Three-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart was hospitalized with a broken leg early Tuesday morning after crashing at a sprint car race in Oskaloosa. Stewart-Haas Racing spokesman Mike Arning said Stewart sustained a broken right tibia and fibula in a crash at Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa.
He was transported to a local hospital where he underwent surgery. The driver and team owner was leading the 30-lap feature of the Front Row Challenge with five laps remaining when Josh Higday’s car spun on turn four and collected the top three cars – Stewart, Tasker Phillips and Tony Shilling.
Track officials said the 42-year-old Stewart was conscious and talking to responders after being placed on a stretcher. Brian Brown raced to victory, holding off Kyle Larson after the restart.
Stewart will miss at least this weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Watkins Glen; Arning said a replacement has not been named and it’s unknown how long Stewart will be out overall. A test scheduled for Tuesday at Atlanta Motor Speedway has also been canceled.
So far this season, Stewart has won the FedEx 400 at Dover International Speedway on June 2, took second in the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona on July 6 and placed fourth in the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis on July 28.
By Taylor Howard, KBOE, Oskaloosa