Tony Stewart Makes Major Strides in NHRA Top Fuel, Scores First Round Wins at Arizona Nationals

 

Tony Stewart, a three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, has proven his versatility and skill in motorsport yet again, this time in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. After a challenging start to his NHRA Top Fuel career, Stewart triumphed in a big way by claiming his first-ever elimination round wins at the 2024 NHRA Arizona Nationals, held at Firebird Motorsports Park.

Stewart’s path to victory in Arizona was no easy feat. In his first two races of the season—at Gainesville, Florida, and Pomona, California—he experienced first-round losses to drag racing heavyweights Justin Ashley and Steve Torrence. However, the third race proved to be a turning point, with Stewart defying expectations and moving past two of the sport’s most decorated drivers, Brittany Force and Billy Torrence.

Starting from the No. 15 spot on the 16-car Top Fuel grid, Stewart faced off against Force, a two-time NHRA Top Fuel champion, in the opening round. Despite the formidable

competition, Stewart and his team managed to dial in the Direct Connection Dodge Top Fuel dragster, securing the win. Force, who had qualified second, had been a dominant force in the sport, but Stewart’s performance demonstrated his potential in the high-stakes world of Top Fuel drag racing.

In his post-race comments, Stewart acknowledged the unique challenges of driving a Top Fuel car, especially given the difference in physical requirements between his driving style and that of his wife, Leah Pruett, who competed in the same car last year. Pruett is notably lighter than Stewart, which presents a different set of challenges for the team in terms of adjusting the car’s setup.

“I’m 55 pounds heavier than my wife, and that changes everything about how the car performs,” Stewart said with a chuckle. “My team has had to figure out how to get my ‘fat butt’ going, and it’s not easy. But we’re making progress.”

Crew chief Neil Strausbaugh, who has been working tirelessly to adjust the car’s setup to Stewart’s driving style, laughed at the comment but affirmed that Stewart’s driving talent is undeniable. “Tony’s been driving his ass off. We know he can do it, and we’ve been working our butts off to make the car go down the track,” Strausbaugh said.

After his impressive victory over Force, Stewart continued to showcase his growing confidence by taking down Billy Torrence in the quarterfinals. Torrence, a seasoned Top Fuel driver and two-time NHRA world champion, was another formidable opponent, but Stewart’s team was able to dial in the car, delivering a near-perfect performance. Unfortunately for Stewart, his run was cut short in the semifinals, where he faced off against Justin Ashley, who had previously defeated him in Gainesville. Ashley would go on to lose to Shawn Langdon in the final, but Stewart’s performance was still a standout in the event.

Despite the semifinal loss, Stewart reflected positively on the results of the weekend, noting that his team had made significant strides in just his third race in the category. “We’ve struggled, but this is something we needed,” Stewart said. “It’s been a tough start to the season, but beating two champions like Brittany Force and Billy Torrence shows how far we’ve come in a short amount of time.”