NASCAR has all types of drivers. Take someone like Martin Truex Jr, who runs clean no matter what is at stake; he’s all about fair play. Then there’s Denny Hamlin, who does everything he can to win, messing with competitors’ heads and cars alike. And then there’s Tony Stewart, who runs clean but never misses an opportunity to keep his rivals on their toes. Maybe that ability to keep things interesting is why he’s driven just about every type of motorsports vehicle out there, including NHRA dragsters.
Tony Stewart recently spoke in an interview about his experiences with four-way racing events, which not everyone likes, and shared what motivates him to compete in these challenging races.
Is Tony Stewart taking advantage of others’ mistakes on the track?
Tony “Smoke” Stewart is currently tearing up in an 11,000-horsepower NHRA Top Fuel dragster, pushing the limits in a way that only racing legends like AJ Foyt and Mario Andretti have done before. However, unlike those icons who rarely ventured into drag racing beyond a one-off gig, Stewart is fully immersing himself in a world where races flash by in four seconds, and taking a left turn It’s definitely not part of the plan.
In fact, it seems like he’s one step ahead. Beyond the sheer adrenaline of it all, after Gainesville, Stewart had previously hinted that he was particularly looking forward to the NHRA’s fourth and fifth races, the Four-Wide Nationals in Las Vegas and the 4-Wide Nationals. Not typically fan favorites due to their intense and complex endings, these events pose unique challenges. The four-wide configuration makes things especially difficult for the drivers and pit crew. In classes like nitro, synchronizing four cars for starts and burnouts is crucial; Any delay can burn extra fuel, upsetting a car’s delicate balance.
However, on the contrary, Tony Stewart really likes such unpredictable races. But why is that? He explained: “There are some drivers who just don’t like what they are used to. And you know this is all new and unknown to me. So if you can make your competitors uncomfortable with the situation, that will even out and narrow the gap between you.”
via Getty
INDIANKeynote USAOLIS, INDIANA – DECEMBER 10: Tony Stewart speaks during a press event to announce a partnership between Stewart-Haas Racing and Mahindra Tractors at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on December 10, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
Stewart added: “I enjoyed it. It was you know someone goes, you know, hey, it’s different. I think you guys forgot I did this in the booze car last year. So for me, every time we got there, especially in eliminations, I got excited and accelerated because I think this is where people can stumble and make mistakes and I feel very confident in the four wides. “
This mentality has benefited many drivers. Although Tony Stewart has hung up his racing gloves, his legacy of versatility continues, a torch now carried by drivers like Kyle Larson. Racers like Martin Truex Jr and Larson, who have also immersed themselves in various racing disciplines, often find an advantage in unusual NASCAR racing conditions, similar to other motorsports series, such as Truex’s standout performance at Bristol.
Well, for now, Tony Stewart is preparing to compete at the NHRA Route 66 Nationals in Chicago, ready to take on another challenge on the track.
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Stewart, currently seventh in the Top Fuel standings, just 212 points behind leader Justin Ashley, is set to make his first appearance on the road course at Route 66 Raceway. He’s no stranger to winning in Chicago, with three career wins coming his way at Chicagoland Speedway, but this time it’s a completely different game as he’s there to race on behalf of his wife, Leah Pruett.
The pair recently lit up a media day in Chicago to launch the NHRA Route 66 Nationals. Stewart was quick to highlight the unique thrill of NHRA racing, saying, “I really believe that no matter what kind of sport you play, there’s just no experience like what you get in an NHRA race: seeing cars with more of 11,000 horsepower traveling 300 miles. per hour.”
“It’s not something you’re going to see in downtown Chicago, whether you’re at the NASCAR race or going to a baseball, hockey or soccer game. It’s just not the same experience. Having the opportunity once a year to go to Joliet and have people escape to the outskirts of the city and see something they’ve never seen before is a great opportunity.”
It will definitely be interesting to see how Tony Stewart handles the race track in Chicago for the first time.
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