LAS VEGAS — Tony Stewart knew very well the significance of his first NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series triumph Sunday at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
The three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, who ran his first drag race two years ago and began competing full time in the Top Fuel class in 2024, added to a jam-packed racing résumé when he defeated Antron Brown, Justin Ashley and Jasmine Salinas in the final round of the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals.
“Two years ago, I won my first NHRA national event in the Top Alcohol Dragster here at Las Vegas with McPhillips Racing, and now I win my first Top Fuel national event at the Strip,” Stewart said. “It’s pretty damn cool. I’ve been a motorsports fan my whole life, and I think we made racing history today with the Top Fuel win. I’m not sure if there has ever been a driver to win a NASCAR Cup race, an IndyCar race, the USAC Triple Crown championship and an NHRA Pro event (Top Fuel).
“To do it with our team and our family was very emotional. When Leah brought Dom (their newborn son) up on stage in victory lane, my heart stopped. I got so emotional there. That is a feeling I have never had in my life before.”
Stewart believes that four-wide drag racing turns the tables in his favor.
“The four-wide setup is the equalizer for me. I’m used to racing with many cars around me,” he said. “It’s tough for the guys who are not used to four cars racing at once. We can’t get to Charlotte fast enough with the next four-wide setup. I love the format.
“I think we had a great shot to win this race outright today. We won all three rounds. The track and heat conditions were an equalizer too. The conditions were very tricky. It made it a tuner’s game and our guys were the difference. I can now say I have won pro events on all four tracks at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and it is very satisfying as a racing driver.”
It took Stewart 24 races to earn his first Top Fuel triumph.
“I haven’t been around the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series very long, but I realized it takes a lot to win one of these Top Fuel races,” he said. “In my career, I’ve never had to wait over a year to win a race. We always figured it out pretty quickly and we won. I had two ‘holeshot’ wins in the first two rounds today and my worst reaction time was in the final, but the TSR Rayce Rudeen Foundation crew gave me a great car in the final. Neal Strausbaugh (crew chief) and Mike Domagala (co-crew chief) and the whole crew won that final round for us today. We needed this win.
“It’s been so stressful for everyone since Leah (Pruett – Stewart’s wife) nearly won the world Top Fuel championship in 2023 when it came down to the final round of the whole season,” Stewart noted. “We had a lot of changes for the team because my body weight is different. Car tubing is different, and it just takes time. It was frustrating as we just couldn’t get on a path to make consistent gains last year.”
Stewart is now second in the standings, 16 points behind leader Shawn Langdon.
