Tony Stewart Joins Right Trailers NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout

Tony Stewart is gearing up for a new challenge as he joins the Right Trailers NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout for the first time in his NHRA career. The motorsports legend and reigning NHRA Rookie of the Year steps into the eighth and final spot for this high-stakes, eight-car shootout happening on Saturday, March 8, during the 2025 Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at the Gainesville Raceway in Florida.

Stewart’s entry into the All-Star Callout comes after Tony Schumacher, an eight-time Top Fuel world champion and 88-time event winner, announced he won’t be racing in Gainesville. With Schumacher stepping aside, Stewart is ready to take his place and face off against some of the biggest names in the sport. Schumacher, meanwhile, is expected to reveal his 2025 racing plans in the coming weeks.

The Right Trailers All-Star Callout is one of the most exciting specialty races on the NHRA calendar. It follows a unique callout format where the No. 1 qualifier, Steve Torrence, gets the first pick to choose his first-round opponent. If Torrence doesn’t select Doug Kalitta, the 2023 Top Fuel champion and second-seeded driver, Kalitta will then make his pick. This continues down the line until all first-round matchups are set. After the first round, the driver with the fastest winning time gets to choose their semifinal opponent, keeping strategy and performance at the forefront of the competition.

The full eight-car field for the 2025 All-Star Callout is stacked with talent and heavy-hitters. Joining Steve Torrence and Doug Kalitta are Shawn Langdon, Justin Ashley, Antron Brown, Brittany Force, Clay Millican, and now Tony Stewart. This lineup includes multiple world champions, making it one of the most competitive fields in recent memory.

For Stewart, this opportunity is another milestone in his NHRA journey. After a successful rookie Top Fuel season that saw him reach two final rounds, he’s ready to make his mark in this prestigious event. “I’m looking forward to competing in the Top Fuel Callout at Gainesville,” Stewart said. “The field is stacked with talent, and we won’t know who we are up against until we get there, so that adds an exciting element to the event. Hopefully, we’re able to bring home the trophy and some extra bonus money for the team for all of their hard work.”

The All-Star Callout isn’t just about the money — though the big purse is certainly a draw. It’s about bragging rights and momentum. Winning this event would be the perfect way to kick off the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season. Past winners like Steve Torrence, who won the inaugural event in 2022, and Antron Brown, who claimed victory in 2024 on his way to a fourth world championship, have used this race as a springboard to greater success.

The action begins on Friday, March 7, at noon ET, when first-round selections take place in the Top Eliminator Club. The racing kicks off on Saturday, March 8, with opening ceremonies at 12:10 p.m., followed by the first round at 12:15 p.m., semifinals at 2:20 p.m., and the final round at 3:30 p.m. Fans who can’t make it to Gainesville can catch all the action with a special Callout broadcast airing at 9 p.m. ET on FS1.

With his fierce competitive spirit and proven ability behind the wheel, Tony Stewart is sure to bring plenty of excitement to this year’s All-Star Callout. As the eighth seed, he’ll be called out by one of the top-ranked drivers in the opening round, but Stewart has shown he’s more than capable of rising to the occasion. The stage is set for an unforgettable weekend of Top Fuel drag racing at one of the most historic events on the NHRA schedule.

For tickets and event information, visit NHRA’s official website. Don’t miss your chance to see Stewart and the rest of the Top Fuel stars battle it out at the Gatornationals.