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Tony Stewart Achieves Top Fuel Runner-Up Spot At NHRA Sonoma Nationals
Racing legend Tony Stewart narrowly missed making motorsports history at the NHRA DENSO Sonoma Nationals. He finished as the runner-up in the Top Fuel category with his Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) Rinnai Dodge//SRT dragster. Stewart, a NASCAR Hall of Famer, aimed to become the first driver to win major professional races in four disciplines: NASCAR, IndyCar, USAC, and NHRA.
Stewart faced former world champion Antron Brown in the final round of his 12th professional event. Despite a quicker reaction time, Brown's car outpaced Stewart's with a 3.746 to 3.774 finish for the Top Fuel title. Stewart had earlier defeated Shawn Langdon, Justin Ashley, and Ron August Jr. before a large crowd in 75-degree weather.
Replacing his wife Leah Pruett at the start of the 2024 season, Stewart has shown impressive starting line skills. This was evident again on Sunday with great reaction times against top competitors like Ashley and Brown. His runner-up finish keeps him in the top ten in the NHRA Mission Top Fuel points standings as they head to Brainerd, Minnesota for the NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals from Aug. 16-18.
Stewart last competed at Sonoma Raceway in 2016 when he won his final NASCAR race there. He hoped for a "storybook" ending by winning with his TSR Dodge//SRT Top Fuel dragster at Sonoma once more. "This was a much better weekend than I anticipated," said Stewart after the final race.
"We knew after last week’s Seattle race that we had to regroup," Stewart added. Dickie Venables from Matt Hagan’s Funny Car team assisted them, walking through many things with their Top Fuel guys and Venables. "We were trying to see if there was a ‘smoking gun’ we were missing," he explained.
Stewart expressed pride in his team and their morale, which he credited for their success that day. They gained speed over the weekend and ran three 330 mph runs. "We’ll take what we learned this weekend and try to make it better," he said.
Matt Hagan's Semifinal Run
Stewart’s TSR teammate Matt Hagan drove his TSR JHG Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car to the semifinals at the NHRA Sonoma Nationals, maintaining third place in the current NHRA Mission Funny Car points standings. After a blistering 3.839 qualifying run on Saturday that placed him second in the 16-car field, Hagan defeated Jeff Diehl and Chad Green before facing former champion Ron Capps in the semifinals.
Capps' 3.923 run narrowly beat Hagan's 3.933 at the finish line. "The Dodge//SRT race car is coming around now," said Hagan, who had wins earlier this year at Charlotte and Chicago.
Upcoming Events and Broadcasts
The next event for Stewart and Hagan is at the NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals in Brainerd, with qualifying scheduled for Friday, Aug. 16 at 4:30 p.m. CDT and 6:45 p.m., and Saturday, Aug. 17 at 12:30 p.m. CDT and 3 p.m.. Sunday’s final eliminations will begin at 10:30 a.m.. The FOX Network will televise the Brainerd event on Sunday, Aug. 18 at 3 p.m..
@DodgeMoparMotorsports on Instagram
The @DodgeMoparMotorsports Instagram channel continues to share content capturing Dodge//SRT Mopar drivers on track.
Dodge Brand Legacy
Dodge has carried on John and Horace Dodge's spirit for over a century with a lineup delivering unrivaled performance across segments while moving towards an electrified future with models like the all-new Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack.
The next-generation Dodge Charger remains one of the world's quickest muscle cars led by its all-electric version while offering performance choices via multi-energy powertrain options including a powerful Twin Turbo engine.
Mopar's Evolution
Mopar represents Stellantis' genuine parts and accessories globally since its inception as an antifreeze product line in 1937. Over more than eight decades, Mopar has evolved into a brand synonymous with complete vehicle care and authentic performance for owners worldwide.
Mopar made its mark during the muscle-car era of the '60s by enhancing speed and handling for both road use and racing through performance parts.
@DodgeMoparMotorsports on Instagram
The @DodgeMoparMotorsports Instagram channel continues to share content capturing Dodge//SRT Mopar drivers on track.
Fans can follow all NHRA action this season via DodgeGarage—a portal for Dodge//SRT news including daily updates, events information, galleries, downloads access, merchandise availability among other features.
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