MESA, Ariz. — Tony Stewart, who has become enamored of so many aspects of NHRA drag racing, said one that’s “refreshing” but “underplayed” – under-marketed – is “the amount of diversity. I don’t think people have grasped it enough. I think it’s something NHRA should truly be proud of. They haven’t had to artificially create that. It was already there.”

Top Alcohol Funny Car rookie Maddi Gordon won at Seattle this July to become the NHRA’s 100th different woman to earn a victory.