Malcolm Stewart Interview: Arlington Press Day
February 21, 2025
Image from Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
How does it feel in Dallas? A little cold?
Real cold. Coming from Florida—real cold. I looked at the temperature, and it said 16 degrees. I haven’t seen those numbers, like, ever. But we did come from Detroit, and it was a full-on blizzard for a split second, so it doesn’t surprise me. I’m just happy we’re back racing inside another stadium, so we don’t have to worry about fighting the cold too much.
It's always good here. This is that rodeo dirt—you know how it is. It could be really good or hard-packed underneath; that’s the mystery of this track. But one thing I can tell you is that the fans in Dallas are insane. Every seat in this stadium is always sold out. I always look forward to coming here—rain or shine, it doesn’t matter. We always put on a great show.
Do you have a favorite stadium to go to, other than Tampa?I always liked Phoenix because it has the biggest floor space for the track, which I thought was pretty cool. When you go to so many different stadiums, you just appreciate all the moments. I also look forward to new stadiums. Last year, we went to Philly for the first time, and now we’re going to Pittsburgh. That’s cool, especially if you follow the NFL—getting to see these stadiums in person instead of just on TV is pretty awesome. It’s all about making memories.
On our site, we also have a travel review section. We come into the city a couple of days early to check out restaurants and explore. Do you get a chance to explore, or is it just business—fly in, fly out?Sometimes it's business. Things can change—we might fly in on Thursday or Friday, but sometimes we have media duties on Thursday or press events on Friday morning. So, yeah, it varies.
As for food, there’s not really a specific place I look forward to eating at once a year. I’m pretty plain during the season, but in the off-season, I’m all about that barbecue. You gotta love it. Texas barbecue just hits different. But honestly, a lot of barbecue is really good.
Serious question: after that first win, is there a kind of mental hangover? Is it hard to get back into the grind and do it again?No, I don’t think so. I think the hardest part is getting that first win. I mean, look how long it took. To me, it’s inspiring. It took me so long, and I think people can relate to that in their daily lives—whether it’s a job promotion you’ve been waiting on or some other goal. When you finally get it, you realize the journey was worth it.
Crossing that checkered flag was something people can reflect on—never give up on your dreams. I’ve been through a lot: injuries, broken bones, changing teams. But I never gave up, and I finally got my opportunity. That’s the biggest accomplishment—not just for me personally, but as something for others to see. If you keep pushing, it will come.
