After NASCAR Exit, Tony Stewart Unfurls His Hunger to Conquer NHRA Amid Extended Drought

Tony Stewart, a household name in the world of Motorsports, made a bold transition to NHRA in 2022, starting his own team TSR (Tony Stewart Racing) with his wife Leah Pruett. With Pruett stepping aside to start a family, Stewart moved into her Top Fuel ride this year, intensifying his commitment to drag racing.

Despite his struggles to secure a win in the NHRA, Stewart’s appetite for racing has only grown stronger since his NASCAR exit last month. This transition period has seen the three-time Cup Series champion facing mechanical setbacks and tough competition, but the determination is palpable.

Tony Stewart’s struggles and SHR charter sale

Tony Stewart’s move to NHRA coincided with significant changes in his NASCAR team, Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR). In 2024, Stewart and Gene Haas announced the sale of SHR’s charters. This decision impacted drivers like Josh Berry, Noah Gragson, and Cole Custer. Consequently, Stewart’s focus shifted more toward his NHRA endeavors. Stewart’s NHRA team, Tony Stewart Racing, competes in the Top Fuel category. Here, Stewart has faced a steep learning curve.

Stewart mentioned the challenges he faced, especially with car adjustments. Reflecting on his NHRA journey, he said, “We don’t show up just to say we got to drive these things. We want to be successful and we want to win rounds and we want to win races.”

His determination to win is evident. However, transitioning from his wife’s setup to his own has been a key adjustment for the team. Stewart added, “It’s part of the process of learning. Like I mentioned at the beginning of the season, I weigh a tiny bit heavier than my wife does, and so it’s an adjustment for the team.”

Despite a few remarkable performances this year, it has been a barren season for Tony Stewart at NHRA. Considering, the legacy of the former NASCAR driver, his performance has not been quite up to par. The four-time Cup Series champion is currently in 9th position. Having secured 345 points so far, he is behind #1 ranked Justin Ashley by a huge margin. That being said, his Dodge Top Fuel Dragster is still behind by 221 points. But it’s far from over for the prodigal businessman cum driver cum husband.

Stewart’s hunger for success is mirrored by his TSR Funny Car driver, Matt Hagan. Hagan humorously shared, “I’m working on that man. Me and the guy on the treadmill we’re getting closer lately.”

This camaraderie highlights the team’s collective drive to improve. Stewart also recounted racing against Doug Kalitta. This moment brought back memories from their USAC days. “It was the first time Doug and I got to race last week… the goal is to come out and try to win events and win rounds to get there,” Stewart said. This emphasizes the importance of gaining more experience with each round. His NHRA push isn’t baseless, though, it’s based on significant backing.

Racing accolades and new sponsorship fueling Stewart’s NHRA quest

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Tony Stewart’s NHRA journey has not been devoid of success. He competed in Top Alcohol Dragster last year, securing two NHRA national event wins. This year, Stewart transitioned to Top Fuel, stepping into Leah Pruett’s shoes as she focuses on starting a family. Stewart’s NHRA team recently received a boost with a new sponsorship from DSR Performance. This partnership promises to enhance their performance capabilities.

DSR Performance will serve as an associate sponsor and performance parts supplier for TSR. They will provide top-tier components and engineering services. “We’ve had a great relationship with Tony Stewart Racing from their debut in NHRA, and we are excited to expand our partnership,” said Chad Osier, President of DSR Performance. This partnership is expected to bolster TSR’s competitiveness, potentially ending Stewart’s winless streak in NHRA.

Stewart’s focus on victory is evident. “We’re proud to have DSR Performance on-board with TSR. From the inception of our team, we’ve used their parts in our cars which have propelled us to multiple wins and Matt Hagan’s 2023 Championship,” Stewart commented. The synergy between Stewart’s racing appetite and DSR’s advanced technology could be the key to overcoming the current drought.

As Stewart prepares for the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, this sponsorship could become the game changer for TSR. Will this new sponsorship and his unyielding hunger for victory finally lead to his first Top Fuel triumph?