The desert air at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway still carried the acrid scent of burnt rubber and nitromethane when history was etched into motorsports lore on April 14. At 53, Tony Stewart had just thundered his 11,000-horsepower dragster across the finish line at The Strip, conquering yet another racing frontier. The man known as “Smoke” throughout his illustrious career—already adorned with three NASCAR Cup championships—had just accomplished something no driver before him had managed: winning professional races in four distinct racing disciplines, potentially positioning himself for NHRA championship contention with a single, blistering 3.870-second run.

Stewart’s victory at the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals adds to his remarkable collection of Las Vegas victories, making him the only driver to win professional events at all four Las Vegas Motor Speedway tracks – NASCAR at the Speedway, USAC open-wheel at the Bullring and Dirt Track, and now NHRA at The Strip. This latest triumph represents more than just adding another trophy to his collection – it further establishes Stewart as an icon of American motor sports.

A victory foretold: Donnie Schatz’s insight into Tony Stewart’s NHRA triumph

When Donnie Schatz—a longtime friend and World of Outlaws champion—reflected on Tony Stewart’s achievement, he revealed a simple yet powerful six-word declaration that encapsulated years of faith in his compatriot’s abilities: “We knew it was going to happen.” The statement wasn’t mere friendship loyalty; it was recognition of an inevitability in Stewart’s unparalleled racing journey. “I talked to him on Saturday night on the way to the airport after Peveley, and I knew that’s probably in as good a spirits as I think I’ve talked to him in a long time,” Schatz elaborated, providing a glimpse into Stewart’s pre-race confidence.

The conversation between the two champions highlighted Tony Stewart’s strategic mindset, with Schatz noting, “He told me that his best chance was going to be that four wide because them other guys were messed up trying to see multiple lights, and he wasn’t used to seeing all that.” This tactical awareness proved prophetic as Stewart’s Rayce Rudeen Foundation Dodge//SRT dragster outdistanced competitors Antron Brown, Justin Ashley, and Jasmine Salinas in the final round. The victory didn’t come easily – Stewart secured “holeshot” victories in the first round over Steve Torrence, Steve Chrisman, and Rob Massey before advancing past Ashley, Torrence, and former World Champion Doug Kalitta in round two. The difficult track conditions, with temperatures reaching 138 degrees, added to the challenge.

“I realized it takes a lot to win one of these Top Fuel races,” Stewart reflected after the win. “Everything in my career, I never had to wait over a year to win a race. We always figured it out pretty quickly and we won.” The victory propelled Stewart to second place in the current NHRA Mission Top Fuel points standings and made him the 999th winner of a Top Fuel race, positioning himself among drag racing’s elite. The achievement is particularly notable as Stewart joins an exclusive club of drivers who have mastered both oval tracks and the NHRA dragstrip.

Schatz emphasized the personal significance of the win, saying, “It was really cool… it’s just the first win as a new dad. So pretty cool for everybody involved.” This reference to Stewart’s new family life with wife Leah Pruett and their son Dom adds another dimension to the victory, with Tony Stewart himself becoming emotional when Pruett brought their son to victory lane, saying, “That is a feeling I have never had in my life before.”

“I’m not sure if there has ever been a driver to win a NASCAR Cup race, an IndyCar race, the USAC Triple Crown championship and an NHRA Pro event,” Stewart remarked after his victory. The win also serves as vindication for his Tony Stewart Racing team, which narrowly missed the Top Fuel World Championship with Leah Pruett in 2023. “We needed this win. It’s been so stressful for everyone since Leah nearly won the World Top Fuel Championship when it came down to the final round of the whole season,” Stewart explained.

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“Not until I’m 50”: Kyle Larson makes his stance on drag racing clear

While Tony Stewart continues to expand his racing legacy across disciplines, his influence on the next generation of motorsports all-arounders is already evident. NASCAR superstar Kyle Larson—widely regarded as one of the world’s most complete drivers—has addressed the possibility of following Stewart’s path into drag racing with a specific timeline in mind. “I don’t know. It’s not on the table currently. No, I don’t think so,” Larson revealed in a recent interview. “I’m only 32 though. I feel like that’s what people do when they turn 50, it’s like oh let’s go 300-something miles per hour, that’s a great time in my life to do that. Maybe once I turn 50 and get old like [Stewart], I’ll change my mind.”

Despite his hesitation to immediately step into a Top Fuel dragster, Larson didn’t hold back in his admiration for Stewart’s accomplishment. “Just another awesome thing to add to his resume,” the two-time Cup Series winner in 2025 acknowledged. “Just solidifies him even more as the greatest all-around race car driver ever. Awesome to have been able to race with him in a few of the cars that he’s won in.” Larson even sent a congratulatory message to Stewart following the NHRA victory, telling him simply: “Congrats on the day, legend“—though he admitted Stewart hadn’t yet responded to his praise.

Stewart’s NHRA triumph adds to an unparalleled resume that now includes victories in NASCAR Cup, Xfinity, Truck, ARCA, IndyCar, Sprint Car, Midgets, Silver Crown, IROC, SRX, NHRA Top Fuel, and NHRA Top Alcohol—a level of versatility that even versatile competitors like Larson find remarkable. As Stewart prepares for the upcoming races in Charlotte, his accomplishment stands not just as a personal milestone but as a new benchmark in American motorsports—one that might inspire drivers like Larson to eventually extend their careers into drag racing’s straight-line fury, albeit perhaps with a few more birthdays under their belts first.