The Man Who Introduced NASCAR to Danica Patrick, Tony Stewart Talks About the Lack of Gender Disparity in the NHRA

Motorsport, by nature, is a sport that involves cutthroat competition, but for a woman, that challenge increases tenfold, all down to their gender. But whenever they are given an equal opportunity, the world gets icons like Michele Mouton and Lella Lombardi. While Susie Wolff is still giving it her all to make the F1 Academy a success, the NHRA series is setting the benchmark for diversity.

The series has become a proving ground for the elite female drivers of the sport, with almost half the grid comprising women. And for the man who showcased his pursuit of diversity in 2020 by bringing in Danica Patrick, the concept of giving women equal opportunities to grow in racing has never been strange. Tony Stewart’s journey as a full-time NHRA driver next season will allow him to learn from the best females in American racing, and he was particularly proud of the NHRA for this very reason.

Tony Stewart believes NASCAR should learn from the NHRA about diversity

Speaking to Joseph Costello for Race Industry Week, the Stewart-Haaa Racing boss reflected on how crucial series like the NHRA have been for women to make a strong stand in the sport. He reflected on 2020 when he visited the US National with his wife, Leah Pruett, and stayed back to watch the junior categories run. He added, “I got to go in there, and I watched all of these little kids get suited up and get their helmets on, get buckled into their cars. Crazy to see how many females were in the junior drag racing ranks, but I think that’s one thing that is very underplayed in hour sport.”

However, according to Tony Stewart, the NASCAR community hasn’t fully absorbed the proposition yet. “The amount of diversity that you mentioned, I don’t think people have played on it enough or grasped it enough. As much as you look at NASCAR and look at how hard they are working to create diversity in the sport,” Stewart then took to naming some of the sport’s champions of diversity. From Bubba Wallace to Hailie Deegan. The three-time Cup Series champion brought up the comparisons to showcase how hard NASCAR has been trying to promote diversity in its premier series.

But on the other hand, the NHRA has been doing just that, and flawlessly so. Tony Stewart further added, “So you look at all this and you look at how hard they are working to try and get it, and literally you go to an NHRA race, you don’t have to try it at all; it is right there in front of you.”

Stewart also named Antron Brown, who drives in the Top Fuel class, and Alexis DeJoria, who’s been setting the track on fire in the Funny Car category, as the perfect examples of this diversity. He said, “You’ve got one of the baddest women on the planet that won another championship this year in Pro Stock. There’s two or three women in the Pro Stock categories, but Eric Enders is amazing, and if you look at how that trickles down through all the sportsman classes as well, it’s amazing to see how many females are there.”

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While Tony Stewart feels there are plenty of on-track examples of successful women in the NHRA, he’s also impressed by those behind the scenes, such as engine builders and body fabricators.

Stewart’s praise for women in racing extends beyond just the tarmac

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The Stewart-Haas Racing boss shared the story of a female fabricator and welder in hopes of showcasing that gender doesn’t matter when it comes to driving as well as craftsmanship. Stewart reflected on how her work would even leave the established legend in awe: “She does a better job than any male that I’ve ever seen in my life at welding; it makes me so jealous and frustrates the crap out of me. But women have such attention to detail, and men do too, but that is a strength I feel like women have, and this is a sport where that strength is very important and is utilized, but I think it’s great.”

Concluding his thoughts on women in the NHRA, Tony Stewart commended the NHRA and the sport in general for allowing such diversity to flourish organically. He shared, “We’re in this era where everybody is sensitive about everything you say and do, and I think the diversity in drag racing is something that the NHRA and the sport should truly be proud of because they haven’t had to artificially create that. It was already there, and you know, I think that’s something we’re all proud of.”

READ MORE: Tony Stewart Describes the “Dream Scenario” in His NHRA Career Despite Wife Leah Pruett Coming Short of the Title

It’s safe to say Tony Stewart is looking forward not only to his 2024 NHRA season but also to the growth of diversity in the sport at the top level.