Last week at Southern Iowa Speedway NASCAR star Tony Stewart flipped a sprint car several times before crashing into a wall. In that crash, Stewart sustained serious leg injuries, including a broken tibia and fibula that will keep him from racing for several weeks at a minimum.
He was in 11th place in the Sprint Cup standings, and his ability to make the Chase for the Cup is likely gone. Still, there are races to be run and Stewart-Haas Racing has named Stewart's replacement for Sunday's Pure Michigan 400-Austin Dillon.
In a statement released by the team, Stewart said:
"I've watched Austin for many years and at each stage of his racing career he's been successful. He's proven to be a very fast learner, and he's able to adapt quickly. Being the youngest champion in the history of the Truck Series is proof of that. His background in dirt racing is an asset, and off the track we share many of the same interests, specifically, hunting and fishing. I know he'll perform well at Michigan and I'm just as confident in his ability to properly represent Mobil 1 and Bass Pro Shops throughout the race weekend."
While Dillon is racing for Stewart this week, he's not guaranteed to be the full-time substitute. Stewart-Haas Racing Competition Director Greg Zipadelli said, "Well, it's going to be a weekly occurrence here for a little while. We'll evaluate each race as it comes and do the best job we can with putting someone in it we feel will do a good job for Stewart‑Haas and all of our partners."
Dillon expressed appreciation for the opportunity given to him this Sunday when he heard the news. "I know the way they like to work, and that is put the best equipment on the track they can," Dillon said. "And that is the greatest thing about this opportunity. We're here with a lot of racers, and that's what I love to do."
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