Shane Stewart's full-time sprint car driving career may be behind him but that doesn't stop him from staying in the sport. In addition to being the co-owner and general manager of Port City Raceway in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Stewart decided in 2023 that he was going to promote a sprint car race with some friends.

"I reached out to them (Kyle Larson and Brad Sweet) when they originally brought up doing the mid-week races, and I thought maybe I can get back into a sprint car. But I also knew I wanted to promote one too," Stewart said with a smile. 

Shane Stewart's Heartland of America Showdown will serve as the first race of the 2023 High Limit Sprint Car Series season and will pay $50,000 to the winner, due in part to Stewart and Trackhouse Racing owner Justin Marks being involved. 

"We reached out to Lakeside, and I thought I'm gonna need some help here, so I reached out to Justin (Marks). He was excited to be involved, It's one of those things; you just don't sever ties when you go separate ways throughout your career."

Stewart drove for both Marks and Kyle Larson at Larson Marks Racing beginning in 2014, finishing a career-best second in World of Outlaw points in 2015. Stewart raced for the North Carolina based team for five seasons before ending his run with the team after the 2018 campaign. 

"Justin is really excited to be involved. I've just had really good friendships and relationships throughout my career," Stewart said. "Justin's mind, I don't know how he sleeps, the guy just doesn't stop. He's mentioned possibly having a sprint car team again down the road, as soon as we got this deal together he was already texting me ideas. I think it's going to be a big race, I keep telling everyone I retired too soon, all these big races popping up I'm going to have to figure out how to get back in a car and make some money."

$50,000-to-win on a Tuesday, huh?

𝙒𝙚𝙡𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙃𝙞𝙜𝙝 𝙇𝙞𝙢𝙞𝙩 𝙚𝙧𝙖. 🤑💰@ShaneStewartRcg’s Heartland of America Showdown presented by @TeamTrackhouse kicks it all off in TWO WEEKS (April 11) at @Lakeside_Spdwy!

🎟️ @TicketHoss App pic.twitter.com/fUfqrTyhUt

— High Limit Racing (@HighLimitRacing) March 28, 2023

Shane Stewart's Heartland of America Showdown presented by Trackhouse Racing opens the High Limit Sprint Car Series season with some great momentum. Stewart, a 100-time sprint car winner, is excited to be involved with the new series.

"It's good to be involved with good people. It's good to see the sport of sprint car racing growing like it is, it needed to happen. Things are getting more expensive to do. The promoting side of all this has been very educational and I've enjoyed learning from people that teach me."

Shane Stewart chats with FloRacing about Shane Stewart's Heartland of America Showdown presented by Trackhouse Racing

When asked if Stewart will return to the wheel of a sprint car for any of the weekly shows this season, he didn't say no. 

"Well I don't know. Obviously mid-week races entice me obviously, they are the only races I can do, with my main focus being Port City Raceway. My plate is always pretty full, that track is my focus, continue to grow it, maintain it. I don't know, we will see, I'm not going to say no if a good ride pops up, let's put it that way.