Stewart has surgery on leg, heads to Vegas

Tony Stewart

Tony Stewart has undergone a fourth surgery on the leg he broke last year during a sprint car race in Iowa. Stewart was released from the hospital on Wednesday. He was then headed to Las Vegas to celebrate Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Kevin Harvick's championship. Stewart broke the tibia and fibula in his right leg during the Aug. 5, 2013, crash and underwent two surgeries immediately after the accident, including one to insert a metal rod inside the tibia. A third surgery last year was to close a wound on his shin.

Stewart spokesman Mike Arning called Monday's surgery in Charlotte, NC, the equivalent of routine maintenance. Arning said Stewart will be on crutches in Las Vegas, where he will attend an industry-wide luncheon on Thursday and the season-ending awards ceremony that will fete Harvick. But because of the surgery, Stewart will defer team owner duties to co-owner Gene Haas. SHR will have Haas sit with Harvick at the head table and handle speaking duties, while Stewart planned to sit in the audience. Associated Press