NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Photos by Heidi Elzas (America’s Meanest Cars)

Tony Stewart successfully defended his Top Alcohol Dragster title while Maddi Gordon scored her first Top Alcohol Funny Car win during the hugely popular Cleetus & Cars event at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.

Stewart, in his first season as an NHRA Mission Series pro in Top Fuel, returned to the seat of the McPhillips Racing dragster for a one-off appearance and won the Top Alcohol Dragster title, beating Gary Pritchett in the final round.

Stewart, who qualified No. 1 in the eight-car field with a 5.259, defeated Jeff Chatterson and reigning world champion Julie Nataas to reach the final. Stewart won the event with a 5.308 against Pritchett, who drove Randy Meyer’s dragster to a slightly quicker 5.305 but fouled by .018-second at the start.

On Saturday, Stewart also took to the .686-mile IRP oval track to participate in the Indy 800, the headline attraction of the Cleetus & Cars event. Racing one of 19 identically prepared Crown Victoria cars, Stewart raced from the back of the pack to the lead in less than 20 laps. The three-time NASCAR champion appeared destined to win the event, but a late caution bunched the field and Stewart spun after contact in the final corner with eventual winner Zach Walker.

“What a fun weekend. I had a blast,” said Stewart, an Indiana native, who now has 11 wins at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, including nine open-wheel victories on the oval track. “I’ve wanted to do one of these [Cleetus & Cars] events for a while and on Tuesday, the McPhillips family asked if I wanted to drive their Top Alcohol Dragster. I said yes and immediately got in touch with Cleetus and said, ‘If you’ve got a spare Crown Vic laying around, I’m in.’ I’d love to come back next year and do it all over again.”

Gordon, who took over as the driver of her famiy’s Beta Motorcycles Camaro this season, went to her third final round of the young season and delivered her first win with a 5.50 to 5.53 victory against Chris Foster in the final round. Gordon also defeated Stan Sipos and three-time world champion Sean Bellemeur on her way to the final round.

The two-day Cleetus & Cars event is the brainchild of internet sensation Cleetus McFarland, who boasts more than 3.5 million followers on his popular YouTube channel. The event delivers non-stop action ad attracted a large number of fans to historic Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. For the second-straight year. The NHRA Top Alcohol classes once again proved to be a popular addition to the event.

Other highlights of the event included a huge field for Saturday’s burnout contest, a street car shootout on the dragstrip, and the Van Prix, a wild contest featuring mini-vans that has to be seen to be believed.

McFarland often shares the spotlight with other well-known internet celebrities and this year was no different as the Indy 800 field included Derek Bieri from Vice Grip Garage, Kevin Smith of KSR Performance, Kyle from Boostedboiz, Gray Ledbetter, Brent from PFI Speed, Roman Atwood, Jeremiah Burton, Brad Deberti, Jackstand Jimmy Taal, LS George, and Tye Braun.