Motorsports Hall of Famer Tony Stewart returns to Charlotte this weekend (April 25-27) to compete in the American Rebel Light Beer NHRA Four Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway after several Charlotte Motor Speedway victories in other racing forms during his legendary career. This event will be the 1,000 Top Fuel race in NHRA history.
Just two weeks ago in Las Vegas, Stewart added to his spectacular racing resume by capturing his first NHRA Mission Top Fuel event in the NHRA Four Wide Nationals over current World Champion Antron Brown, Justin Ashley and Jasmine Salinas in the final round.
With the Top Fuel victory, the man known as “Smoke” has won national racing features in NHRA Top Fuel, NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster, NASCAR Cup, NASCAR Xfinity, NASCAR Trucks, IndyCar Series, USAC Silver Crown, USAC Sprint Cars, USAC Midgets, IROC, SRX, 410 Winged Sprint Cars, 360 Winged Sprint Cars, 410 Non-Winged Sprint Cars, Dirt Late Models, Pavement Late Models, Super Modifieds, UMP DirtCar Modifieds, Big Block Modifieds, Small Block Modifieds, IMCA Modifieds and Three-Quarter Midgets.
Stewart will be driving the Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) Direct Connection Dodge//SRT Top Fuel dragster in Charlotte after finishing in the runner-up in the NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, Calif., on March 30 and winning at the NHRA Four Wide Nationals two weeks ago at Las Vegas. Stewart currently ranks second in the NHRA Mission Top Fuel points.
Stewart, who debuted in the Top Fuel class in 2024, placed runner-up last year at Sonoma Raceway, and finished ninth in the final NHRA Mission Top Fuel point standings. Now coming back to Charlotte, Stewart hopes to return to victory lane when nitro qualifying opens on Friday (April 25) at 5:15 p.m. EDT.
“I think the Las Vegas gives the whole team confidence,” said Stewart. “It finally allows myself and this entire team to stop having to answer the questions of if and when we’re going to win our first race. To get the first one out of the way allows the team to go to Charlotte with our heads up high and know that we can do this. We just have to put three solid rounds together in Charlotte just like we did at Vegas.
“Getting the first one out of the way just takes a lot of pressure off of everybody and allows us to show up and race, so I think we’re all grateful for that. I’m looking forward to going to a home away from home so to speak. I spent a lot of time in Charlotte in my NASCAR days and appreciate everything that NASCAR gave me. So, this is an opportunity to go back to a place that’s special to me. It’s a big deal to go there as the defending race winner, so that means a lot to us.”
Stewart’s TSR Dodge//SRT teammate, Matt Hagan, brings his TSR American Rebel Light Beer Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car to zMax Dragway with three wins in Charlotte including last year’s NHRA Four Wide Nationals, recording his 50th NHRA career victory.
Hagan’s TSR Funny Car team made several crew changes during the winter with veteran Mike Knudsen taking over as the squad’s crew chief and Phil Shuler as co-crew chief for the Virginia driver’s 11,000-horsepower Funny Car. In addition, several of Hagan’s Funny Car crew have taken over new positions with the team, including Alex Conaway as car chief.
Hagan, with 52 NHRA career Funny Car wins, comes to Charlotte currently ranks fourth in NHRA Mission Funny Car points standings and the four-time World Champion is ecstatic with the initial performance of the Dodge//SRT machine and his crew.
“Having a new crew chief is kind of exciting,” said Hagan, the first Funny Car driver to break the 3.80-second barrier. “With Dickie Venables (former crew chief), we made a lot of memories. We won many races and championships. I’ve also spent 15 years with Mike Knudsen and watched him move his way up from the bottom. I would love nothing more than to win a championship with him. Things are looking bright for the future. I told him the other day that we have a chance to start a legacy and build on what I’ve accomplished so far in the sport.
“Mike, Phil and Alex are all the real deal. I’m excited to get to Charlotte. This is my 18th year with Dodge, and it has been an incredible ride. I’ve seen a lot of people come and go in this sport, so it’s unreal I have been with such a great sponsor for that time frame. They have been so loyal to me, and we are very loyal to them. We’ve had a lot of success in Charlotte. It’s one of the racetracks that has shown us a lot of love and I’m very excited to get back there.”
The popular NHRA Four Wide Nationals has Nitro (Top Fuel and Funny Car) qualifying rounds on Friday (April 25) at 5:15 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. EDT, and Saturday (April 26) at 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. EDT. Final eliminations will get underway on Sunday (April 27) at 12 p.m. PDT.
The Fox Sports 1 television network will show qualifying action on Saturday at 10 p.m. EDT and the final eliminations on Sunday at 7 p.m. EDT.
This story was originally published on April 23, 2025. 
