Tony Stewart is no longer just a motorsports icon experimenting in drag racing — he’s a full-fledged NHRA championship contender. Following a dominant stretch that includes two wins and four straight final-round appearances, Stewart has surged to the top of the points standings coming out of the 2025 Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals.
In his last four races, Stewart has posted a blistering 12-2 round win-loss record, reaching the final round at every event and capturing two Wallys along the way. This kind of consistency is the hallmark of a championship-caliber team, and it’s coming from a driver who opened the season with back-to-back second-round exits and a modest 2-2 record. Now, the conversation has shifted. Stewart isn’t just competitive — he’s setting the pace.
Reflecting on his recent success, Stewart stated, “Where we were last year and where we are now — just a yard sale difference. Super proud of these guys.”
One of the most compelling aspects of Stewart’s success is his loyalty to crew chief Neil Strausbaugh. Their first full season together in 2024 was filled with growing pains. Strausbaugh struggled to dial in a consistent tune-up, and Stewart closed the year with a 17-20 round record — respectable, but short of elite. Still, Stewart stayed committed. He didn’t make a change. He believed in the long game. And now that decision is paying off. The car is dialed in. The crew is clicking. And the performance speaks for itself.
When Stewart first entered NHRA competition, expectations were sky-high — and rightly so, given his legendary resume in NASCAR, IndyCar, and sprint cars. But drag racing is a different animal, and Stewart approached it with humility and respect. He put in the work. He studied. He trusted the process. That evolution is now on full display. His lights are sharp, his passes are consistent, and his ability to handle pressure is as strong as ever.
With the points lead in hand and momentum behind him, Tony Stewart isn’t just part of the championship conversation, he’s driving it. The 2025 NHRA season is far from over, but if his current form continues, Stewart is poised to make one of the most impressive cross-discipline transitions in motorsports history.
The message is clear: Tony Stewart is here to win. And the rest of the field has been officially put on notice.
Dujunnea Bland is a NFL and NHRA reporter for SportsJourney. Bland was a New Orleans Saints Reporter and Content Producer for About.com and a contributor at USA TODAY SMG's Redskins Wire. You can follow him on Twitter @NotBland21
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