Tony Stewart to fans: ‘I will be back’

While recovering surgery on his broken leg, Tony Stewart wanted to two things — his phone and to send a message to his fans.

"I told someone to go get my phone or else I was going to get up and get it myself," Stewart said in a message posted on his website. "Finally got reconnected to the world and just want to say thank you for all the prayers and well wishes. My team will remain strong and I will be back." Stewart was injured in a sprint car crash in Iowa Monday night and is expected to miss at least this week’s race at Watkins Glen and possibly several more events.

Stewart-Haas Racing has not yet announced a replacement for Stewart.