Yahoo Autos Tony Stewart Pulling Triple Duty at NHRA U.S. Nationals
Three-time NASCAR Cup Champion Tony Stewart will be wearing two, make that three, hats at this weekend's 68th Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway Park in Indianapolis.
In addition to Stewart's role at the team owner of Tony Stewart Racing that fields Funny Car champ Matt Hagan and Top Fuel star Leah Pruett, Stewart has signed on for a little duty in the FOX broadcast booth.
To make things even more interesting, this will be the first U.S. Nationals where Stewart will be in the role of husband to Pruett, as the two were married last November.
OK, so Stewart, 51, can be excused if he's not totally impartial in the booth when his TSR cars come to the line this weekend. He'll join Brian Lohnes and Tony Pedregon (whose brother Cruz Pedregon is a top contender in the Funny Car field) to call the action.
The finals for this year's U.S. Nationals—the NHRA's version of the Indianapolis 500 or Daytona 500—is Sept. 5, 2 p.m.-5 p.m., live on FOX.
Stewart has also worked the TV booth for FOX for a few NASCAR events this season.
“Tony Stewart is one of the racing world’s most versatile drivers, celebrating success at the highest levels,” said Frank Wilson, FOX Sports VP Event & Studio Production. “He is now bringing that versatility to the broadcast booth, first in the NASCAR Cup Series on FOX earlier this year, and now as part of the NHRA on FOX for drag racing’s most iconic event. Along with two-time Funny Car champ, Tony Pedregon, the two Tonys will no doubt provide some entertaining and insightful analysis beginning this weekend from Indy.”
The U.S. Nationals at Indy closes out the regular season for the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. Following the finals, the top-10 (plus drivers who have participated in every event this season) advance to the series' six-race Countdown to the Championship playoffs that begins September 15-18 near Reading, Pa.
TV Schedule
Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals
Sunday, Sept. 3
Qualifying, 1 p.m.-3 p.m., FS1
NHRA All-Star Funny Car Callout, 4 p.m.-5:30 p.m., FS1
Qualifying, 5:30 p.m.-7 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 4
Eliminations, noon, FS1
Eliminations, 2 p.m.-5 p.m., FOX.
