Tony Stewart Extends Top Fuel Dominance with Chicago Victory

Tony Stewart continued his strong run in the NHRA Mission Drag Racing Series by winning his second Top Fuel event of the 2025 season at the Route 66 Nationals in Chicago. He drove his TSR Rinnai Dodge/SRT Top Fuel dragster to a final round victory against Justin Ashley, running a 3.777-second pass compared to Ashley’s 3.818 seconds.

This win moved Stewart into first place in the NHRA Top Fuel points standings by a margin of three points over Shawn Langdon. Stewart’s day began with a standout qualifying effort, recording a personal best of 3.679 seconds, which set the tone for his weekend at Joliet, Illinois. For more details on NHRA standings and regulations, visit the official NHRA website.

The experienced team behind Stewart, led by Neal Strausbaugh and Mike Domagala, put together a fast and reliable car throughout the event. On his way to the win, Stewart defeated Terry Totten in the opening round, Shawn Reed in the quarterfinals, and four-time world champion Steve Torrence in the semifinals.

In the final, Stewart lined up against veteran Justin Ashley, who has a reputation for quick reaction times. Stewart focused on staying consistent and described the final victory as meaningful because of Ashley’s skills and team strength.

Matt Hagan, Stewart’s teammate at Tony Stewart Racing, had a solid showing in the Funny Car class with his TSR Direct Connection Dodge SRT Hellcat. Hagan qualified third and captured the Mission 2Fast 2Tasty Challenge on Saturday with a 3.880-second pass.

In eliminations, Hagan advanced with a first-round win over Blake Alexander and then got past Ron Capps in the quarterfinals. Facing Austin Prock in the semifinals, Hagan got the jump off the starting line but was edged out at the finish line by just 0.011 seconds.

Despite not making the final, Hagan praised his car’s consistency, noting that it ran well in both hot and cool conditions. Stewart credited the mix of challenging track temperatures for giving his team valuable data. For deeper insights into drag racing aerodynamics and performance tuning, check out SAE International’s resources.

He pointed to the team effort and communication, especially discussions with his wife Leah Pruett, as key parts of race strategy and performance. Stewart mentioned how important it is to perform at a high level when racing against top competitors like Justin Ashley.

Each round win and the final victory add momentum for Stewart and the TSR organization as the season progresses. The NHRA schedule now heads to the New England Nationals at Epping, New Hampshire.

Qualifying is set to take place on Friday, May 30, and Saturday, May 31, with final eliminations on Sunday, June 1. The final rounds will be televised on the FOX Network at 6 p.m. Eastern.

This timing keeps fans in the loop for Stewart’s next challenge and adds anticipation as the Top Fuel points battle continues. Stewart’s win at Route 66 marks his fourth consecutive final round appearance in Top Fuel competition.

The continued success has made Stewart, a champion in NASCAR, IndyCar, and USAC, one of drag racing’s most exciting crossover stars. As the series heads to Epping, all eyes will be on Stewart to see if he can extend his championship lead.

Matt Hagan remains a strong threat in the Funny Car division as well, highlighting TSR’s competitive presence in multiple NHRA categories. The team’s recent results show steady progress and solid performances under different track conditions.

With the season heating up, both Stewart and Hagan are positioned as leading contenders in their respective classes. For a detailed look at the Route 66 weekend’s Saturday action, see the Route 66 NHRA Saturday results.

Stewart’s move into the points lead over Shawn Langdon was a key storyline, as covered in the Langdon Top Fuel payday report.

Looking ahead, the Route 66 NHRA preview offered insights on track conditions and competitors before the event.

John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.