Racing legend Tony Stewart dips his toes into yet another race category, this time fielding two cars for the NHRA.
Tony Stewart doesn’t do anything halfway. It’s all or nothing for Smoke, who has his tentacles in just about every form of motorsport. Today the NASCAR and INDYCAR champion announced the formation of a two-car, full-time NHRA team under the Tony Stewart Racing umbrella with fiancée Leah Pruett driving a Top Fuel dragster and reigning, three-time NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Funny Car champion Matt Hagan also coming from Don Schumacher Racing to drive a flopper for TSR.
The move wasn’t unexpected, as Stewart’s been doing his due diligence in drag racing for at least a year, learning about the sport [primarily] from Don Schumacher, who has fielded cars for both of TSR’s new drivers. “I can’t say enough about Don Schumacher and the assistance he’s given me this year, teaching me what I need to know about this sport,” Stewart said during the announcement, made in Charlotte, NC. “I’ve probably annoyed everyone in the paddock with all the questions I’ve asked, but the more I learned about drag racing, the less I wanted to just be a spectator,” he said.
Stewart, who retired from full-time driving in 2016, has been a team owner or co-owner since 2001. He’s co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing in NASCAR and has his own sprint car team, in addition to co-owning the Superstar Racing Experience that premiered in 2021. In 2019, Stewart was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. “I appreciate all forms of racing and I’ve always been intrigued about drag racing and NHRA, in particular. Back in 2009, when Tony Schumacher and I were both representing the U.S. Army, I got to hang out with him and Don Schumacher at the U.S. Nationals. Tony ended up winning,” Stewart said, “and after taking it all in, I was hooked.”
Pruett, 33, in her 25th consecutive season competing in NHRA, gave credit to Don Schumacher for taking her on in 2016 and helping elevate her career. “Don Schumacher gave me an incredible chance when we teamed up back in 2016. I’ve learned a lot from him and he’s made me a better driver. He helped take a massive step in my career and this opportunity with TSR affords another big step, she said. “Don’s mentoring has prepared me for this new endeavor in more ways than just on the track.”
Hagan, currently leading the Funny Car points as the NHRA Countdown to the Championship enters its final phase, with three races remaining, “Got my start at 13, drag racing a four-wheeler. Went from that to sneaking cars off my dad’s lot and returning them with the transmissions nearly gone. I’ve loved going fast my whole life, from Pro Mod to finding where I thrive in the driver’s seat of a Funny Car,” the 38-year-old cattle farmer said. “This next chapter with Tony Stewart is one I’m excited for. I’m ready to go racing. That’s what I’m here to do. I’m jumping into this new program with two feet and I’m confident in the package we’re bringing into the 2022 season with TSR. Let’s make some history.”
The vehicle manufacturer that will consolidate power for both TSR teams, together with the teams’ technical alliance associate, its corporate partners will all be announced at a later date. So, too, will the crew chiefs for both Pruett and Hagan, who have been tuned by Todd Okuhara and Dickie Venables, respectively. Okuhara was announced as Tony Schumacher’s new 2022 Top Fuel crew chief in a Wednesday announcement from Don Schumacher Racing.
Fine job here, Annie!