NASCAR Icon Celebrates First NHRA Drag Racing Championship Victory.
Tony Stewart, a three-time NASCAR champion, has achieved another milestone in his storied career by securing his first NHRA drag racing championship. Best known for his NASCAR accomplishments and his 1997 Indy Racing League title, Stewart now adds a new dimension to his motorsports legacy by dominating in NHRA competition. This victory comes just as Stewart-Haas Racing, the NASCAR team he co-owns, prepares to leave the sport at the end of the current season.
Stewart’s latest triumph came on Saturday in St. Louis, where he competed in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series North Central Division. Racing for McPhillips Racing in the Top Alcohol dragster class, Stewart faced off against Gary Pritchett in a high-stakes final round. Despite Pritchett holding a 21-point lead, Stewart delivered a winning time of 5.216 seconds at an incredible speed of 274.16 mph. Pritchett, who encountered difficulties during the run, crossed the line at 13.242 seconds, allowing Stewart to clinch the victory.
Stewart shared the exciting news on social media, thanking his team for their hard work and celebrating the division title: “North Central Champs in Top Alcohol Dragster! Can’t thank my McPhillips Racing family enough for an awesome season. Had a great weekend at @WWTRaceway and battled it out against @GaryPritchettFC for the win.”
Reflecting on the race in a post-victory interview, Stewart expressed the personal significance of the win, recalling a disappointing result at the same event the previous year: “It was a pretty cool deal today. This is redemption from last year at this same event. When we were here a year ago, all we had to do was get through the first round, and we would have clinched the division championship.”
Stewart explained that the previous year, his car had issues in the first round, while his competitor ran their best time of the season, leaving him unable to clinch the title. However, this year was different. With two wins and a runner-up finish leading up to the final event, Stewart had to beat Pritchett, who had made it to the finals, in order to win the championship.
“Out of five races this season, we ran Gary in four of them, and we were in the finals together in all four. To win three against him is awesome. He’s a tough competitor, and Randy Meyer’s team always does a great job,” Stewart said.
Stewart’s win is even more impressive considering that just a week earlier, he had faced struggles in the Top Fuel category. His ability to bounce back and claim the Top Alcohol division title speaks to his versatility and determination as a racer. “For everything we’ve done in motorsports, to be able to add this to our resume is really special,” Stewart added.
Praising his team, Stewart credited the McPhillips Racing crew for delivering a strong performance throughout the season and in the finals, securing both the event win and the low elapsed time (ET) of the race.
Tony Stewart’s latest championship cements his place as one of the most versatile and successful drivers in motorsports history, now holding titles in NASCAR, IndyCar, and NHRA drag racing.
