Stewart returns to North Dakota

WEST FARGO, N.D. (AP) -NASCAR star Tony Stewart made his return to North Dakota - and failed to cross the finish line.

The two-time Sprint Cup champion was felled by a flat tire midway through the 35-lap All Star Circuit of Champions sprint feature Thursday at the Red River Valley Speedway. He was third in a late model race at the three-eighths-mile dirt track earlier this summer.

Speedway operations this summer are being handled by Danny Schatz. He is the father of Donny Schatz, the World of Outlaws Sprint Car champion and North Dakota native who drives for Stewart. Donny Schatz won the event.

Stewart said he came back to North Dakota because he had a chance to race a sprint car. He made an appearance at an event in Indiana earlier in the day, and planned to fly to Pennsylvania and the Pocono Speedway after the race.

Said Stewart, “This is not on the way to Pocono tonight for sure.”