The Dale Jr. Download – "Tony Stewart & Rico Abreu: It's Like Bringing The Band Back Together"

Date: September 17, 2025
Host: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Guests: Tony Stewart, Rico Abreu
Podcast: Dirty Mo Media, SiriusXM

Episode Overview

This episode marks a significant moment in sprint car racing as Dale Jr. welcomes Tony Stewart and Rico Abreu to announce a major team merger: Rico Abreu is joining Tony Stewart Racing, blending two of the sport's standout operations for the 2026 season. The discussion dives deep into how the partnership came together, the mechanics of their new team structure, the emotional transition out of the long Stewart-Schatz relationship, the impact on the High Limit series, and Tony Stewart's evolving approach to racing as he balances a family, drag racing, and his lifelong sprint car passion.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Major Announcement: Abreu Joins Stewart’s Team

• [02:56] A (Dale Jr.): "So Rico's going to join Tony Stewart Racing. Yep."

  • Rico Abreu, current High Limit points leader, brings his team over to Tony Stewart Racing for 2026.
  • The idea was years in the making—friendship laid the foundation, but logistical and business evolutions finally made it feasible.

• [03:42] B (Stewart): "We've been friends for a long time... In the last two years, [Rico] has literally transformed... he's added another dimension... he's built it into a very, very professional race team."

  • Stewart credits Abreu's maturation as both a business owner and driver as a pivotal factor.

• [06:08] C (Abreu): "It's a mega opportunity for me to race for a top tier team that's a championship molded team."

  • Abreu explains his journey, his love for sprint car racing, and why joining forces with Stewart is the next logical step.

2. Team Merger: Logistics & Team Culture

• [08:43] A: "Where is your race team ran out of?"

  • Rico’s shop is already just two miles from Tony's in Brownsburg, Indiana, making the transition smooth.

• [08:56] B (Stewart): "We're just bringing his whole program over, essentially... It's kind of like bringing the band back together."

  • Almost all of Abreu's crew moves over, keeping chemistry and team morale high.

• [10:03] C (Abreu): "[A big part of our success is] my availability throughout the week and just the passion I have for making sure the employees are in a great atmosphere. I think that's 85% of sprint car racing."

3. Equipment, Franchise Systems, and Business Realities

• [11:40] A: "How do you... Are you bringing all your stuff over?"

• [11:40] C (Abreu): "Blend it together and you figure it out later... we're in a performance-based business."

  • A seamless approach to merging physical assets and racing equipment.

• [13:48] A: "High Limit developed a franchise system…How do y’all manage that piece of the puzzle?"

  • High Limit’s franchise system is likened to NASCAR’s charter—Abreu’s franchise gets leased to TSR.
  • [15:43] C (Abreu): "Tony Stewart Racing will lease the franchise from Rico Abreu Racing."

4. The End of Stewart & Donny Schatz Partnership

• [16:35] A: "How difficult was it, Tony, to end the relationship with Donnie after all these years?"

• [16:40] B (Stewart): "After 18 years, it's very tough... we probably have the longest relationship of any full-time team right now. But it just comes to a point where... the variables in the equation change."

  • Stewart opens up about the painful but necessary decision and the excitement for a new chapter.

• [19:05] B (Stewart): "I haven't been this excited about sprint car racing in a long time. It's my number one passion."

5. High Limit Series and Sprint Car Racing Growth

• [20:29] A/B: Stewart discusses the evolution from All Star to High Limit, sharing respect for Brad Sweet and Kyle Larson’s leadership.

• [21:04] C (Abreu): "Every single race next year will be for Tony Stewart Racing."

  • Plan is to run a robust sprint car campaign, targeting up to 70–85 races.

• [23:16] C (Abreu): "The next evolution... is linear television."

  • Streaming (Flow) has expanded the sport’s fanbase and in-person attendance.
  • Stewart notes increased national interest and track attendance thanks to streaming.

6. Tony Stewart: Motivation, Change, and Drag Racing

• [29:14] A: "I've been watching you over the last several years. I find your direction and choices in life just fascinating as hell."

• Stewart describes how marriage to Leah Pruett drew him deeply into drag racing, and how fatherhood and personal growth have redirected his priorities.

  • [31:58] B (Stewart): "It's just that passion and that drive to do it has never changed over 46, 47 years now as a race car driver."
  • Encounters in NHRA—including surviving a 240+ MPH crash—haven’t dampened Stewart’s drive; instead, they provided new motivation and perspective.

