Stewart started racing in the Winston Cup series (now called the Sprint Cup series) in 1999. He drove for Joe Gibbs Racing. He finished in second place in his first race. Stewart went on to win the Sprint Cup Championship in 2002. In 2009, Stewart began racing for his own team, named Stewart Haas Racing. Stewart won the 2011 Sprint Cup Championship, beating Carl Edwards. Stewart and Edwards finished the season tied in points, but Tony had won more races during the year then Edwards, so Stewart was given the championship. In 2015, Stewart said that 2016 would be his final year racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.