NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Tony Stewart has won in just about everything he’s ever raced—but not like this. On Sunday at the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion earned his first Top Fuel Wally, winning in one of the sport’s most unpredictable and intense formats: four-wide drag racing.  After the race, Stewart sat down with a room full of motorsports journalists and spoke candidly about the emotion, relief, and gratitude he felt.

“It’s unreal,” Stewart said. “I realized it takes a lot, and it takes a long time to win a race in this series.”

What makes the moment even more remarkable is that with this victory, Stewart has now won in every professional racing discipline held at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. From NASCAR to USAC to now NHRA Top Fuel, he’s conquered them all—and now adds a drag racing Wally to his arsenal of trophies.

Four-wide racing challenges even the most seasoned drivers, with four cars launching simultaneously and only the top two advancing from each round. “It’s never taken me more than a year to a win a race in a series,” Stewart explained. “I’ve always figured it out in the first year—with multiple wins normally.”

Stewart’s passion was evident as he reflected on the support from his team and wife Leah Pruett, herself a Top Fuel driver. When asked about the pressure of adding another motorsport milestone to his résumé, Stewart smiled. “We all needed it, after [his wife] Leah almost won the NHRA Top Fuel World Championship two years ago—we could not get on a path where we could make gains last year. It was super frustrating.”

With the Wally finally in hand, Stewart now joins an elite club of racers who have conquered both oval tracks and the NHRA dragstrip. “I remember when I tested Leah’s car,” he said. “Kyle Larson was there, and Leah threw him to the wolves and put him clear up by the starter on the line. I still have the video where we made the hit, made the run, and you see [Kyle] turn around, shaking his head. Leah asked, ‘You want to drive one of these?’ and Kyle said, ‘Hell no.’”

What do you say Tony Stewart? Think you’ll ever want to get out of a Top Fuel Dragster now? We tend to think you’ll say the same thing Kyle Larson said above…

Welcome to being the 999th winner of a Top Fuel race. We’re all excited for your next win, too.