Racing icon Tony Stewart has secured his first divisional championship in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Division 3, driving the McPhillips Racing Top Alcohol Dragster. Stewart clinched the title in a dramatic final round at the NHRA North Central Division race in St. Louis, defeating season rival Gary Pritchett in a winner-take-all battle.
Stewart entered the weekend 21 points behind Pritchett, setting the stage for a thrilling showdown. With a decisive victory in the Finals, Stewart leapfrogged Pritchett to capture the championship. It marks his first divisional title in the Top Alcohol Dragster class, capping off an impressive season that included three wins, a runner-up finish, and a semifinal appearance in five events.
“This is redemption from last year at this same event,” said Stewart. “Last year, all we had to do was make it through the first round to clinch the division championship, but we had a problem, and our opponent had their best run of the season against us. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but coming back here and winning it all today is really special.”
Throughout eliminations on Sunday, Stewart’s performance was unmatched, clocking low ET (elapsed time) in each round. He posted a .013 reaction time in Round 1, .020 in Round 2, and .023 in the Finals, besting Pritchett to claim victory and the title.
Reflecting on his journey, Stewart noted the strength of his McPhillips Racing team and the intense competition he faced from Pritchett and Randy Meyer’s team throughout the season. “We faced off against Gary in four out of five races, and being able to come out on top three times is incredible. Gary’s a tough competitor, and Randy Meyer’s team always does a great job. I’m really proud of my guys. They did an awesome job.”
Stewart’s championship-winning season included victories in Indianapolis, Columbus, and St. Louis. He also secured a runner-up finish in Norwalk and advanced to the semifinals in Bowling Green, solidifying his place as one of the top competitors in the division. His divisional championship comes just one year after he finished second in both the North Central Division and the World Championship standings in 2023.
As Stewart shifts gears from Top Alcohol Dragster to Top Fuel, he will be back on track next week at the Texas NHRA FallNationals, part of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Driving the Mobil 1 Dodge//SRT Top Fuel Dragster, Stewart is ninth in the Top Fuel championship standings with three races left in the Countdown to the Championship.
This story was originally published on October 7, 2024. 
