Owner of Eldora feels sad, but says offer to race at dirt track is open
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Count Tony Stewart among those who were surprised by Jeff Gordon's announcement last Thursday that the 2015 Sprint Cup Series season would be his final campaign in a full-time ride.
In fact, the three-time champion who was also the runner-up to Gordon for the 2001 title, says it's hard to imagine the day Gordon will not be piloting the No. 24 car.
"It caught me off-guard," Stewart said during the Charlotte Motor Speedway Media Tour presented by Technocom. "I think it caught everybody off-guard. I always thought my whole life, especially early when we were rivals, I thought, 'Man, I can't wait until this guy announces his retirement,' but it's the polar opposite.
"I was really sad. I can't imagine the day that he is not in the 24 car at the track. It's not something I am looking forward to.
"I think we all respect Jeff Gordon, everything that he has done in this sport. I don't think any of us ever imagined the day we weren't going to see him in a car. As the season gets closer to the end, you are going to see a lot of people that are pretty sad about it, especially his peers that he races with."
Last Friday, Stewart took to Twitter to make Gordon an offer about running the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series 1-800-CARCASH Mudsummer Classic in 2016 at Eldora Speedway, the dirt track that Stewart owns in Ohio.
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The proposal seemed to gather some traction on Twitter, but Stewart said he hasn't heard from Gordon about it yet.
"When you guys see him this week, make sure you re-emphasize that is an open offer," Stewart said. "We'll make a great deal for him."
As for when Stewart will race at the dirt track, that may not happen for a bit.
"Probably not for a while," Stewart said. "It's very hard to go to the track and be a promoter of an event, do everything that we need to do and try to drive at the same time."
The 2015 1-800-CARCASH Mudsummer Classic will take place at 9 p.m. ET on July 22 on FOX Sports 1.
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