Tony Stewart’s prolific racing resumé has a new addition – NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Top Fuel winner.
The legendary racer earned his first career NHRA Top Fuel win on Sunday at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals. Stewart covered the 1,000-foot drag strip in 3.870 seconds at 317.42 mph on his final round pass, defeating reigning NHRA Top Fuel champion Antron Brown, Jasmine Salinas and Justin Ashley in the finals.
Stewart reached the final round two weeks ago in the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip before losing to Clay Millican. This time, Stewart would not be denied, winning in the four-way final to add to his trophy collection that includes three NASCAR Cup Series championships, and IndyCar Series title and much more.
The NASCAR Hall of Famer embarked on a drag racing career starting in 2022, and joined the Top Fuel ranks in 2024 replacing wife Leah Pruett in the Tony Stewart Racing Top Fuel dragster.
In 2023, Stewart won at Las Vegas in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series’ Top Alcohol Dragster division, and he reached the finals at last year’s 4-Wide Nationals as well. He finished ninth in Top Fuel points in 2024, winning NHRA Rookie of the Year honors.
The transition to straight-line racing has not been without its challenges, but that only makes Stewart’s first win in this next chapter of his racing career that much sweeter.
“I think you sure as hell learn to appreciate it more when you struggle like that,” said Stewart. “I’m so appreciative of our guys. We’ve got Kevin Rudeen and his family here today. Rayce, you did this one for us today, buddy. This is all you.”
The “Rayce” Stewart mentioned in his post-race interview was Rayce Rudeen, as Stewart’s Top Fuel dragster carried the Rayce Rudeen Foundation colors during Sunday’s win. The Rayce Rudeen Foundation works with organizations and programs that encourage a healthy and productive life, free from addiction.
That added to an emotional victory lane, with Stewart dedicating the win to the passing of several people close to him in the racing community.
“It’s the highest of highs and lowest of lows. Our Rush Truck Centers family, Rusty Rush, we lost his wife Jenny this week. Literally 15 minutes before we rolled out for the final here, I got a message from Bakersfield, California from a friend of mine, Brian Landgraff, that we just lost his father.
“We’ve lost a lot of people this week, and it’s been tough. I’m so proud of our guys. Dodge Direct Connection, Rayce Rudeen Foundation, everybody at Mobil 1.”
While it has been a difficult week, there is no doubt Stewart will fully enjoy the celebration from his first career NHRA Top Fuel victory.
“I have a feeling I’m going to be really hurting in the morning here, but it’s going to sure as hell be worth it.”
This also adds to Stewart’s trophies from Las Vegas, as he has won at all four racing facilities on the property of Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Along with a NASCAR Cup Series win at the 1.5-mile speedway, Stewart has won in USAC competition at both The Dirt Track at Las Vegas as well as The Bullring at Las Vegas, the paved 3/8-mile oval at the facility.
Stewart’s next opportunity to win an NHRA Top Fuel event comes on April 25-27 at the zMAX Dragway in Concord, North Carolina, across the street from Charlotte Motor Speedway. It will be another four-wide event for the NHRA competitors, the American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals.
