Tony Stewart NHRA season progress was abruptly halted as severe rain led to the cancellation of all competitions from Friday to Sunday, ending his shot at the championship. Despite the weather ending his pursuit, Stewart shared measured thoughts on the season’s highs, underscoring his satisfaction with his team’s advancements in their first full year at NHRA’s top levels.
Stewart Looks Back on a Strong First NHRA Season Disrupted by Weather
This weekend was set to be pivotal for Tony Stewart, age 54, who headed in with a genuine chance to secure the NHRA title and amid growing interest around a possible NASCAR return. However, rainfall wiped out all professional racing for the duration of the event, shutting down his championship opportunities. Still, Stewart did not show signs of disappointment, focusing instead on what his team accomplished this year.
In his debut Top Fuel season, Stewart exceeded most expectations. He secured the regular season title, earned two Wally trophies, and saw his teammate Matt Hagan claim the second spot in the Funny Car championship hunt. For Stewart, this marked substantial success in his rookie campaign, showing his team’s capabilities across racing disciplines.
Stewart conveyed a sense of acceptance regarding the championship slip, noting the unpredictable nature of motorsport. While reaching the final would have been ideal, he placed greater emphasis on the momentum his team has built since the start of the year.
“Yeah, but I think, you know, midway through the season, they weren’t really in a position anyway,”
Stewart shared with Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports.
“So, I mean, I think they’re happy with where they ended up. For us, I mean, all I wanted at the beginning of the season, the goal was just to see the needle move the right direction,”
Stewart continued, highlighting his focus on progress instead of missed glory.
Although the final stretch of the championship was lost to weather and out of reach, Stewart remains proud of the ground gained, both in the racing lanes and within team dynamics. The two victories and the regular season crown offer tangible proof that the organization grew significantly over the year.
“Hard to be disappointed with that. Obviously, would have liked to have performed better in the countdown, but 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 added.
Team Progress at the Heart of Stewart’s Reflections
Stewart sees progress not only through results but through the continuous improvement of his staff and drivers. Every new milestone—be it mechanical, technical, or personal—adds value to the overall effort, and both on-track and off-track advancements contribute to his positive outlook.
The experience of an unpredictable season—impacted most recently by heavy rain—has reminded Stewart and his peers of motorsport’s volatility. Drag racing, which depends on excellent track grip, quickly becomes dangerous on wet surfaces, leading officials to suspend competition for safety. Despite this disappointment, Stewart’s focus stays fixed on what the group has built this year.
As the season closes, Stewart’s calm demeanor and recognition of his team’s achievements set the tone for future campaigns. The progress he witnessed offers encouragement for the next chapter, where the team will aim to transform lessons learned into even stronger showings. With the foundation established, Stewart and his crew stand poised to compete for additional success in the NHRA, regardless of setbacks beyond their control.
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
