Three-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart is recovering in a Des Moines hospital from a broken leg sustained in a crash at an Oskaloosa sprint car race Monday night, reports KCCI.com.
The Associated Press reports Stewart broke his right leg in two places and had surgery.
Stewart's website has no comment on the accident. He raced Sunday at the Pocono Speedway and was scheduled to compete in the Sprint Cup race this weekend at Watkins Glen International.
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According to the NASCAR webwite, Stewart-Haas Racing confirmed early Tuesday morning that the three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion broke the tibia and fibula in his right leg in a crash at Southern Iowa Speedway.
The crash happened during a sprint car race. Stewart was leading the 30-lap feature in a 360 winged sprint car with five laps to go when a lapped car spun in turn 4 and caused Stewart and two others to crash, KCCI said.
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Stewart was reportedly conscious and talking when he was placed on a stretcher. He was then airlifted to Des Moines.
This is Stewart's third crash in the past month.
Stewart is 11th in the Sprint Cup standings, and with one victory this season, leads the race for the first Wild Card in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. His No. 14 team has canceled a planned test for Tuesday at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the NASCAR site said.
Stewart maintains close ties to his short-track roots by scheduling roughly 70 sprint car events per year, the NASCAR site reported.
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