When was the last time Tony Stewart drove for another team owner? You’d have to go back to his Joe Gibbs Racing history that ended after the 2008 NASCAR Cup Series campaign, when Stewart became the co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing, together with Gene Haas. Since that time, the Indiana native has always had skin in the game of whatever motorsports activities he attempted. For the most part, that’s been the key to his success as he straddled the driver/owner conundrum through to this 2025 season.
Things are changing in 2026, as the former NASCAR, INDYCAR, USAC champion attempts to secure an NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Top Fuel championship as the “hired gun” at Elite Motorsports. Richard Freeman’s squad is expanding into nitro territory with Tony Stewart as their driver of record, using equipment purchased by new John Force Racing Top Fuel driver Josh Hart and having hired Mike Green as crew chief. Now there’s money to back it all up.
R+L Carriers, founded in 1965 and based in the United States, is joining Elite Motorsports in this endeavor. The family-owned and operated business has a fleet of more than 21,000 tractors and trailers, and is focused on providing safe and financially efficient operations. The company has been affiliated with Josh Hart Racing for the past five seasons as Hart’s primary partner, and with Hart off to Force’s team as Brittany Force stands aside to start a family, this is a darn good fit.
R+L Carriers signed a multi-year agreement with Elite to serve as Stewart’s primary sponsor, beginning as the NHRA’s 75th anniversary season begins in Gainesville, FL the weekend of March 6-8 at Gainesville Raceway. “We see a unique opportunity at Elite Motorsports, beyond the performance on the race track,” noted Roby Roberts, owner and CEO of R+L Carriers. “With their vast number of drivers, and the alliance with Tony Stewart Racing Nitro, the level of hospitality and the experiences they can offer to our employees, is what sets them apart,” he said. “Elite Motorsports are a family of their own and we’re excited to join a team that shares our mentality.”
It was Hart who put this partnership into play as he divested his equipment in preparation for his own move to be a hired gun, just like Stewart. We’re excited to have R+L on board here at Elite Motorsports,” Richard Freeman, Elite Motorsports owner explained. “It started with just a conversation and ended with an understanding. With our marketing and hospitality alliance with Tony Stewart Racing Nitro, and how we’re looking to expand, it was a natural and easy decision. We look forward to taking care of them for years to come.”
Hart’s longtime friendship with Roby Roberts had much to do with the company’s Elite Motorsports alliance. “R+L is more than just a sponsor on my race car,” Hart reminded. “Roby is a longtime friend, and we’ve done business for years. That will continue no matter what happens in drag racing. They were looking to create an expanded program. I know how Richard runs his team and business. I’m not at all surprised they were able to find a home at Elite Motorsports. Richard and I both look at things long-term and from all sides,” Hart said. “Through this process, we’ve identified B2B opportunities outside of racing that are beneficial for both of our businesses, so I look forward to the future.”
While he’s not racing for Tony Stewart Racing Nitro next season, “Smoke” still has his hand in with Richard Freeman’s Elite Motorsports, as Elite’s Top Fuel squad will avail itself of TSR Nitro’s astute marketing capabilities and its elite hospitality unit. Can we expect to see them parked side by side in the Top Fuel pits next year? It could be so.
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