I found the funding or if he started a second full-time team.” Rico Abreu continued, “I called him and ran the idea by him that we could bring my entire team with me and run it under the TSR banner. I showed him my infrastructure. I pitched him on how the personality of TSR and Rico Abreu Racing could work together. He said he would think about it.” From there onwards, Tony Stewart made his decision.

As Tony Stewart stands on the cusp of another turning point in his career, we cannot wait to see what lies ahead. Let’s hope for a bright and happening future for both Stewart and Abreu.