Tony Stewart Breaks Down Maple Valley as He Imparts Invaluable Knowledge to Wife Leah Pruett

If you have ever dreamed about competing against professional racers from the comfort of your home, now is your chance! As part of Mobil 1’s activation idea, virtual drivers will have the opportunity to race against NASCAR legend Tony Stewart, and Indy NXT Racer Jamie Chadwick on a fictional racetrack called Maple Valley. The program is called Legends vs Leaderboard Rival Events, which is a part of a partnership between Mobil 1 and Forza Motorsport.

Driving a 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 302, Tony Stewart has posted a “very respectable” lap time and has shared some valuable advice while speaking to his wife Leah Pruett about racing on the Mobil 1-designed 4.81km racecourse.

Tony Stewart shares valuable advice to beat his Maple Valley track record

Few drivers in the motorsports industry are as versatile as Tony Stewart. Whether it’s winning the NASCAR Cup Series three times, competing in IndyCar, or even replacing his wife Leah Pruett in NHRA, Stewart has been there, done that. This time around, he’s doing something truly unique, as he will compete against fans. As part of Forza Horizon’s promotion, Tony Stewart’s portion of the event will be live until August 7th, during which time fans will have the opportunity to clock a faster lap time than Stewart’s 1:57.453.

The collaboration between Tony Stewart and Mobil 1 is also paired with a content series that is hosted by his wife, Leah Pruett. In a video uploaded on Instagram, Pruett asked for advice for herself and others who might attempt the Maple Valley course, and Stewart generously imparted his wisdom. He said, “Pay very close attention to the feedback on the steering wheel because that’s going to tell you all the information about what that car likes or dislikes.

“Once you have learned the layout, learning that and feeling the car through your hands, because you’re not physically sitting in a real car, so the only way you are truly and physically feeling the car is through your hands. If you pay attention to that, you learn what that 69 Mustang likes and dislikes. Once you figure that out, you start shaving time off.”

Despite Tony Stewart’s valuable advice, the 53-year-old will hope to finish in the top 10 lap times by the time the event is over. He will have a unique advantage, as many motorsport fans and gamers don’t have access to a steering wheel setup to “feel the car through your hands“. Moreover, the 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 302, selected by Tony Stewart because of his partnership with Ford, is not easy to drive. This means that the four-time Cup Series winner should be optimistic about his chances of remaining in the top 10, especially if his competitors lack finesse or do not have access to the hardware required to understand the car’s feedback.

As things stand, Tony Stewart has been competing in the NHRA, replacing his wife Leah Pruett in the Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) Rinnai Dodge//SRT dragster. Last year, Pruett stepped away from the 2024 NHRA competition to focus on starting a family but has been involved as a Dodge Direct Connection and Mopar brand ambassador. Moreover, she also helped film Tony Stewart’s lap time at Maple Valley on production day, an endeavor that her husband took as seriously as qualifying for the Indy 500.

Mobil 1 is excited about the brand’s largest video game campaign

Mobil 1’s collaboration with Forza Motorsports, is part of the brand’s 50th anniversary celebration. Through the Legend vs. Leaderboard Rival Events, the brand is looking to give fans exclusive content, the chance to win prizes, and an opportunity to take on some of the most iconic racecar drivers on a track specifically designed for the event, called the Maple Valley. New drivers will be featured in the campaign every month for the remainder of the year, with Jamie Chadwick replacing Tony Stewart from August 29 through September 11, 2024.

Speaking on behalf of the Mobil 1 team, Laura Bustard, the brand’s Global Brand Manager said, “We are thrilled to bring this iconic collaboration to life with Forza Motorsport to continue the celebration of the Mobil 1 brand’s historic 50th anniversary. This collaboration signifies our continued commitment to innovation and excellence in motorsports while also showcasing our passion for racing beyond a physical racetrack but increasingly in the virtual world. We are proud to have created a dynamic and immersive experience for gamers and race fans that allows us to celebrate our legacy, and we cannot wait to see fans share in the excitement by racing against a variety of professional motorsports drivers.”

Created by Turn 10 and Xbox Game Studios, Forza Motorsport is allowing fans to compete against the best racers in the world through its collaboration with Mobil 1. The world’s largest synthetic oil manufacturer is keen to grow in the gaming and motorsports space while creating new experiences for fans. With NASCAR currently in the middle of an Olympic break, drivers, motorsport fans and gamers will attempt to beat the lap times of their favorite drivers. It remains to be seen how many will succeed.

What are your thoughts about the Legend vs. Leaderboard Rival Events? Let us know in the comments!