Tony Stewart Gears Up For NHRA Top Fuel Debut This Weekend

NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart is set to make his NHRA Top Fuel debut at the 55th Annual NHRA Amalie Gatornationals, scheduled for March 8-10. Known for his accomplishments in NASCAR, IndyCar, and USAC, Stewart’s move to the Top Fuel division is nothing short of a rookie adventure.

Stewart, hailing from Indiana, will be behind the wheel of the Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) Dodge//SRT Direct Connection dragster, packing a staggering 11,000 horsepower. This marks his fourth foray into a different motorsports discipline at the highest level, and he’s taking on the challenge with enthusiasm.

“I’m trying to get through this learning curve right now with the Top Fuel dragster,” Stewart admits. His decision to step into the dragster comes as his wife, Leah Pruett, opted to sit out the 2024 season to start a family. Pruett, an accomplished drag racer herself, will now serve as a strategist and driving coach for the TSR team.

Stewart acknowledges the steep learning curve, describing it as “probably one of the biggest challenges I have ever faced in my racing career.” Unlike traditional racetracks, Top Fuel drag racing allows only a handful of runs during testing, making every lap crucial for Stewart to get acquainted with the high-powered dragster.

Despite the challenges, Stewart sees an advantage in joining a seasoned team. “I have confidence in the team, and I know that they are way stronger at this point of the season than I am. It gives me a big confidence boost,” he says. This support allows him to focus on mastering the nuances of driving a Top Fuel dragster, a stark departure from his experiences in NASCAR and IndyCar.

Stewart’s debut at Gainesville Raceway will coincide with his TSR teammate Matt Hagan’s bid for a third consecutive Gatornationals Funny Car win. Hagan, a veteran in the nitro-burning TSR Direct Connection Dodge//SRT HELLCAT, is seeking his 50th career triumph and eyes a strong start to the 2024 NHRA Mission Drag Racing Series.

Both Stewart and Hagan have undergone extensive testing in their new racecars in preparation for the Gatornationals. They will unveil the brand-new 2024 TSR Dodge//SRT Direct Connection red-and-black race car liveries at the event.

Nitro qualifying is scheduled for Friday, March 8, at 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. EST, with Saturday qualifying at 1:20 p.m. and 4 p.m. EST. The final eliminations are set for Sunday at 10:30 a.m. EDT.