TONY STEWART

along with hundreds of victories on oval tracks , dirt tracks , and road courses . He finished second in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series national championship standings in 2023 and also finished second in the North Central Region . Stewart earned two victories at national events , the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals and the Pep Boys Nationals , as well as two regional victories in Indianapolis , Indiana , and Reading , Pennsylvania .

“ I enjoyed my time in the Top Alcohol Dragster class ,” said Stewart . “ I absolutely loved racing with the McPhillips Racing family , and as far as I ’ m concerned , they ’ re a part of my family now . It ’ s hard to leave those guys , but to have an opportunity like this , where you have your wife , who ’ s also the driver , and the crew chief feel you ’ re capable to come in and do the job is very flattering . I ’ m very honored to be able to fill in for her until she ’ s ready to come back .”

Pruett will continue to be involved in various aspects of the team in 2024 , including assisting with technical projects .

“ When the majority of your life has been based around racing and what it takes to race , and you know that the fabric of your life is going to change , you focus on being proactive by developing new skills that will compliment your current talents ,” said Pruett . “ Besides driving the car , I have put my focus in this year on what my contributions will be to the team in 2024 . I am excited that I get to grow as an individual in motorsports outside of the cockpit . I can ’ t see into the future , but I know it looks to be even more fulfilling than it is right now , which I never thought would be possible .”

Stewart will join the two-car TSR operation with existing Funny Car driver , Matt Hagan . Hagan earned the 2023 Funny Car championship , which was the first championship for TSR and the fourth

title for the Christiansburg , Virginia , native .

“ Having been Matt ’ s team owner for two years , that part obviously doesn ’ t change ,” said Stewart . “ The dynamic will change a little bit next year . Even though I drove for a different team in the Top Alcohol Dragster class , we ’ ve considered ourselves teammates all year . That is the culture we ’ ve created at TSR .”

“ As much as Leah has been the best mentor and teacher you can ask for , Matt has also lent himself to help as much as he could . I don ’ t think that will change . I think it ’ ll actually grow this year being on the racetrack with him in the nitro category . I think it ’ ll strengthen our relationship even more than it already is . I think we have a very strong bond on the driver-owner side . On a personal side , we ’ re good friends also and I think we ’ ll be great teammates together .”

Joining Stewart in his Top Fuel quest will be current Tony Stewart Racing partners , with the 2024 partner schedule to be announced at a later date .

“ We ’ ve reached out to all of our partners and they ’ ve all been very supportive of Leah ’ s decision ,” Stewart said . “ It was important to let them all know what our plans are . For all of our partners , it goes way beyond a partnership . It ’ s personal friendships and personal relationships we have with these people . Their support means a lot to us on a personal level , not just a professional level . It means more to us on the personal level that our partners that are our friends have been behind this 100 percent and being excited that we ’ re trying to grow our family . Having their support means the world to us .”

With 13 driving championships to his resume , Stewart is looking forward to the year he ’ ll have in his Top Fuel dragster and is cautiously optimistic on his expectations for the season .

“ There have been so many instances in my career where I didn ’ t feel like I was ready . There is a lot of validity to it that you ’ re not ready until you just get in and do it ,” Stewart said .

Prior to kicking off the NHRA season at Gainesville Raceway for the Gatornationals , Top Fuel and Funny Car competitors will begin their 2024 season February 8-10 at Bradenton Motorsports Park in Bradenton , Florida , for the inaugural Scag Power Equipment PRO Superstar Shootout presented by Johnson ’ s Horsepowered Garage . Pruett is planning on competing in the event . The invitation-only race will feature four qualifying sessions , leading to eight-car fields in Top Fuel and Funny Car . FloRacing will livestream the event . DI

26 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated . com Issue 186