“This isn’t about me,” Smoke explained. In 2024, he clinched his first Top Fuel win at the Lucas Oil Winternationals, a moment that sent shockwaves through the drag racing community. That victory wasn’t just a personal triumph; it was a family affair. Tony Stewart’s transition to NHRA drag racing has been electrifying. Yet, as the NHRA gears up for its 1,000th Top Fuel race at the American Rebel Light Beer NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, Stewart’s focus has sharpened, and his words hint at a burning ambition.

At 53, the three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion has traded the oval tracks for the straight-line chaos of NHRA Top Fuel drag racing. Stewart’s rookie journey in this high-octane world is turning heads as the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) approaches its 75th anniversary in 2025. He’s gunning for a historic milestone that could cement his legacy in a new sport. But it’s his candid confession about this goal that’s sparking conversation and revealing a fiercely competitive side.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., a NASCAR icon and Stewart’s close friend, recently reflected on the intensity of drag racing after an exciting experience with YouTuber Cleetus McFarland. “It was so insane to launch that truck. It was like a jump scare… like when you’re walking through the haunted woods and somebody comes out with a chainsaw.”

But it’s Stewart’s own words that have ignited debate. During a press event, he laid bare his conflicted yet unyielding desire for the 1,000th win: “And this year, I mean, we’re coming up on our 75th anniversary in the NHRA. And that’s going to be a huge deal next year, everywhere we go. It’s going to be historic. But the thousands of them, I mean, to have the opportunity to win that, that is massive for anybody. So, you know, I would feel guilty if I won it to a certain degree, because I haven’t been here as long as a lot of them have. But trust me, if we win, there isn’t anybody that’s going to pry that out of my hands until we get off the airplane. So that’s a cool trophy and a cool milestone to work for here. So not that we needed more incentive to try to win races by any means. I mean, we want to win all of them, but obviously this weekend is a huge one.” 

Stewart’s NHRA journey is about more than trophies—it’s a testament to his resilience. In NASCAR, he faced critics head-on, recalling a win at Sonoma that “silenced the harshest of them.” With three Cup Series titles and an IndyCar title, Stewart doesn’t have any shortage of trophies. Now, in NHRA, he’s proving he’s still a force, even in unfamiliar territory, which highlights his enduring impact on motorsports. When he won the Rookie of the Year award, it simply cemented his legacy. And Stewart’s heart is with NHRA now, where he’s found a new purpose. As he answered the question ‘Why do you race?’. It’s because racing is his life, his family, his legacy.

But does that mean he’ll stick around when Leah Pruett decides to return? “I can tell you the thing that I made sure that was very clear to her was any minute that she decides she’s ready to get back in the car, I’ll step out. If that’s midseason, it’s midseason.” For now, Stewart’s focus remains laser-sharp as he prepares for the Four-Wide Nationals, a chaotic format where four dragsters thunder down the strip side by side. As he told, he and teammate Matt Hagan are “gearing up for a monumental weekend,” ready to tackle the unique challenges of the event.

As the Four-Wide Nationals approach, all eyes are on Stewart. The 1,000th Top Fuel win is a prize that could define his NHRA career. His rookie status makes his ambition audacious, but if anyone can pull it off, it’s Tony Stewart. With his hands gripping the wheel and that trophy in sight, one thing’s certain: he won’t let go without a fight.

When Tony Stewart tried to push Danica Patrick higher

Thinking about the unfair pressure Danica Patrick faced in NASCAR, Tony Stewart’s words hit like a punch. As her team owner at Stewart-Haas Racing, he saw the double standard up close. “They don’t realize how tough the series is. If you can run in the top 20, there are 12 or 14 cars that can win the race. You didn’t finish behind many of those guys. I think from day one she’s been held to a different standard.” Stewart said. Every mistake was magnified, every success questioned. Stewart’s fierce loyalty makes one feel the sting of that bias and admire his resolve to call it out. He knew her talent, her grit, and it kills to see that she had to fight harder to prove it.

Then there’s the Indy 500 talk, where Stewart’s pride in Danica shines through, wrapped in his classic humor. He pictured her returning to the iconic race, saying, “I’d want to do at least one race before that. I’ve been there and ran it. If I go, I’m not going just to run it. I don’t want to be a sideshow like Danica (Patrick) was at Indy this year. If I go, I want to go feeling like I got the same opportunity to win that everybody else in the field does.” But beneath his smirk, there is an unshakable belief in her skill. Having raced Indy himself, Stewart knows its demands—speed, precision, nerve. His playful jab feels like a big brother hyping up his sister, reminding us how Danica’s 2005 Indy performance, leading 19 laps, stunned the world. It’s a moment that still gives me chills.

Richard Petty, the King, stirred the pot with a challenge that makes your pulse race. At 87, he was ready to take on Danica and Stewart in a three-way showdown at Martinsville. “I’m 76 years old, OK? It’s been 25 years since I’ve been in a race car. But I’ll take that challenge. Oh, yeah. When is this going to happen?” Petty said, his confidence as bold as ever. Petty’s challenge, even if half in jest, sparks that fire in your chest, a reminder of the sport’s heart and soul.

Stewart’s defense, his belief in Danica’s Indy potential, and Petty’s audacious call-out paint a vivid picture of NASCAR’s spirit. Danica’s journey was never easy—every lap a battle against doubt and bias. But with allies like Stewart in her corner are rare to find.