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POMONA, Calif. — Tony Stewart collected his third NHRA Prime Gas victory on Sunday at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip.
It was the primary for Elite Motorsports within the nitro class and got here on the identical day that Matt Hagan drove the Tony Stewart Racing Humorous Automotive to victory within the 1,000th NHRA Humorous Automotive race.
Stewart credited his spouse, Leah Pruett, who returned to the seat of the Tony Stewart Racing Prime Fueler this season for his success.
“That is three Prime Gas wins now for me, and the one particular person I’ve by no means talked about within the media and within the interviews is my spouse Leah [Pruett],” Stewart stated. “And if it wasn’t for her and the whole lot that she and Matt [Hagan] (Humorous Automotive driver) taught me. Leah has in all probability been 95% of it, individuals don’t notice how integral of an element she’s been in my profession in drag racing. I’ve had a 1,000 questions and each time there’s a solution, it results in three extra questions.
“Every part that I’ve executed within the sport has been due to her. And to be part of NHRA’s seventy fifth Anniversary, to win with Matt Hagan within the a thousandth Humorous Automotive race is big. That is Leah’s house observe. All of this simply feels additional particular to me,” continued Stewart. “Leah’s story of telling me that when she was a child, she’d sneak out of faculty simply to return to the drag races on Friday right here at Pomona. When she received right here, simply to be right here for an occasion and a observe that’s so particular means the whole lot.
“Now I’m right here sitting holding a ‘Wally’ trophy, in NHRA’s seventy fifth Anniversary, simply tremendous particular. It’s superior.”
• Matt Hagan claimed his 56th profession victory in what was the 1,000th NHRA Humorous Automotive occasion trophy. Hagan defeated Ron Capps in what was the eighty fifth elimination matchup between the 2 former Don Schumacher Racing teammates, who get pleasure from competing towards each other.
“I’m attempting to catch Capps on general wins [Ron Capps has 78 career victories]. However he has 20 years of racing on me,” Hagan stated. “One factor about Ron is he’s only a nice driver. He took me below his wing once I was first out right here, and we received into every kind of bother collectively too. So, once we race one another, even again within the DSR days, we actually throw it down, particularly within the ultimate spherical.
“Pomona Dragstrip has proven me a lot love through the years. It’s a magical place, as a result of champions are topped right here on the finish of the yr. There’s simply so many nice recollections made right here.”
“You actually couldn’t ask for a greater ultimate in plenty of other ways,” Capps stated. “It was actually mano a mano with each groups – ‘Stretch’ (Mike Knudsen, Hagan’s crew chief) and Guido after which Matt and me. I stand up for racing Matt. He was a teammate of mine for a very long time and I understand how good he’s.
“To me, that’s like a ‘Snake’ and ‘Jungle Jim’ race again within the day. You’ve received an important automotive, you stand up there and also you throw down, then you definitely add the truth that it’s Pomona on a late Sunday evening below the lights and the 1,000th win in Humorous Automotive is on the road. There’s so many cool issues about it. I’m bummed it didn’t go our approach, however on the identical time, now we have an excellent sizzling rod, and we moved up in factors. I’m simply so happy with Guido and the fellows.”
Satirically, Hagan and Capps are tied atop the Humorous Automotive standings after three races.
• Greg Anderson defeated his KB Titan Racing teammate Dallas Glenn within the ultimate spherical at Pomona to gather his 113th NHRA Professional Inventory victory.
“Everyone within the Professional Inventory class is aware of Dallas Glenn is using a wave proper now, and I really like the child – it’s a blast to race him, and I’m so rattling comfortable he’s on my staff,” Anderson stated. “There’s no telling what number of wins this child goes to have; he’s going to be a risk for probably the most quantity of race-wins sometime.
“It’s unbelievable to see, and I’m simply attempting to carry him off so long as I can. Right this moment was a hard-fought win, and we are able to all be proud. I’m happy with everyone on this race staff, and I’m even somewhat happy with myself proper now. That is fairly darn cool.”
• John Pressure Racing Humorous Automotive driver Jordan Vandergriff misplaced to Capps within the semifinals.
“What a weekend for the John Pressure Racing Cornwell High quality Instruments Chevrolet Humorous Automotive,” stated Vandergriff. “Being at my house observe, having plenty of my family and friends out right here and doing it for John at his house means loads to me, too. So, attending to the semis was nice however any person was just a bit faster ultimately. We’re getting there. I believe now we have one thing actually sturdy to construct on and I do know a win is coming very quickly.”
• Doug Kalitta misplaced to Justin Ashley within the Prime Gas semifinals, however claimed the purpose lead within the class.
“That was an in depth one. It was only a lifeless warmth run towards Justin,” Kalitta stated. “Apparently, the information for the pc might have been appearing up somewhat bit with the clutch in order that was unlucky, however for Alan (Crew Chief Alan Johnson) to have the ability to make it run what it ran with out having plenty of information, that’s fairly good. This Mac Instruments staff undoubtedly has an excellent automotive, and we’re wanting ahead to dragging her out and going somewhat extra on the schedule.”
• Two-time Humorous Automotive champion Austin Prock continued to wrestle in his transition to the Bob Tasca Racing staff.
Prock certified fifth, however encountered a singular drawback in Sunday’s opening spherical matchup towards Jason Rupert.
A malfunction within the security system prematurely shut the automotive off. The end result was Prock’s third first-round loss in as many races.
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