Tony Stewart asserted Tuesday at the Stewart-Haas race shop that his broken bones would mend in time for the 2014 Daytona 500 and that the organization he co-owns with Gene Haas was never fractured in the first place. ‘Theyre looking at the beginning of February, which isnt a bad deal’ said Stewart, who broke the tibia and fibula in his right leg during a Sprint Car accident Aug. 5 in Iowa. ‘I guess if you had to have this injury happen “ it could have happened a month later, and it would have gotten us in a really big bind for next year.” Next years Daytona 500 is scheduled for Feb. 23, and Stewart expects to be in the field, barring unexpected complications with his recovery. Stewart arrived at the dais for Tuesdays press conference in a wheelchair and maneuvered into a seat behind a podium that featured the Twitter hashtag ‘#SmokeWillRise’ a nod to his widely known nickname. As expected, the subject of Haas unilateral hiring of Kurt Busch was a hot-button topic, but Stewart was quick to dispel talk of a rift or a power struggle within his organization. For the first time reporters heard Stewarts graphic description of the wreck that has caused the three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion to miss the final 14 races of the season as he recuperates. Stewart described a dust cloud at Southern Iowa Speedway, somewhat like the cloud of smoke in the movie ‘Days of Thunder’ that obscured his view of the car in his path. Stewart wore shorts to the press conference, with his knee exposed, revealing a long scar held intact by a series of butterfly bandages. On his foot was a large insulated boot, protecting the lower leg in which a titanium rod was inserted during surgery to reinforce the tibia. The accident also reinforced Stewarts resolve to help make Sprint Car racing safer, but it wont stop him from participating in the sport.( NASCAR Wire Service ), see full transcript on my Tony Stewart press conference transcript page .
