In the world of motorsports, legacy debates burn as hot as race fuel. The latest conflagration pits Kyle “Yung Money” Larson against the legendary Tony “Smoke” Stewart in what has become NASCAR’s version of the Jordan vs. LeBron argument. It’s a debate that touches on the very essence of what makes a racing legend—versatility, championships, leadership, and raw talent, all qualities that defined Stewart’s Hall of Fame career. And it feels like Larson wants to be the Stewart of his generation, attempting to expand his footprint beyond the ovals of NASCAR.

Following his dominant performance at Homestead-Miami, where he nearly pulled off a clean sweep across three national series, Larson ignited controversy with his claim: “I think if we would still have the 2021 car, I would have about 50 Cup wins right now.” That statement directly challenges Stewart’s 49 career Cup victories, suggesting Larson would have already surpassed this milestone if not for NASCAR’s equipment changes. With Larson currently sitting at 31 Cup wins at age 32, the claim has divided the NASCAR community between those who see it as justified confidence and others who view it as disrespectful to Stewart’s legacy.

Interestingly, Stewart himself once acknowledged Larson’s superior talent. In June 2021, during a pre-race show for the Dirt Late Model Dream at Eldora Speedway, Stewart declared, “Kyle Larson is better than I was,” and confirmed he genuinely believed it. The three-time Cup Series champion, who built his reputation on versatility by winning championships in both NASCAR and IndyCar, recognized something special in Larson after watching him sweep all three USAC events in one night at the 4-Crown Nationals in 2011—a feat only matched by Jack Hewitt in 1998. Despite this endorsement, fans have rallied to defend Tony Stewart’s broader legacy.

Although Yung Money’s initial racing career saw a meteoric rise on non-pavement tracks, the same cannot be said for his current form. He did try to get level with Smoke by attempting the Memorial Day Double last year at the Indy 500, but not everything went according to his plans. Meanwhile, Stewart silenced his critics after bagging his first NHRA Top Fuel win at the Las Vegas 4-Wide Nationals. Adding another win in a different discipline, that too at the age of 53.

A fan on Reddit stoked the debate between the fans, stating, “Give them any type of car, any type of track. Who is better? And even though he just added to his resume last week with his first NHRA win, let’s assume both are at peak form for fair comparison.” And next thing you know, the thread got flooded with opinions on why they think Tony Stewart is a better race car driver than Kyle Larson.

Fans Weigh In On NASCAR’s Ultimate Racing Talent Debate

“Besides all the things people have listed, Tony was also really good at a wide range of tracks in NASCAR,” one fan argued. “He literally learned drafting from Dale Earnhardt, was a pro on short tracks, a ringer on road courses, and did pretty well on intermediate tracks.” This assessment highlights Tony Stewart’s adaptability across NASCAR’s diverse circuit schedule, something many believe surpasses Larson’s current capabilities. Stewart has four wins at Daytona International Speedway alone, meanwhile, Larson has none.

Another fan emphasized Tony Stewart’s leadership qualities: “Stewart is a better leader. His ability to build championship teams is remarkable.” This comment references Stewart’s legendary 2011 Cup Series championship campaign, where he famously declared his team didn’t deserve to make the playoffs before winning five of the final ten races to claim the title. It was the only time when a NASCAR champion was decided on a tie-breaker, and Stewart’s wins in the playoff helped him prevail over Carl Edwards. This leadership dimension adds another layer to the comparison, as Stewart’s role as a team owner and his championship as an owner-driver showcase abilities that extend beyond driving talent.

The most comprehensive defense of Stewart came from fans who emphasized his diverse racing accomplishments: “Stewart has won championships in five different types of cars at the highest level. Larson has one top-level championship.” This perspective highlights Tony Stewart’s USAC Triple Crown. It also underlines IndyCar championship, three NASCAR Cup titles, and a recent NHRA Top Fuel win. Most significantly, fans point to Stewart being the only driver to complete the Indianapolis 500/Coca-Cola 600 double. That too with top-10 finishes in both races—something Kyle Larson attempted but couldn’t complete in 2023 due to rain delays. He might change this statistic with a second bite at the double cherry.

Not all fans side with Stewart, however. “I’d take Larson. Tony is just a calmer Kurt and likely even Kyle,” wrote one contrarian supporter, suggesting Larson’s pure driving talent might exceed Stewart’s. Another fan conceded: “Kyle Larson is the better sprint car driver, though in everything else you would have to give the edge to Stewart.” This acknowledges that while Larson might excel in certain disciplines, Stewart’s complete racing resume remains unmatched.

As Larson continues his pursuit of racing greatness across multiple disciplines, this debate will likely intensify. For now, most NASCAR fans seem to agree: Larson may one day join the pantheon alongside Tony Stewart, Foyt, and Andretti—but he has a long way to go to be a part of that conversation.