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| Tony Stewart raises first NHRA Mission Foods NHRA first place trophy for Top Fuel four-wide drags at Las Vegas Motor Speedway - Image Credit: Tony Stewart Racing Nitro via FB/META (2025) |
Tony Stewart Notches Another Victory In A New Motorsports Challenge
Series
By Motorsports Journal Staff | April 15, 2025
Tony
Stewart, the versatile racing legend from Columbus, Indiana, continues to etch
his name into the annals of motorsport history with a career that spans an
astonishing array of racing disciplines. His recent victory in the NHRA Top
Fuel Dragster class at The NHRA Las Vegas 4-Wide Nationals 2025 event held at
The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on April 13 marks yet another chapter in
a storied career defined by adaptability, tenacity, and an unyielding will to
win. Stewart’s ability to conquer new challenges - from open-wheel racing to
stock cars, sprint cars to dragsters - sets him apart as one of the most
accomplished and diverse racers in motorsports history.
A Career Rooted in Versatility
Stewart’s journey began in 1978 at the age of seven, wheeling a go-kart at a local racetrack in Westport, Indiana. From those humble beginnings, he rose to prominence in the United States Auto Club (USAC), where he achieved a historic feat in 1995 by becoming the first driver to win the USAC “Triple Crown,” capturing the National Midget, Sprint Car, and Silver Crown Series championships in a single season. His 27 USAC National Midget wins, 10 sprint car victories, and three Silver Crown triumphs laid the foundation for a career that would transcend traditional racing boundaries.
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| Tony Stewart answers Motorspot Journal's ZOOM Call question (above video) directly via a "TAL-ENT" graphic published and shared at the team FB/META page. |
Event Recap written by Stewart & Hagan (click-link) for the
NHRA 4-Wide Nationals
Dominance in NASCAR
In 1999, Stewart transitioned to the NASCAR Cup Series with Joe Gibbs Racing, immediately showcasing his talent by earning Rookie of the Year honors with three victories. Over an 18-year career in NASCAR’s premier series, he amassed 49 wins, ranking him 13th among all-time Cup Series winners, and captured three championships (2002, 2005, and 2011). His 2011 title was particularly dramatic, as he tied Carl Edwards in points but won the championship via a tiebreaker with five race victories, becoming the first driver-owner to win the Cup since Alan Kulwicki in 1992.
Stewart’s NASCAR success wasn’t limited to the Cup Series. He won 11 races in the Xfinity Series, including a record-tying seven season-opening races at Daytona International Speedway (2005, 2006, 2008–2011, 2013), and two races in the Craftsman Truck Series. His victories at iconic tracks like Daytona (11 wins across all series) and the Brickyard 400 (2005, 2007) cemented his status as a stock car icon. Notably, Stewart is the only driver to complete the Indianapolis 500–Coca-Cola 600 “Double Duty” in a single day, finishing sixth and third, respectively, in 2001, covering all 1,100 miles.
Sprint Cars and Dirt Track Mastery
Stewart’s love for dirt track racing has been a constant throughout his career. He has competed extensively in sprint car series, including the World of Outlaws (WoO), All-Star Circuit of Champions, and IRA Sprint Car Series, securing three WoO main event wins, with his first coming at Ohsweken Speedway in 2011. His team, Tony Stewart Racing (TSR), fields entries in the WoO, with driver Donny Schatz earning 10 championships and 315 career wins under Stewart’s ownership.
Stewart’s dirt track accolades also include two Chili Bowl Midget Nationals victories (2002, 2007), a prestigious all-star midget race, and wins in iconic USAC events like the Copper World Classic (2000), Turkey Night Grand Prix (2000), and 4-Crown Nationals (1995). His six “Rumble in Fort Wayne” USAC Midget wins further highlight his dominance in short-track racing.
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| Greatest Pf All Time NHRA racer John Force congratulates Tony Stewart at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Image Credit: Tony Stewart Racing Nitro via FB/META (2025) |
Sports Cars and Endurance Racing
Stewart’s versatility extends to sports car racing, where he competed in the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona five times (2002–2007). His best finish came in 2005 with Howard-Boss Motorsports, where he, Jan Lammers, and Andy Wallace secured a third-place podium in the Daytona Prototype class despite a late-race gearbox issue. In 2004, Stewart led 355 of 526 laps with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Andy Wallace, only to finish fourth after mechanical troubles, showcasing his competitiveness in endurance racing.
