After Missing Out on History in Vegas, Tony Stewart Has High Hopes for Charlotte’s zMAX Dragway

Versatile driver Tony Stewart is geared up for another Top Fuel run this weekend. Earlier this year, he crossed three rookie races to compete in the final round in Las Vegas. Firing his 11,000-horsepower Dodge dragster through The Strip, Tony Stewart trailed behind some big names, finishing fourth to Doug Kalitta, Justin Ashley, and Steve Torrence.

Now that another four-wide Top Fuel event is coming up, Tony Stewart is more confident. In fact, the qualifying rounds have already seen him match the dizzying speeds of his experienced rivals.

High hopes for Charlotte

Round five of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series is waiting for Tony Stewart to find his Top Fuel glory. In a pre-race media conference, Stewart said that he is getting comfortable with the unique format. “I really liked the four-wides.” Known as ‘the Bellagio of drag strips’, the zMAX Dragway in Charlotte is expected to be different from Las Vegas. However, Doug Kalitta, the Las Vegas champ, is projected to collect another Top Fuel win here.

But Smoke’s determination might be a thorn in his side. “We made our first final round of appearance at Vegas, so have the most momentum we could have. Coming here, this team is gaining momentum. Come to a place that’s a second home, so to speak,” Tony Stewart revealed. Literally, as he recorded high speeds in the qualifying sessions for the 4 Wide Nationals, he ran a 3.769 ET at 324.90 mph in the first round and a 3.716 ET at 320.05 mph in the second.

Last year, in the September Top Alcohol Race in Charlotte, his luck turned sour. A post-race inspection revealed unapproved ignition parts, and that got the veteran disqualified. However, Tony Stewart is far more prepared and careful about his Top Fuel drag attempts on the same track.

About his drag races so far, he said, “The thing that’s most important on the lights for me as a rookie right now is, even if they’re not as fast as I want them to be, they’re really consistent”. Indeed, speed is of the essence in the Top Fuel world, as a three-time World Champion NHRA drag racer aptly explained.

“Like you’re blind”: NHRA champ lays down speed mantra

Antron Brown is a six-time Dragway winner as well and used to be a standout sprinter in high school. Hence, he knows the NHRA speed philosophy well. He said, “You have to be first to leave If you’re not first, you’re definitely last, and you don’t wanna be behind the percussion of the other cars going down the strip – you can’t feel your car, you can’t hear it, you can’t sense it. You’re driving it like you’re blind.”

Tony Stewart will face this lightning-fast rival in a field of stout contenders at Charlotte’s Top Fuel event. However, he has already landed in NASCAR’s Victory Lane at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2003 and 2009. The 52-year-old veteran driver now hopes to pick up a Wally across the street at the zMAX Dragway. Stewart’s versatile nature is looking to conquer another racing series in an eclectic mix: Cup, Xfinity, Sprint, IndyCar, and now Top Fuel.

Evidently, the NASCAR Hall of Famer is about to add another cabinet of racing trophies to his home.