INDIANAPOLIS -- Tony Stewart will retire after the 2016 NASCAR season.
Stewart, a Columbus, Indiana native, has privately talked about his retirement for a few months now, and a tough season has not helped his outlook.
The fatal dirt-track accident involving Kevin Ward Jr. over a year ago has also weighed heavy on his mind.
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Stewart is one of the most highly respected drivers among the fraternity of NASCAR.
Stewart, 44, is a three-time Sprint Cup champion with 48 wins in the series.
He is a two-time Brickyard champion and was the 1997 IndyCar champion.
Stewart has not officially announced his retirement, but a news conference has been scheduled for Wednesday afternoon in North Carolina to publicly announce his retirement plans.
He's been sitting on this for a while, but @TonyStewart letting it known. 2016 will be his final one in #NASCAR
— Dave Furst (@DaveFurst) September 28, 2015
A news conference has been called for Wednesday afternoon regarding Tony Stewart's retirement after the 2016 #NASCAR season...
— Dave Furst (@DaveFurst) September 28, 2015
