WYNNEWOOD, Okla. (Sept 18, 2025) – It was announced today that, once
funded, motorsports icon Tony Stewart will take the wheel of the Elite
Motorsports Top Fuel dragster for the 2026 Mission Foods NHRA Drag
Racing Series season.
Six-time Pro Stock world champion Erica Enders and drag racing phenom
Aaron Stanfield will also test and license in the dragster as team owner
Richard Freeman looks to further expand Elite Motorsports’ footprint in
the NHRA.
“Having Tony as our driver, adding another Top Fuel entry, we’re taking
care of the sport and opening up possibilities, that’s why we’ll
have Erica and Aaron get licensed in the car as well. First things first
though, we need to get the program funded, but letting everyone know our
intentions, that will help,” said Freeman who purchased the Top Fuel
operation from Josh Hart earlier this month. “Tony is a great driver,
we all know he can drive anything. He’s great for drag racing, not
just as a team owner, but behind the wheel. We’re excited that through
our marketing alliance with Tony Stewart Racing we’re creating an
opportunity for Tony to keep a Top Fuel seat and a chance to race
alongside his wife, Leah [Pruett].”
“I said from the very beginning that I was just keeping Leah’s seat
warm and that it was hers as soon as she was ready to come back,”
Stewart said. “Well, she’s coming back in 2026 and that Direct
Connection Dodge//SRT Top Fuel dragster is going to have her name on it,
not mine. And as much as I wanted to continue driving, TSR is not in a
position to add a second Top Fuel car. But with Richard buying Josh
Hart’s team and our recent alliance, I can still work as an owner and
a driver to help both our organizations grow.”
The 2026 season will be Stewart’s third behind the wheel of a Top Fuel
dragster. The three-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion and former IndyCar
champion earned the NHRA Rookie of the Year award in 2024 and in 2025 he
broke through for the first Top Fuel win of his career at the NHRA
Four-Wide Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Stewart
now has two Top Fuel victories to his name as well as the 2025 NHRA
regular season championship title. With five races left in the NHRA
Countdown to the Championship Stewart is second in the points standings,
just 18 behind the lead, as he attempts to chase down the 2025 Top Fuel
world championship crown.
The 2025 Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series season continues at zMAX
Dragway September 19-21 with the NHRA Four-Wide Carolina Nationals, race
two of six in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship.
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