MARLBOROUGH, Mass. — Matt Seymour is a third-generation racer who has built his eponymous race team into a multi-car force in the Northeastern Midget Association that now has national aspirations following a series of successful outings in prominent pavement events and Midget racing’s biggest dirt race – the annual Chili Bowl Nationals.
Helping turn Seymour’s aspirations into reality is Tony Stewart. The former IndyCar champion and three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion who is now a race-winning Top Fuel driver in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series has joined Matt Seymour Racing as a special advisor.
“I have a ton of respect for people who build something from the ground up and keep pushing to make it better, and that’s exactly what Matt has done with his race team,” Stewart said. “There’s a lot of ambition there, but also a willingness to listen, learn and put in the work. I’ve been fortunate to see racing from a lot of different angles, and if some of those experiences can help Matt and his guys take the next step, I’m happy to be a resource for them.”
While Stewart’s insights as both a driver and team owner will benefit all of Matt Seymour Racing’s endeavors, particular emphasis is being placed on the 41st annual Chili Bowl Nationals Jan. 11-16, 2027, in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Stewart is a two-time Chili Bowl winner (2002, 2007). He has 12 A-Main starts in 14 career Chili Bowl appearances, earning three podiums, four top-fives and seven top-10s. In more recent years, Stewart has helped with track preparation inside the SageNet Center, turning laps on a tractor instead of a Midget.
“Tony brings unique perspectives backed by an incredible amount of experience, and what’s really valuable to us is how he thinks about racing and how he prepares. He sees things we might not see and asks questions we might not think to ask,” Seymour said.
“That’s especially important with the Chili Bowl because there are so many variables and so many things that have to come together over the course of that week. Having Tony look at our program from the outside and challenge us on where we can be better is an incredible opportunity for our team.”
Matt Seymour Racing made its Chili Bowl debut in 2016 with driver Anthony Nocella, and in 2022 the team secured its first A-Main appearance with driver Tim Buckwalter. That year proved pivotal, as it was the first time the team fielded two Chili Bowl entries, with driver Hank Davis joining Buckwalter.
Matt Seymour Racing has been a presence in the event’s A-Main ever since. Buckwalter reached the signature feature in 2022, 2023, 2025 and 2026, and Davis advanced to the A-Main four straight times (2023-2026). Buckwalter’s best result was ninth in 2023, and Davis finished an impressive third in this year’s Chili Bowl.
A Chili Bowl victory is what Seymour covets most.
“I’m incredibly proud of what our team has done at the Chili Bowl, but I want to win that race. You don’t put this much time and energy into something just to be satisfied with getting to the A-Main,” Seymour said.
“Finishing third this year showed us that we’re capable of competing with the best teams and drivers in the country. Now it’s about finding those last few things that can take us from being a contender to being the team standing there with the Golden Driller on Saturday night. That’s the goal. That’s what we’re chasing.”
The 29-year-old Seymour is the son of 1987 NEMA champion Bobby Seymour and the grandson of legendary car owner “Boston Louie” Seymour, who earned induction into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 2004. His uncle, Mike Seymour, was the 1994 NEMA champion.
Louis Seymour began racing USAC Midgets, Sprint Cars and Silver Crown machines in 1965, and his near-weekly trips from Marlborough, Massachusetts, to the Midwest earned him the “Boston Louie” nickname. His cars were eventually wrenched by his sons, Bobby and Mike, who passed on their knowledge to Matt.
“My dad and my uncle taught me so many different things, but probably the biggest lesson was that you never stop learning. No matter how much success you have, there’s always another way to look at something and somebody you can learn from,” Seymour said.
“That mindset is a big reason why having Tony involved means so much to me. I want to take everything my family has taught me, combine it with what we’ve learned building this team and then absorb as much as we can from Tony. It’s another step in trying to take what my family started and see how far we can go with it.”
Stewart raced against both Louie and Mike Seymour as he began his climb up the racing ladder. In a full-circle moment, Stewart drove for Matt Seymour Racing in the inaugural Bentley Warren Classic All-Star National Pavement Midget Series race Aug. 6 at Plymouth (Ind.) Motor Speedway.
“I’ve known the Seymour family for a long time, and I’ve had the privilege of driving for them in the past, so to get in one of Matt’s cars all these years later was pretty cool,” Stewart said. “There’s a lot of history behind this team, but Matt isn’t just relying on the family name. He’s putting his own stamp on it and trying to take it somewhere it hasn’t been before. I respect that. Racing has given me a lot over the years, and being able to share some of what I’ve learned with somebody who cares about it as much as Matt does is a great opportunity for me, too. It’s an honor to work with Matt and his team.”
