LAS VEGAS -- Looking fit and responding to questions with his typical humor, Tony Stewart addressed reporters at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Friday afternoon, sharing that he still has no timetable on his return to racing but that he is feeling better each day.
Stewart joked that his doctors were not happy that he had traveled across the country from North Carolina to Las Vegas, which is hosting Sunday's Kobalt 400 Sprint Cup Series race. But he promised "we did everything short of bubble-wrap me to get me on the plane" for the ride West. And he conceded, staying inside at his North Carolina home was simply becoming too frustrating and monotonous.
Stewart injured his back in a Jan. 31 all-terrain vehicle accident in Arizona and has had surgery to repair his L1 vertebrae. He said he returns to the doctor on Wednesday for X-rays to determine how the recovery is going. He is hopeful he can soon begin a more rigorous rehab program.
"I landed like a lawn dart and it's hard to make that sound cool," Stewart joked of the injury.
The three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion showed off a pair of the four new, humorous Mobil 1 commercials he recently made and then took questions from the media during a lunch break at the track.
"The hard part is I don't know if being here is actually hurting me or helping me," Stewart said. "The doctors don't want me to be here but at the same time, it's good for me and it's good for our team. I want to be here to support them. … That's a big deal for them to know I'm behind them 100 percent. I want to be at the track. That's always where I want to be.
"I would rather be here and be in pain than be at home, be comfortable and no pain. The pain is worth it to me."
Stewart, whose No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevy will be driven by Brian Vickers this weekend, reiterated that he was not going to extend his final farewell season even though he is missing the front end of it as he recovers from his injury. He said he was hopeful NASCAR will allow him to remain eligible for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup playoffs should he qualify -- much as they allowed reigning Cup champion Kyle Busch last year.
And, he insisted, contrary to rumors, he did not plan on one final "Daytona 500 start" next year as so many have suggested.
"Not even 1 percent considering it," Stewart said of the possibility he would run a "one-off" Cup event next year such as the Great American Race.
"I'm not going to change the plan because I got hurt. These are the cards that were dealt."
He did allow that he was intrigued to do a one-off NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race here or there -- particularly at Eldora Speedway, a half-mile dirt track Stewart owns in Ohio.
But, he stressed, recovering from this severe injury is about much more than returning to the cockpit of a race car.
"If this doesn't heal right or we do something too soon that messes it up, it could affect me the rest of my life," Stewart said. "We're not rushing. The number one goal is to get it right the first time. We're not going to push the issue, we're going to make sure it's right."
But he reiterated often on Friday, "As soon they tell me I can get back in a car, I'm going wide open."
After the formal press conference Stewart made his way through the garage to see his team. As he walked, other team members, NASCAR officials and fans greeted him with handshakes, smiles, and shouts of encouragement.
"Looking good, Tony."
"Good to see you back, Tony."
And no matter how badly his back may have been hurting then, Stewart was all smiles.
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