Born into racing, Darrell Stewart has been turning circles across five decades. With racing being his one passion, Stewart continues to be a student of the sport and having had the opportunity to race against his father, and now gets to race against his sons.

Hometown: Arvada, Colorado

Number: 03

Division: Masters

Team: Wildlife Racing

1. How did you get your start in racing?

I was born into it. My dad was racing stock cars back in 1970 when I was born. He raced up till the mid-90s, and I was able to race late model against him during the late 80s, early 90s. It was a part of the bloodline. 

2. How did you pick the number 03?

It was based on the year I started racing. I started racing Legend Cars in 2003.  

3. Who is your biggest inspiration?

I've got to give a nod towards Richard Petty.

4. What is your favorite racing memory?

I’ve been able to race against my father, and I’ve also been able to race against both my sons in the Legend Series. The overall experience of working with them in the garage on their cars, traveling, and going to the tracks, and being able to compete against each other is my favorite memory of the sport.

5. How do you get focused before a race?

Having been around for quite a while, the nerves are still there. If they weren’t, I would get out of the race car. I try to get into the car earlier than most and get the helmet on that way people are shut out and get focused on what we are going to do. It's kind of a switch; the helmet goes on, and everything else goes away. 

6. What is your favorite track?

Slinger Speedway in Wisconsin. It’s crazy fast and high banking. They call it the world's fastest quarter-mile.

7. What are some hobbies you have outside of racing?

I really don’t. Racing is my one passion. There's nothing else I would like to do with my time.

8. You finished second in points this year at the 2025 INEX Spring Nationals. What was your reaction, and what were some of the challenges that you've faced that led to you getting a win at the end of the series?

The second place was pretty gratifying for me because for the most part, everyone who was there was a local from there and knew those race tracks or had competed on them multiple times. We don’t have flat tracks in Colorado. That was my second tour on something flat, and I was really pleased with the improvement from a year ago.

9. What lessons has being a race car driver taught you in your personal life?

It teaches you discipline more than anything else. It also lets you know that the only thing you can control is you and your car. Likewise, the only thing I can control in life is myself and how I react to circumstances. It helps you understand that life is going to move quickly, like it does on the race track. You can only control your piece of it.

10. What has been the most challenging part of driving a Legend car?

It is just the number of different drivers that I’ve competed against over the years. At one point, I’ve raced over 400 different people just locally. So, you throw in national events and all types of stuff, I’ve probably raced over 600 different drivers. You’ve got to learn fairly quickly what that particular driver is going to do.

11. You’ve been racing a Legend Car for a long time. What do you enjoy the most about them?

Bang for the buck, you can’t beat them. In your local racing scene, they are the toughest to drive.  I stay in them because they are reasonably affordable, and I think they are the only car being raced right now, where one person can go anywhere in the country by themselves and handle the car.

12. What advice would you give to the younger and next generations of racing drivers?

Be patient and be a student of the sport. I don’t care how much talent you have. You can learn way more from talking to the season guys than you can by getting in the car and turning circles.

13. What are your 2025 racing goals?

I would like to be competing for a national points championship, and I would like to compete for a win at the Nationals in Las Vegas this year.  

14. What haven’t you accomplished in racing that is still on your bucket list?

A main event win at Colorado National Speedway. That is our local track, and we have been competing there for 23 years and have never gotten a win. A national championship or international championship race win is also on the bucket list.