POMONA, Calif. — Tony Stewart continues to be chasing his first NHRA High Gas victory after dropping to Clay Milican within the last 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 grow to be 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 towards 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 straightforward one for Stewart, who took down three NHRA High Gas champions (Antron Brown, Doug Kalitta and Shawn Langdon) en path to the finals.
It was Stewart’s third High Gas last spherical efficiency since he took over the driving chores in 2024 from his spouse, Leah Pruett, who eliminated herself from the High Gas automobile to start out 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 crew is upset as a result of they wish to win. These TSR crew guys have carried out an superior job and have been very constant. Particularly this weekend, having three runs on Friday and 4 immediately, these guys busted their butts. There have been no errors. We simply wish to take this automobile to victory lane very badly.
“My lights had been higher, and the automobile’s efficiency was higher. We simply didn’t get the final little bit. We took down three large guys in a row, all former High Gas champions (Antron Brown, Doug Kalitta and Shaun Langdon). To be the most effective, you need to beat the most effective. I’m very pleased with the entire crew 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 last. We simply obtained just a little too aggressive within the last. We’ve got good information heading to Las Vegas now, too.”
