4 people injured at Tony Stewart’s NHRA finale venue following a plane crash
A small plane crashed near the Pomona Dragstrip, where the NHRA season finale, including Tony Stewart's participation in the In-N-Out Burger NHRA, was taking place. The crash led to a temporary halt of the event. All four people on board the plane were injured.
A single-engine plane made contact with a couple of vehicles before hitting the ground on Sunday. According to Daily Bulletin, the plane hit an RV (Recreational vehicle) and two pickup trucks, causing considerable chaos on the ground.
The LA County Fire Department public officer Jonathan Torres confirmed this through a statement. He spoke to Bob Pockrass of Fox Sports and stated that all four passengers of the Piper PA-32 plane that crashed near the Californian drag strip survived. They were taken to a nearby hospital.
The LA County Fire Department dispatched units to check for fire hazards from jet fuel spilled after the crash. Mranwhile, the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration have called for an inquiry.
Once the race restarted, former NASCAR driver Stewart took part in his final race as a rookie in the Top Fuel category. Antron Brown claimed the victory in Stewart's category (Top Fuel), while Greg Anderson was victorious in the Pro Stock category.
Tony Stewart and his team bid goodbye to NASCAR
Following the conclusion of the 2024 season at Phoenix, Tony Stewart and his Stewart-Haas Racing bid goodbye to the Cup Series and Xfinity Series competitions. Stewart earlier announced his withdrawal from the racing series, and the Phoenix Raceway race was the final race for SHR.
SHR fielded four cars in the Cup Series this season, the #4 car of Josh Berry, the #10 car of Noah Gragson, the #14 car of Chase Briscoe, and the #41 car of Ryan Preece. In the Xfinity Series, they had two entries: #00 car of Cole Custer and the #98 car of Riley Herbst.
Speaking about his withdrawal from the Sport, Stewart said it was a tough call for him. Following their last race, the team sent an emotional message to all its fans. The statement from the team read:
"To Our Stewart-Haas Fans, you've cheered with us, and yes, sometimes even booed us. You showed up passionately and proudly. And we've felt your presence through the highs and lows.
"It's been the ride of a lifetime to be part of this sport and to play a small role in entertaining you all. As we close this final lap, we want to say thank you. Your energy has been felt in each moment and mile, And we'll carry your support with us always."
Stewart-Haas Racing was a team by Tony Stewart and Gene Haas. While the former decided to step away, Haas is moving on with his NASCAR ownership with a newly formed team, named Haas Factory Racing.