When Tony Stewart smashed 200mph barrier in a NASCAR first at Texas

NASCAR team owner, Tony Stewart set a milestone record during the qualifying for the Sprint Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway ten years ago on Halloween.

Driving Stewart-Haas Racing's No. 14 Chevrolet, Tony Stewart became the first driver to complete a qualifying lap at over 200 mph on a 1.5-mile NASCAR track on October 31, 2014. Stewart hit an incredible speed of 200.111 mph.

However, Stewart did not win the pole position for the race at Texas. Matt Kenseth, who finished with a lap of 199.299 mph, won the pole and Stewart was placed sixth overall.

The three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion also won the 2014 championship title as an owner. The No. 4 Kevin Harvick won his first Cup Series championship for Stweart Haas Racing (SHR) in his first year with the team.

"To be able to say we're the first guy on a mile and a half to run 200, that's pretty cool I think. Of course we were trying for the pole, but I missed the corner a little bit," said Stewart.

However, 2014 was a tough season for Stewart as a driver. His best finish was fourth (at two races) and one pole that season. He had an average finish of 20 and was recovering from a leg injury.

---

"Priorities change" - Tony Stewart on SHR’s closure

The final year of Tony Stewart's team is coming to an end with just two races left in the season. Stweart Haas Racing announced earlier this year that it would close its operations in NASCAR after 16 years.

Gene Haas started SHR, which has over 100 wins and several championships, in 2002 and Tony Stewart joined as co-owner in 2009. In a recent episode of the Kevin Harvick Happy Hour podcast, Stewart talked about the decision to close SHR.

"Knowing that when I left the building there, here’s some of those people I've known for 16 years, and I may never, ever see them again...I don't know that it's even bittersweet. It's more bitter than sweet, I feel like. It's a tough decision. But, you know, things in life change. Your priorities change and variables outside of your control change as well," Stewart said.

"It is not what it used to be. It is drastically different than what it used to be. And that's okay for some people, and for some people it's not. I guess I'm one of those people," he added.

While Stewart has decided to leave NASCAR Cup Series ownership, Gene Haas will continue with a smaller team.