Tony Stewart, 54, is still racing long beyond the end of his Hall of Fame NASCAR career. Recently, he claimed the 2025 NHRA Top Fuel regular season crown as he competes in place of his wife, Leah Pruett, as the couple welcomed their first son Dominic earlier this year.
On Sunday, the three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion was competing in the first round of NHRA’s ‘Countdown to the Championship’ at Maple Grove Raceway in Mohnton, Pennsylvania.
Facing off against NHRA veteran Doug Kalitta, both drivers completed their run with Kalitta victorious with a 335mph run, but his car then drifted across the center line as the left-front tire came apart. The two dragsters collided and Stewart’s car briefly went over onto its side before righting itself and hitting the concrete wall.
Both drivers emerged from the wreckage, but there was a brief wait before Stewart climbed out. He moved slowly as safety workers helped him along, but appeared to be uninjured.
“During the second round of Top Fuel eliminations on Sunday at Maple Grove Raceway, Doug Kalitta’s dragster crossed the center line past the finish line and collided with Tony Stewart’s dragster in the left lane,” an official statement from the NHRA read.
“Stewart’s dragster went on its side, came back down on its wheels and struck the left guard wall before coming to a stop, while Kalitta’s dragster went back over the center line before coming to a stop. Both Stewart and Kalitta were alert and exited their cars under their own power. They were examined onsite by NHRA Chief Medical Officer Dr. Surface before being released.”
Stewart gives health update
Following the incident, Stewart told Fox Sports 1 that he doesn’t have any memory of the crash.
“I don’t have a damn clue, honestly,” explained Stewart. “I honestly don’t remember any of it. The first thing I remember, they’re waking me up here. Not sure what happened, but it appears to have been pretty massive. Looking at Doug’s car and my car, I’m glad PBRC builds our cars, because we have safe race cars, obviously. I’m as curious as everybody else as to what happened. I just know that we’re not where we’re supposed to be at the end of a run here. So, just confused.
“I got one hell of a headache and banged my left hand up. But I’ve been through sprint car crashes way worse than this, I’m pretty sure. We’re good. We’re good. We’re fine. I promise we’re fine.”
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