Tony Stewart hasn’t slowed down, even after leaving NASCAR behind.
At last weekend’s Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals, the three-time Cup Series champion, who was recently punished by NASCAR for his behavior, clinched the Top Fuel Regular Season Championship, earning a symbolic victory wrapped in a giant check for $150,000.
Stewart and his TSR Nitro team secured the title in round two, edging ahead after his win over Kyle Wurtzel and benefiting from early eliminations of rivals Shawn Langdon and Doug Kalitta. It comes after Stewart called out “stupid people” criticizing his wife last month.
Stewart’s journey to this point has been nothing short of exceptional. In only his second full season in NHRA’s Top Fuel class, he notched his first win in Las Vegas back in April and followed it up with another victory in Chicago.
From Chicago through Norwalk, he led the Mission Foods points battle before Shawn Langdon briefly took the top spot. But Stewart reclaimed the lead late in the season, combining consistency and raw speed to dominate the regular-season standings.
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After his semifinal victory over Jasmine Salinas, Stewart reflected on the significance of the moment: “Winning the Top Fuel regular-season championship is massive for us in my eyes,” he said.
“It took 14 weeks to win a regular-season championship. I feel that we are in as good a spot as we can be for the next six races.”
Though Stewart fell just short in the Nationals final, losing a thrilling holeshot duel to Justin Ashley, his regular season triumph isn’t diminished.
Stewart wasn’t the only driver celebrating at Indy. In Funny Car, Austin Prock clinched the regular season title and a $150,000 bonus simply by qualifying for the 16-car field, capping an impressive season in which he’s won six of the first 13 events.
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In Pro Stock, Dallas Glenn emerged as the champion, edging teammate Greg Anderson in a tight points race after defeating Jeg Coughlin Jr. in the quarterfinals. Glenn will take home $55,000 for his efforts.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Gaige Herrera clinched his title by reaching the semifinals, earning a $15,000 bonus with strong wins over Chris Bostick and Angie Smith.
All four regular-season winners – Stewart, Prock, Glenn, and Herrera – now head into the Countdown to the Championship playoffs as top seeds in their respective divisions. The playoffs begin at the 40th NHRA Reading Nationals in two weeks, hosted at historic Maple Grove Raceway.