As time goes by and things keep changing, the one thing that has remained constant is Tony Stewart’s knack for winning races and fighting for championships. The only driver in history to complete all 1,100 miles of the famed Indy-Charlotte Double stands as one of the most revered racing entities in the world, having won nearly every series he has been a part of.
Now, at 54 years old, the racing phenomenon dominates his opponents in the NHRA Top Fuel category while driving for his team. Keeping in line with his winning tendencies, “Smoke” has advanced to another championship playoff.
How Did Tony Stewart Secure His Spot in the NHRA Top Fuel Championship Playoffs?
In 2007, the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) established a Countdown to the Championship playoff system to increase fan and media interest. Previously, it used a direct points method over a regular season to crown its champion, much like Formula 1.
However, the sport’s authorities understood that if a champion is crowned early, the following races see a decline in fan interest and engagement. The sport has provided no statistics to suggest that the playoff system has aided them in fan retention over a season, as opposed to the 2005 season when Tony Schumacher won by a margin of over 400 points.
Despite these questions, the racing series has continued with the Countdown to the Championship system. Two drivers have made it through to the 2025 Top Fuel playoffs.
Our favorite kind of fireworks 🎇#TSRnitro | #NHRA | #Dodge | @TonyStewart | @NHRA pic.twitter.com/te2W9DcHCJ
— Tony Stewart Racing Nitro (@TSRnitro) July 3, 2025
Driving for his wife, Leah Pruett, who is stepping away from racing to start a family, Stewart has become the latest NHRA Top Fuel driver to make it to the playoffs in his rookie year. This achievement becomes even more impressive considering he accomplished this milestone while learning a new racing discipline.
What Races Remain Before the Championship Playoffs Begin?
Only three races remain in the 2025 regular season, which will set the finalists for the six-race playoff. These include this weekend’s Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals presented by PowerEdge, the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, and the Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals.
Drivers can qualify for the playoffs in two ways. The first way is for them to finish inside the top 10 after the U.S. Nationals. Meanwhile, the other way is to attend every race of the regular season and make at least the minimum number of required qualifying attempts at those events.
Currently sitting 12 points behind the regular season leader, Shawn Langdon, in second place, Stewart will soon be gunning for the series championship. With three races left to close that gap, the veteran racer finds himself in an ideal position to make a run at his first NHRA Top Fuel title.