READING, Pa. — Heading into this weekend’s fortieth annual NHRA Studying Nationals offered by Nitro Fish at Maple Grove Raceway, racing legend Tony Stewart has already loved a number of firsts this yr.
There was the primary profession High Gasoline win in Las Vegas (adopted by a second win in Chicago), a primary No. 1 qualifier, main the factors for the primary time and successful the primary NHRA regular-season championship.
However there’s nonetheless two massive firsts Stewart may nonetheless accomplish this yr – a win within the Countdown to the Championship playoffs and, in the end, a High Gasoline world title. The primary – a playoff victory – may occur this weekend on the historic observe, which might put Stewart in a robust place to proceed to contend for a championship in his 12,000-horsepower Dodge//Direct Connection dragster.
Because the playoffs begin this weekend at Maple Grove Raceway, Stewart already is aware of how necessary each second is from this level on.
“Actually, each time you tow that automotive to the road, it issues,” Stewart mentioned. “Now we have to deal with it prefer it’s a spherical of eliminations. No matter factors can be found, we simply need to exit and get them. The eye to element issues much more than it usually does. Crew guys double-checking one another’s work, crew chiefs reminding us about spots on the racetrack, all these little high quality particulars completely matter essentially the most in these final six weeks. These final six weeks, we’re all simply going to combat our guts out attempting to get every part we are able to get, as a result of we all know how a lot it issues.”
Final season, Antron Brown (High Gasoline), Austin Prock (Humorous Automobile), Aaron Stanfield (Professional Inventory) and Hector Arana Jr. (Professional Inventory Bike) all claimed wins of their respective classes, with Brown and Prock ending the season as world champions.
It’s the fifteenth of 20 races through the 2025 NHRA Mission Meals Drag Racing Sequence season and the primary of six occasions within the Countdown to the Championship.
The depth and pleasure on the legendary facility will likely be noticeable, too, and Stewart is assured he and his group will likely be prepared. After all, he’ll additionally need to deal with the likes of previous champs Shawn Langdon, Doug Kalitta, Brittany Power and Steve Torrence, and reigning world champion Antron Brown.
However the second and the chance have Stewart excited and he’s ready to battle with the elite in High Gasoline because the championship race begins in Studying and performs out over the following six races.
“We’ve received guys which might be turning the wrenches and twisting the knobs on the vehicles, and in the end in additional management of the vehicles than we’re at this level,” Stewart mentioned. “So, we’re all doing our jobs, and it’s only a matter of attempting to place collectively six actually good weekends in a row and figuring out that when you stub your toe, you simply need to rebound from it and get the fellows targeted on the following alternative.
“Hopefully, by the point we get to Pomona on the finish of the season, we’re ready to be combating for this factor. You don’t care the way you get there, you simply care that on the finish of the day they’re providing you with the massive test and the massive trophy.”
