Freeman started his Top Fuel program to ‘prove a point’ to himself and others

Richard Freeman had long thought about potentially fielding a nitro entry in NHRA competition, but it was an unlikely conversation that pushed him into action.

It was a few years ago at Pomona that Freeman and his six-time Pro Stock champion, Erica Enders, approached NHRA President Glen Cromwell about her driving a Top Fuel dragster, but they wanted her to do both, given her commitment to Pro Stock.

“And he looked me in the eye, and he said, ‘Why don’t you just put her in Top Fuel where she can be the star she was meant to be,’” Freeman told RACER. “It was kind of a kick in the nuts because it said something to me that we always knew but had never really been said, that Pro Stock has always been the stepchild.

“So that statement made me think, ‘You know what? I think I am going to get one of those.’ Today, it’s kind of proof in the pudding that with the right equipment and the right parts, you can go out and compete and win races. ... So, I did this to prove a point kind of to myself."

Freeman bought the Josh Hart operation, as Hart was looking to exit team ownership and focus on being a paid driver at John Force Racing. The deal was made in Indianapolis and completed after Pomona. However, while Freeman bought four cars, by the time he took over, there were zero cars in the fleet.

One of them ended up wrecked. Another one was sold. In other words, Freeman bought a pre-existing program but when all was said and done, actually put together a new program, replenishing parts and putting people in place. It is not the same group that was on Hart’s team.

Mike Green and Joe Barlam lead the team, and the stars aligned with putting Tony Stewart in the driver’s seat. Stewart told Freeman that if he bought and built it, then he would drive it.

“The first couple of days it took a little bit to get its legs,” said Stewart, who recalled how testing got off to a rocky start with only two runs made. “But I got back to the Airbnb with Leah [Pruett], and it’s like, ‘I’m glad we only got two runs in versus trying to thrash and get three or four and having mistakes and tear stuff up.’ But honestly, it was fun for me to watch these guys settle in. It jelled really quickly.”

A partnership between Freeman and Stewart led to a bigger partnership between Elite Motorsports and Tony Stewart Racing. Pruett and Matt Hagan drive for Stewart and are also his teammates. Both organizations work closely together from competition to marketing, and more.

“I couldn’t have a better partner than Tony and Leah and all of them,” Freeman said. “You wouldn’t believe how smooth (it is). These are two sole-owned operations that have come together, and I think all of them would say it’s been smooth as silk. I think our two deals together moving forward are going to be pretty cool.”

And yet Freeman sits with a lot of mixed emotions. The Top Fuel program is “wonderful” and he expected nothing less. But the bread and butter of the operation, what Elite Motorsports is known for, is the Pro Stock program, and it has struggled for over a year.

“Odd to us,” said Freeman, about going from a 2024 season in which they won 12 races to winning once in 2025. It has been more of the same early in 2026.

“At the end of the day, those guys work just as hard, and it shows you how different the two categories are,” Freeman said. “Not that you don’t have to have the right parts and pieces, but the Pro Stock side is really about a lot of finesse. So, as far as the nitro side, we couldn’t be happier.”

It is hard to argue that the season hasn’t gotten off to a successful start. Stewart and Elite have been competitive from the jump and won their first race at the Winternationals in Pomona (pictured, top), which was the third race of the year. Hagan, meanwhile, won the event in Funny Car to give the two organizations a memorable weekend double-up.

Hagan (left) and Stewart: Teammates, partners and winners.

Stewart is fourth in points as the NHRA heads to Chicago for its sixth event on the calendar. Pruett sits third. Hagan is third in the Funny Car class.

“That level of excitement was because Richard and I are friends first,” said Stewart of his early win and subsequent celebration. “So, to see him take a leap of faith, financially take a big risk to get this thing up and going, and to run this program, and go out to win in the third race is a pat on the back to him. I think the cherry on top, seeing that win light come on, but when I got back and saw the videos of the starting line, that’s the best part of it. It’s not me, it’s about all those people.”

The early taste of success has changed things going forward, though. Freeman and Stewart came into the year both thinking that, realistically, with a new program and new people, the goal would be to try and win a race. Not anymore.

“I think we have a program that can contend for a championship,” Freeman said.

But there is no pressure on anyone in the program to keep winning or to win the championship.

“The only pressure that anybody can have is pressure they put on themselves,” said Freeman. “There is no pressure that comes from me because my expectations have already been exceeded.”

The product of a small town in Oklahoma, Freeman is self-described as someone who always wanted more. No matter how often he’s told by those around him to slow down or stop, Freeman is going to complete a home project and find something else. Or he’s going to start a nitro operation just because someone tried to push him in another direction.

“What I like to see is those guys put something together and bust their (butts),” Freeman said. “Those are the things that excite me – to see the results. And sometimes, those results aren’t winning. I always say this: there is a difference between winning and being a winner. I am probably one of the proudest guys in the pit area to know that I have a huge group of winners.”