Tony Stewart Nears Historic Achievement at NHRA Winternationals

Motorsports legend Tony Stewart came agonizingly close to making history at the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals, where he placed runner-up in his Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) Dodge//SRT Top Fuel dragster. This near-victory came after an impressive performance throughout the event, where Stewart battled his way to the final round against Clay Millican. Meanwhile, Stewart’s teammate, Matt Hagan, had a strong showing in the TSR Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car, reaching the semifinals.

Stewart, a multi-time Hall of Fame driver, was vying to become the first racer to win in four different professional motorsports disciplines, having previously won in NASCAR, IndyCar, and USAC. After advancing to the final round, Stewart faced Millican, but an unfortunate tire-smoking incident at the 200-foot mark derailed his chances. Millican ultimately won, even after a dramatic engine explosion as he crossed the finish line.

Stewart’s path to the final was no easy feat. He overcame a string of former NHRA World Champions, starting with reigning champion Antron Brown, whom he defeated with an elapsed time of 3.713 seconds. Stewart then bested 2023 World Champion Doug Kalitta with a 3.702-second run, followed by a victory over Shaun Langdon, another former World Champion, with a 3.723-second run. 

This final round appearance was Stewart’s third since taking over the Top Fuel car in 2024 from his wife, Leah Pruett, who stepped away to focus on starting a family. The couple’s son, Dominic James, was born on November 17, 2024, the same weekend as the NHRA World Finals.

Reflecting on his performance, Stewart said, “The day I get upset with losing is the day I retire from racing. But the team is upset because they want to win. These TSR crew guys have done an awesome job… We just want to take this car to victory lane very badly.” Stewart acknowledged the team’s consistency and excellent performance throughout the weekend, adding, “We took down three big guys in a row… To be the best, you have to beat the best.”

Meanwhile, teammate Matt Hagan had his own strong run in the TSR Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car. Hagan, who was aiming for his fifth NHRA Winternationals win, defeated Alexis DeJoria and Blake Alexander in the opening rounds. His remarkable reaction times in the 0.040-second range demonstrated his skill, but in the semifinals, his 3.915-second run wasn’t enough to top Jack Beckman’s 3.860-second run. Beckman went on to take the win, but Hagan’s semifinal finish moves him into third place in the NHRA Mission Funny Car points standings as the tour heads to Las Vegas.

Hagan praised his TSR crew, stating, “We are making great progress with this TSR Dodge//SRT Hellcat team. We are steadily making good runs at each event.” He also shared his respect for his crew’s perseverance, noting the challenges of the weekend.