A significant alliance has been established between Tony Stewart Racing and Elite Motorsports, announced just before the NHRA Countdown to the Championship opener in Reading, Pennsylvania. This collaboration aims to pool resources and talent across multiple drag racing categories, creating expanded opportunities for partners and racers alike under the Tony Stewart NHRA team alliance.
Richard Freeman, owner of Elite Motorsports—the largest team in NHRA drag racing—described the partnership as one that “just makes so much sense,” emphasizing the goal to nurture existing brands and relationships while expanding their reach. Stewart highlighted the merging of assets to offer more competitive racing cars in divisions including Pro Stock, Mountain Motor Pro Stock, Competition Eliminator, and Pro Mod.
Shared Vision for Building a Dominant “Super Team”
Both Freeman and Stewart share a long-standing friendship that underpins this alliance. Freeman said,
“that just makes so much sense,”
and outlined his vision of developing “basically a super team” capable of providing the “most and best options” to sponsors and partners. This partnership is designed to leverage each organization’s strengths and collectively grow their presence in the sport.
Stewart added that he strongly supports the innovative approach Freeman proposed and acknowledged the early benefits his team has experienced through this cooperation.
“I think it’s already beneficial in the short amount of time that we’ve already started working together,”
Stewart said, noting the potential for both organizations to become stronger collectively.
“Richard and I have a great friendship,”
Stewart explained, emphasizing how such relationships lay the foundation for successful partnerships.
“He has a great organization with great people, and I feel like putting our two teams with our great people together is just going to make for a very strong alliance and a partnership that will be beneficial to both organizations.”
Elite Motorsports Expands Through Acquisition and New Ventures
In a notable recent development, Elite Motorsports purchased Josh Hart’s Top Fuel program, signaling a broadening of their competitive scope. This acquisition coincides with Leah Pruett’s announcement of her return to Top Fuel competition in 2026, which may influence strategy and lineups within the alliance.
The alliance raises questions about future driver arrangements. For example, after Erica Enders—six-time Pro Stock champion and 50-time winner—coached Stewart during a test run, speculation grows regarding whether Stewart or Pruett might take on new roles within the teams or switch classes, such as moving into Top Fuel or Mountain Motor Pro Stock. Stewart has expressed openness to different racing challenges but also noted that funding remains a critical factor in expanding to a two-car Top Fuel team.
Currently, Stewart continues to manage his own team, which includes Funny Car driver Matt Hagan, who boasts four championships and 53 wins. Founded in 2021, TSR Nitro recently earned the NHRA 2024 Rookie of the Year award and secured the 2025 regular-season championship, underscoring the team’s rapid growth and competitiveness.
Elite Motorsports’ Broad Driver Roster and Future Aspirations
Elite Motorsports fields a diverse and talented group of drivers. Their Pro Stock lineup includes Erica Enders, Jeg Coughlin Jr., Troy Coughlin Jr., Aaron Stanfield, Greg Stanfield, Stephen Bell, and a family race team with three drivers from the Cuadra family. They also compete in Mountain Motor Pro Stock with driver Mike Coughlin and have entries in Competition Eliminator, represented by Royce Freeman, as well as the NHRA Pro Mod series, driven by Mason Wright.
Regarding the Top Fuel dragster acquired from Josh Hart, Elite and TSR are actively seeking sponsorship and marketing partners to fund and manage the program. The official statement stresses that
“they will be looking for the right people and team to run the program once it is fully funded. No driver has been announced at this time.”
Countdown to the Championship Kicks Off in Reading, Pennsylvania
The NHRA’s six-race Countdown to the Championship begins with the 40th annual Reading Nationals, presented by Nitro Fish, held this weekend in Eastern Pennsylvania. Drivers across Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle categories will compete for the season titles, intensifying the competition as teams prepare their best efforts for these critical events.
Insight into the Prominent Figures Behind the Alliance
Tony Stewart, a multi-series champion in USAC, IndyCar, NASCAR, and SRX, formed TSR Nitro in 2021 and has quickly become a strong competitor in NHRA drag racing. His leadership and experience bring a wealth of knowledge and exposure to this new partnership.
Richard Freeman, as the owner of Elite Motorsports, leads one of the largest organizations in the sport, managing a comprehensive driver roster and multiple racing disciplines. Their collaborative efforts stand to reshape the NHRA landscape, offering more sophisticated racing programs and enhanced partner relations.
Susan Wade, a seasoned motorsports writer with nearly 30 years covering the sport, highlights the human stories behind such alliances and continues to document NHRA’s evolving scene. Her expertise provides valuable context to this partnership’s significance for fans and professionals alike.
Potential Impact and Future Direction of the Alliance
This alliance signals a strategic shift in NHRA drag racing, blending top-tier teams and drivers under a unified vision to enhance competitiveness and funding capacity. Beyond sharing physical resources, merging expertise and connections allows both organizations to grow stronger and present better opportunities to sponsors in a challenging motorsports market.
While questions remain about driver assignments and expanded Top Fuel programs, the partnership offers multiple pathways. Stewart and Freeman’s cooperative approach could lead to new racing ventures and increased visibility for the sport’s various divisions.
As the NHRA season progresses through the Countdown and beyond, the Tony Stewart NHRA team alliance will be closely watched for how it transforms team dynamics, influences competition strategies, and shapes the future of professional drag racing.
“that just makes so much sense,”
—Richard Freeman, Owner, Elite Motorsports
“taking care of the brands and people we have and being able to offer opportunities for those relationships to grow while having the capacity to bring more into the fold.”
—Richard Freeman, Owner, Elite Motorsports
“This is a unique strategy that Richard came up with, but I really buy into the concept of it,”
—Tony Stewart
“Richard and I have a great friendship,”
—Tony Stewart
“and I think that’s what great partnerships start out as. He has a great organization with great people, and I feel like putting our two teams with our great people together is just going to make for a very strong alliance and a partnership that will be beneficial to both organizations.”
—Tony Stewart
“and we’ve realized that we’re a lot alike. We have similar visions and share a desire to build basically a super team that can offer our partners the most and best options. Being able to offer the most to our partners, that’s really what it’s about.”
—Richard Freeman, Owner, Elite Motorsports
“Putting our two teams with our great people together is just going to make for a very strong alliance.”
—Tony Stewart
“they will be looking for the right people and team to run the program once it is fully funded. No driver has been announced at this time.”
—Press Release, Elite Motorsports and TSR
