“If I knew that, I'd be a bookie in Las Vegas”- When Tony Stewart expressed his exasperation on being asked to predict race outcomes

Aneesh
NHRA: Fall Nationals - Source: Imagn
When Tony Stewart revealed the question he was tired of answering (Image: Imagn)

Motorsports Hall of Famer Tony Stewart had once expressed being tired of a particular question he was constantly asked during his NASCAR career. The legendary driver said he would have been a bookie in Las Vegas if had known whether or not he would've won the upcoming race.

Stewart is considered among NASCAR's most accomplished drivers. Not only did he exercise his dominance in the stock car racing discipline but also reigned supreme in other motorsports. Notably, the three-time Cup Series champion is the only driver thus far to have completed the 1100-mile Indy-Charlotte Memorial Day Double.

Asking drivers whether they'll win in the upcoming race weekend has been a staple in the motorsports industry. However, it's something Tony Stewart isn't fond of. Rather, it comes off as a nudging question, which the former NASCAR driver was tired of answering.

Stewart expressed displeasure when motorsports reporter Jeff Gluck inquired the former about the one question he gets asked a lot but is tired of answering. The former gave a straightforward reply during a 2012 interview with SB Nation, saying,

"Are you going to win this weekend?" It's like, "If I knew that, I'd be a bookie in Las Vegas. If I knew that, I'd know whether I even needed to go this weekend."

Stewart marked his final Cup Series race appearance in the 2016 Homestead-Miami race, where he finished in 22nd place.


When Tony Stewart opened up on cleverly tackling "uncomfortable" fan questions

During the same conversation, Jeff Gluck had asked the NASCAR Hall of Famer about a recent fan encounter which transpired in an 'uncomfortable' atmosphere. Tony Stewart explained that such a situation arises when a female fan asks if he's wearing boxers or briefs albeit emphasizing giving any clever answer to satisfy the fans' curiosity and save themselves from a potential embarrassment.

"It's normally when the women come up and they ask, "Boxers or briefs?" It makes you a little bit uncomfortable because you're normally sitting there with your sponsor," Stewart said.
"Sometimes we joke around, sometimes we tell them one thing when it's the opposite. We normally will find some clever answer that doesn't really answer their question but satisfies them," he added.

With three titles and 49 wins from 618 races, including two Brickyard 400 wins, a 2009 All-Star Race triumph, and more, Tony Stewart has seen plenty of success in the NASCAR Cup Series. Moreover, he is a 1997 IndyCar Series Champion, the 2006 International Race of Champions (IROC) winner, two-time Chili Bowl winner, and more, serving as a testament to his motorsports prowess.

The Indiana native is currently involved in a full-time NHRA Top Fuel campaign and will begin his sophomore slate in 2025. He wrapped up his rookie effort this past season after his wife Leah Pruett announced a break to start a family, in December 2023.

It's worth mentioning that Stewart didn't disappoint and earned the '2024 NHRA Rookie of The Year' honors.

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Edited by Shirsh
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