International Race of Champions (IROC)
Stewart’s adaptability shone in the International Race of Champions (IROC), a series pitting top drivers from various disciplines against each other in identical cars. Competing five times, he won four races and clinched the 2006 IROC championship, with victories at Texas and Daytona’s road course underscoring his ability to excel in diverse formats.
Superstar Racing Experience (SRX)
In 2021, Stewart co-founded the Superstar Racing Experience (SRX), a short-track series designed to showcase racing’s biggest names. Driving the No. 14 car, he competed full-time in the inaugural season, earning a podium in the first race at Stafford Motor Speedway and sweeping the dirt track events at Knoxville Raceway and Eldora Speedway. His second-place finish in the finale at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway secured the 2021 SRX championship, adding another title to his resume.
NHRA Drag Racing: A New Frontier
Stewart’s latest conquest came in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, where he began competing in 2022. After winning his first NHRA event in the Top Alcohol Dragster class on April 16, 2023, at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Las Vegas, Stewart transitioned to the Top Fuel Dragster class. His victory at Maple Grove Raceway on April 13, 2025, made him the only driver to win races at every venue at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, further solidifying his legacy. Stewart’s Tony Stewart Racing team also fields a Funny Car for Matt Hagan, who won the 2023 NHRA Funny Car championship, adding to Stewart’s 31 owners’ titles across multiple series.
A Legacy of Championships and Impact
Stewart’s 13 driving championships include the 1997 IndyCar title, three NASCAR Cup Series crowns, the 1995 USAC Triple Crown, the 2006 IROC title, and the 2021 SRX championship. As a team owner, his 31 titles span NASCAR, USAC, WoO, and NHRA, with TSR’s 117 USAC National event wins and 12 Knoxville Nationals victories highlighting his influence off the track. His ownership of Eldora Speedway, one of dirt racing’s crown jewels, further amplifies his impact.
Beyond statistics, Stewart’s legacy is defined by his passion and relatability. As Fox Sports analyst Larry McReynolds noted, “Tony Stewart’s legacy can’t be defined by one category. If there was a blue-collar racer, he’d be at the top of the list because he embodies what a true racer is.” His induction into multiple halls of fame—NASCAR (2020), USAC (2016), National Midget Racing (2001), and more—along with his 2023 recognition as one of NASCAR’s 75 greatest drivers, underscores his enduring influence.
The Road Ahead
At 53, Stewart shows no signs of slowing down. His recent NHRA Top Fuel victory, celebrated across motorsport communities, adds to what X users have called “the most diverse win list in racing.” Posts on X highlight his wins in IndyCar, NASCAR (Cup, Xfinity, Truck, ARCA), sprint cars, midgets, Silver Crown, IROC, SRX, and now NHRA’s Top Fuel and Top Alcohol classes, a testament to his unparalleled versatility.
As Stewart continues to chase victories in NHRA and support his racing teams, his career serves as a reminder that true racers are defined not by the series they compete in but by their ability to win, regardless of the challenge. For Tony Stewart, the race is never over—it simply takes on new forms, and the motorsport world eagerly awaits his next triumph.
... notes from The EDJE
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Viral Compressions
NASCAR Fans Forced to Rethink Tony Stewart’s Unparalleled Legacy as Smoke Proves Kyle Larson ‘Who’s the Boss’ >>> NASCAR fans are reassessing Tony Stewart’s unmatched legacy after the three-time Cup Series champion reminded Kyle Larson “who’s the boss” at the NHRA Arizona Nationals on April 13, 2025. Stewart, aka “Smoke,” clinched his first Top Fuel win, dominating the drag strip while Larson, the 2021 NASCAR champ, watched from the sidelines as a guest. Stewart’s bold post-race quip, “Still got it,” sparked buzz on X, with fans marveling at his versatility across NASCAR, IndyCar, and now NHRA. Larson, who’s chased Stewart’s 49 Cup wins, lauded his mentor’s grit, saying, “Tony’s a legend for a reason.” Despite Larson’s 30 Cup victories and recent Bristol dominance, Stewart’s NHRA triumph at 53 proves his enduring prowess. Fans, torn between eras, see Smoke’s latest feat as a testament to his unrivaled adaptability, cementing his place atop motorsport’s pantheon. #NASCARFansForced #KyleLarson #TonyStewart
TAGS: #Vegas4WideNats, #TSRnitro, #NHRA, #Dodge, Rayce Rudeen Foundation, Leah Pruett, Mobil 1, #NHRA, #INDYCAR, #IMSA, #ALMS, #NASCAR, #XFINITY, #ARCA, #IROC, #USAC, #SRX, #WoO, The EDJE
