Tony Stewart has made it clear he would not ease into the job if NASCAR handed him the commissioner’s chair for a day. The three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion said his first move would be to fire all of the upper management and “clean house” at the top.
Speaking recently with Sportico, Stewart framed the issue as one of leadership, identity and direction. He suggested NASCAR needs people with “fresh eyes and ears” who understand the history of the sport, while also being able to translate that into modern times.
Stewart's first move would be drastic
Stewart did not soften his view. He said there are some great people in place, but argued there are also too many hurdles at the top for the sport to overcome without change. That is why he believes a reset would be necessary from day one.
His point was not simply about replacing people for the sake of it. Stewart said the sport needs leaders who truly understand what made NASCAR popular in the first place, and who can help restore the original fanbase while keeping the product relevant now.
Why he thinks NASCAR needs fresh eyes
The comments land against a backdrop of criticism around NASCAR's recent direction. The sport has faced complaints about losing fans, moving races away from historical tracks and introducing an elimination-style playoff system. Television ratings have also gone down, which has only intensified debate over whether the sport has drifted too far from its roots.
Stewart said he still believes there is a path back. But for him, that starts with the right people making the right decisions and showing enough passion for what the sport has always represented.
He said the task is to embrace what fans love about NASCAR while finding a way to carry that feeling into modern times. For Stewart, that balance is the real challenge.
So while his answer was blunt, the message behind it was straightforward. In Stewart's view, NASCAR does not just need a few tweaks. It needs leadership that understands the past, respects the fanbase and is willing to make bold decisions to reconnect the sport with its core audience.
