Tony Stewart recalls when Kevin Harvick's prank saw him end up next to the latter's wife in bed
Tony Stewart revisited his early days at Stewart-Haas Racing and revealed when he ended up next to Kevin Harvick's wife DeLana following a hilarious prank. The 2014 Cup Series champion changed Stewart's alarm clock time, which led to the driver getting ready two hours before the scheduled time. As a result, he entered the motorhome and just lay beside Harvick's wife while waiting for the prankster's return from the shower.
SHR was formed in 2009 when Stewart exited Joe Gibbs Racing to purchase a 50% stake and drive for his co-owned team. At that time, Gene Haas owned the team, which was called Haas CNC Racing and was later rebadged after Tony Stewart's arrival. The newly formed team's fortune drastically changed in their debut year on the asphalt.
With Stewart behind the wheel of the #14 Chevy, SHR clinched their first points-paying win at the Pocono Raceway. Two years later in 2011, SHR and Tony Stewart's combined performance fetched the team their first-ever NASCAR Cup Series championship and a third title for the co-owner.
In a recent conversation with Kevin Harvick, the 53-year-old went down memory lane. Stewart reminisced Harvick's prank that resulted in him ending beside the latter's wife DeLana. Harvick joined forces with SHR in 2014, the same year he secured the title.
"I remember some guy, there's a driver in the Series that went and changed my alarm clock one morning. And I remember I got up two hours early and was dressed and...they said, 'You're two hours early.'...Everybody's laughing. Just happened to be you (Kevin Harvick) of course, we were parked next to each other, and you'd went in and changed my clock.," Stewart said via Harvick Happy Hour (1:40).
Stewart then outlined the hilarious incident of him ending up next to Harvick's wife.
"So we have a good enough relationship that I just ran right in the motorhome. Well, DeLana (Harvick's wife) is still in bed, you're in the very back in the shower, and I just climbed in bed with DeLana with my uniform on. I don't show if she had clothes on or not but climb in bed and you were more worried about covering up that little thing you were covering up and I'm just laying in bed with you wife. But that's the stuff that this point in my life, that's the stuff that I love and cherish," Stewart added.
The Kannapolis-based outfit is observing its final NASCAR season and will terminate operations after the season finale at Phoenix Raceway.
Tony Stewart reveals Gene Haas' "finish on the lead lap" desire as his team geared up for the million-dollar All-Star Race
Before Tony Stewart etched SHR's first triumph at Pocono, they brought home the million-dollar paycheck from the All-Star Race win at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Though the said race's points don't add to the championship total, the fat paycheck results in a fierce battle among the contenders.
Stewart said that before beginning his debut All-Star Race for SHR, Haas revealed he just wanted to stay on the lead lap. The #14 Chevy driver brimmed with confidence and assured the co-owner of the fruition. Moving forward, the driver parked his car in the victory lane, proving the team to be a favorite among the title contenders.
Tony Stewart revealed the "proud" moment of leaving JGR after SHR's first NASCAR win. He said during the aforementioned conversation.
"I remember when I met Gene, he said, 'My goal is just to finish on the lead lap.' And I was trying to not just bust out laughing, because I'm like, 'We're going to do that bud.' And then we literally, 24 hours later, we're sitting there in the victory lane with Gene going, 'Think we finished on the lead lap today,'" Stewart said.
"It was a proud moment for me because I had taken a big leap, leaving a very established and very high-performing team to go out and join with Gene Haas and start a new venture together," he added.
Tony Stewart's team has collected 70 Cup Series race wins, the latest being Chase Briscoe's Darlington triumph.