Tony Stewart offers updates on his condition, Daytona regrets

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.—Tony Stewart is watching the Daytona 500 from the same vantage point as you— the other side of a television — and he’s not happy about it.

Stewart called in twice to Fox Sports’ Daytona 500 coverage on Sunday to offer updates on his condition two weeks after suffering a severe back injury while off-road driving.

“It’s definitely tough for sure,” Stewart said. “This was my last attempt to try to win a Daytona 500. To be laying in a bed in Charlotte is not the way I wanted to spend this day for sure.”

Stewart, ever the racing fiend, confessed that he’s been racing RC cars. His doctors have ordered him to be either laying down flat or walking around, which limits the amount of possible activities one can do.

As for the 14 team of Brian Vickers, who is subbing in while the three-time champ heals, Stewart indicated that he’s mostly “technical support,” aiding the team with guidance on whatever small-scale matters they need, but leaving the team to develop its own strategy and in-race planning.

Stewart said he hopes to return to a track in the next couple weeks, but added that he isn’t scheduled to even get a new X-ray until March 9, and won’t have a clear idea of his prognosis until then. But he hopes to start returning to tracks in the very near future.

“That’s been the hardest part,” Stewart said, “not being at a track.”

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