In a recent discussion, Tony Stewart offered a candid Tony Stewart NHRA season update, expressing pride in his team’s progress despite not securing the championship, and underscoring a season focused on measurable gains. The conversation touched on the pivotal role of team driver Matt Hagan, recent close races, and Stewart’s evolving perspective on leading the Tony Stewart Nitro team through the competitive NHRA circuit.
Stewart Applauds Team’s Growth in Challenging NHRA Season
Tony Stewart, former NASCAR Cup Series champion, shared insights with analyst Bob Pockrass about his team’s journey through the 2025 NHRA season. While Matt Hagan, who drives the Funny Car for Tony Stewart Nitro, narrowly missed the championship during a dramatic final battle with Austin Prock, victory ultimately eluded the team when the concluding race at the In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip was canceled due to adverse weather and unsafe track conditions, securing Prock’s second straight title.
Despite the close loss, Stewart made it clear that disappointment did not overshadow the progress made. Throughout the season, Tony Stewart Nitro focused on improvement, aiming to build a stronger foundation mid-year after rocky early results. Stewart remarked that it was difficult to feel let down, given the meaningful strides seen by his roster, which remains his key objective for each competitive year.
“I think, you know, midway through the season we weren’t really in position anyway. So, I mean, I think they’re happy with where they ended up. Uh… For us, all I wanted at the beginning—the goal is just to see the needle move in the right direction,”
Tony Stewart said, reflecting on his team’s trajectory.
Achievements included two event wins and capturing the regular season trophy, clear signs of forward momentum for the organization. The team’s leadership remained focused on these tangible gains, as Stewart explained:
“So with two wins and the regular season championship, we definitely saw the needle move the right way. Hard to be disappointed with that. Obviously, we’d like to perform better in the countdown. Like I said, I just keep referring back to, you know, we just wanted to see improvement with the team, and we definitely did that for sure,”
Stewart concluded.
Established in 2021, Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) entered NHRA competition in 2022, entering both Top Fuel and Funny Car leagues. While Matt Hagan continues as the Funny Car driver, Stewart himself stepped in for his wife, Leah Pruett, in the Top Fuel entry, further cementing his investment in the drag racing scene.
Contrasting Stock Car Racing and NHRA: Stewart Shares His Perspective
Reflecting on his shift from stock car racing to drag racing, Stewart joined Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour podcast to clarify the sharp differences between these motorsports disciplines. Drawing from personal experience, Stewart explained that NHRA drag races are explosive and brief, generally resolved within three to four seconds, while NASCAR events test teams for three to four hours, with hundreds of laps and numerous pit stops offering chances for redemption and tactical adjustment.
Stewart elaborated on this profound change, telling his former Cup Series colleague Harvick:
“It’s not like what you and I were used to, where we’ve got a three-and-a-half-hour race. We’ve got six or eight pit stops during the day, and we have three, four, or five hundred laps to get the job done. If we make a mistake, we’re going to fix it.”
— Tony Stewart, Team Owner and Former NASCAR Champion
This transition also reshaped Stewart’s understanding of performance factors. According to his observations, a typical stock car racing outcome is shaped 70% by the machine and 30% by the team’s execution. In NHRA drag racing, however, results pivot almost entirely on car setup and mechanical tuning. Another notable difference Stewart pointed out lies in the gear itself; drag racing suits are approximately ten pounds heavier than those worn in NASCAR, underscoring the physical intensity and unique safety requirements of each motorsport.
The Significance of Stewart’s Ongoing Commitment
The events of the latest NHRA season add to Tony Stewart’s multi-disciplinary racing legacy, showing how his approach prioritizes both resilience and incremental growth. By emphasizing improvement as the main goal for Tony Stewart Nitro, he reinforces a culture where every advancement, not just titles, counts as a victory. The shift from stock car racing to drag racing brought its challenges, but Stewart’s adaptability shines as he continues to lead the team into future competitions.
As Tony Stewart Nitro heads into planning for the next season, the consistent progress and adaptability under Stewart’s leadership will be closely watched by those invested in both the NHRA circuit and the broader world of motorsport.
Tony Stewart on his drag-racing season (his funny car driver, Matt Hagan, had an outside shot at the title if the Pomona race had been run) and the decision to scrap the Pomona weekend: pic.twitter.com/qkGJHyWvW7
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) November 16, 2025
