POMONA, Calif. — Tony Stewart remains to be chasing his first NHRA Prime Gas victory after dropping to Clay Milican within the closing spherical of Sunday’s sixty fifth Winternationals at historic In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip.
Stewart, the three-time NASCAR Cup Collection champion, was searching for to change into the primary auto racer to win races in 4 completely different skilled motorsports disciplines (with earlier victories in NASCAR, IndyCar and USAC) when he superior to the ultimate spherical in opposition to Millican. Sadly, Stewart’s TSR Rinnai Dodge//SRT dragster smoked the tires on the 200-foot mark and Millican drove to victory.
Sunday’s path to the ultimate spherical was not a simple one for Stewart, who took down three NHRA Prime Gas champions (Antron Brown, Doug Kalitta and Shawn Langdon) en path to the finals.
It was Stewart’s third Prime Gas closing spherical efficiency since he took over the driving chores in 2024 from his spouse, Leah Pruett, who eliminated herself from the Prime Gas automotive to begin a household with Stewart. Their son, Dominic James, was born on Nov. 17, 2024, the identical weekend because the NHRA World Finals.
“The day I get upset with dropping is the day I retire from racing,” mentioned Stewart. “However the staff is upset as a result of they need to win. These TSR crew guys have achieved an superior job and have been very constant. Particularly this weekend, having three runs on Friday and 4 in the present day, these guys busted their butts. There have been no errors. We simply need to take this automotive to victory lane very badly.
“My lights had been higher, and the automotive’s efficiency was higher. We simply didn’t get the final little bit. We took down three huge guys in a row, all former Prime Gas champions (Antron Brown, Doug Kalitta and Shaun Langdon). To be the very best, you need to beat the very best. I’m very pleased with the entire staff and it simply wasn’t our time but. Everybody comes right here to win, and one driver leaves because the winner, and we raced that man within the closing. We simply received a little bit too aggressive within the closing. Now we have good information heading to Las Vegas now, too.”
