Antron Brown kicked off the 2025 racing season with a bang, claiming the Top Fuel victory at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals held at Gainesville Raceway on March 9, 2025. His triumphant return to the winners’ circle after a three-year dry spell was marked by his defeat of Shawn Langdon in a nail-biting final round. Brown, behind the wheel of his Matco Tools Toyota, clocked an impressive 3.698 seconds at 335.57 mph, a testament to his team’s razor-sharp precision under intense pressure.
However, the excitement of the Gatornationals was overshadowed by an unexpected tirade against FOX Sports by Bob Tasca, a Funny Car driver and team owner who also happens to be Tony Stewart’s arch-rival. Tasca took the opportunity during the NHRA broadcast to lambast FOX for its recent advertisement claiming IndyCar as “the fastest motorsport.”
FOX Sports, a long-time partner with NHRA since 2016, broadcasts 20 races annually on its primary and secondary networks. But Tasca took umbrage at the network’s favoritism towards IndyCar, saying that it was an affront to NHRA fans and drivers. In a shocking outburst following his run at Gainesville, Tasca berated FOX, stating, “The truth is, it’s an insult to our fans and to the drivers for FOX to go on TV and say the fastest motorsports in the world, and it’s IndyCar? Come on now!”
Tasca’s criticism is not unfounded. NHRA Top Fuel and Funny Cars regularly achieve speeds that IndyCar cannot compete with. Tasca himself holds an unofficial NHRA Funny Car speed record of 341.68 mph from the PRO event in Bradenton, although this was not recognized by NHRA due to the event’s unsanctioned nature. In contrast, the highest recorded speed for an IndyCar is a mere 237.498 mph, achieved by Arie Luyendyk in 1996.
In the wake of FOX’s IndyCar favoritism, NASCAR fans have also voiced their discontent, accusing the network of biased advertising practices. The grievances began with the promotional videos leading up to the Daytona 500. Fans were disappointed with the lackluster NASCAR commercials, especially when compared to the high-production value of the IndyCar advertisements.
Tasca’s outburst has added fuel to the fire of FOX’s controversial reputation within its series, excluding IndyCar. Opinions are divided on the matter, with some agreeing with Tasca’s sentiments and others feeling that he overreacted. However, what remains clear is that NHRA fans feel heard through Tasca’s impassioned critique.
Meanwhile, Tony Stewart, a three-time NASCAR champion and NHRA team owner, is enjoying a positive development in his racing team. He and Leah Pruett, a fellow racer who has moved off the track after announcing her pregnancy, recently inked a multi-year deal with Dodge for their Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) NHRA team. This agreement provides crucial support for their Top Fuel and Funny Car race cars and solidifies TSR’s position as a top NHRA team.
The deal, which was signed at the Route 66 Raceway on May 19, 2024, includes backing from Dodge, Mopar, and Direct Connection. This partnership will enable TSR to field two nitro-burning cars in the NHRA Mission Drag Racing Series. Matt McAlear, Dodge’s CEO, lauded TSR as an “elite, winning organization,” underlining the importance of this alliance.
With this new deal, Funny Car driver Matt Hagan is looking forward to more victories after his 2023 championship win. Tony Stewart, who has taken over Pruett’s spot in the Top Fuel class while she supports the team off the track, is also eager to utilize the resources provided by the Dodge partnership to compete at the highest level. Both Stewart and Pruett believe this new partnership is a game-changer for their racing future.