• [38:50] B (Stewart): "I don't see an end anytime near."

7. Rico’s NASCAR Foray & Self-Reflection

• [44:30] C (Abreu): "I would have done two years [in lower series]... We got in a hurry and pushed through the programs too quickly... I was just so inexperienced."
  • Abreu reflects honestly on his rapid climb through the NASCAR ladder, admitting he advanced too quickly and didn’t get the preparation he needed.

8. Diversity, Learning, and Racing across Disciplines

• Stewart and Abreu discuss the steep learning curve (and physical demands) of transitioning across racing disciplines—from late models and sprints to top fuel dragsters.

• [49:21] B (Stewart): "Our brains are like a smartphone... you might have three or four apps open... but you're working on one at a time... that's what happened between [drag racing tests]."

9. Risk, Safety, and Mindset

• The conversation turns to the danger inherent in sprint car and drag racing.
• [67:13] C (Abreu): "You can't have crashes like that and put yourself in those positions of uncomfort... If I have a 15th place car, I'm going to finish 15th tonight and make sure this car rolls into the trailer..."

10. Looking Ahead: Partners, Plans, & Hopes for the Future

• [71:25] A/B: Sponsors like Advance, Carquest, and Curb Records reaffirmed support. The blending of partners is ongoing.

• [72:11] A (Dale Jr.): "2026 can't get here soon enough. It's going to be awesome to see you two working together, continuing to build your own individual legacies. But doing it in a partnership is going to be fun for everybody in the world of motorsports."

Notable Quotes & Moments

On the merger:

• "[Rico] has built it into a very, very professional race team... What he's done with his program now is... taking care of sponsors, running the race team, taking care of budgets... The more we talked about it, the more it made sense." — Tony Stewart [03:42]

On team culture and employee morale:

• "My availability throughout the week and the passion I have for making sure the employees are in a great atmosphere. I think that's 85% of sprint car racing." — Rico Abreu [10:03]

On leaving Donny Schatz:

• "I literally remember going to bed the night before I called Donnie and I said, I feel like I'm getting ready to sign divorce papers tomorrow. That's how bad it felt." — Tony Stewart [17:22]

On streaming & fan growth:

• "Now people that didn't have a chance to go to your racetrack now see it on a streaming platform and go, 'I really want to go.'... It's totally changed the game of how our race fans engage." — Tony Stewart [24:41]

On the thrill and danger of racing:

• "You can't have crashes like that and put yourself in those positions... I've really tried to learn not to put myself in bad spots. If I have a 15th place car, I'm going to finish 15th and make sure this car rolls into the trailer..." — Rico Abreu [67:13]

On the future:

• "I don't see an end anytime near." — Tony Stewart [38:50]
• "2026 can't get here soon enough... It's going to be awesome to see you two working together..." — Dale Earnhardt Jr. [72:11]

Highlights & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• Big Announcement & Secret-Keeping: [02:46–03:42]
• Team Evolution & Culture: [06:08–10:03]
• Equipment/Logistics: [11:40–12:13]
• High Limit Franchise & Business Nuances: [13:48–15:43]
• End of Stewart-Schatz Era: [16:35–19:05]
• Excitement for the Future/High Limit Mission: [20:29–24:41]
• Streaming’s Impact on the Sport: [23:16–26:03]
• Tony’s Motivation & Personal Growth: [29:14–39:34]
• Surviving & Learning from Crashes: [62:49–65:42]
• Safety, Driver Judgment, Career Longevity: [67:05–69:03]
• Final Comments on Sponsors & 2026 Outlook: [71:25–72:50]

Tone & Vibe

The episode is casual, candid, and sometimes introspective—full of mutual respect and a mix of humor and emotion. Stewart’s deadpan humor, Abreu’s earnestness, and Earnhardt Jr.’s genuine enthusiasm for the announcement create a lively, approachable atmosphere. There's a sense of celebration about the potential this partnership brings to sprint car racing’s changing landscape.

Conclusion

This episode is a must-listen for sprint car, dirt racing, and motorsports fans, marking a new era as Tony Stewart and Rico Abreu combine expertise and energy for an ambitious 2026 campaign. Their partnership, born out of mutual respect and a vision for sustainable, top-tier competition, is poised to shift the competitive landscape, bring new energy to the High Limit series, and further inspire the next generation of racers and fans.