Tony Stewart ticked off another career accomplishment last weekend, winning an NHRA Top Fuel race. But for the winner of so many karting, USAC, World of Outlaws, IROC, NASCAR and IndyCar races through the decades, this win really struck home.
It was the first one attended by his son, 5-month-old Dominic.
“There’s (Stewart’s wife) Leah (Pritchett) coming up the steps with Dominic, and I am not gonna lie, I about lost it. That was the cherry on top. And by the end of the day, it was the two scoops of ice cream,” he said. “That’s a sentimental moment.”
The Columbus, Indiana, native reflected on the weekend and more Tuesday in an NHRA interview, saying that picking up his first win in a different form of racing is “a big deal for me.”
“Throughout my career, anytime I attempted something new, there was a group of people who said, ‘He’ll fail at this,'” Stewart said. “I love the naysayers. They fuel the fire and passion to do something people say I can’t do.”
So what might he drive next? He plans on creating a full list of his wins and types of vehicles he has raced. He said he raced a monster truck once, and broke his back in the process. He said his 53-year-old body couldn’t handle motorcycle racing, but didn’t rule out boat or figure-8 competition.
Tony Stewart on racing the Indianapolis 500 again
Stewart — who competed in five Indy 500s, with a best finish of 5th in 1997 — said he would welcome being part of race activities, but competing is unrealistic.
“I don’t feel I would have that input to help the team make the right decisions to put together the right package and have a winning car,” he said. “The only way I’m going back to the Indy 500 is if I feel I have a shot to win the Indy 500. … I don’t think I’d be capable because of (a lack of) seat time.”
He’s the only driver who has completed the Indy 500-NASCAR Cup Double, racing for 1,100 miles on the same day. He finished 6th at Indy and 3rd in the Coca-Cola 600 in 2001.
Stewart is keeping a close eye on someone he believes could better that feat.
Tony Stewart cheers for Kyle Larson at Indy-NASCAR Double
Kyle Larson is attempting the Double for the second straight year. He finished 18th in the rain-delayed Indy 500, leading 4 laps but suffering a pit-road speeding penalty. The Cup race had already begun as he traveled to Charlotte, but rain there prevented him from getting into his car.
“I don’t think it’s out of the realm for him to beat what we did in terms of performance,” Stewart said. “He’s more than capable of doing that, as well.
“If anyone’s going to break (Stewart’s feat), I’d like it to be Kyle. … Anytime he’s racing anything, I’m a fan.”
Larson’s background matches Stewart’s. He’s willing to race almost anything, and he frequently wins in anything he tries. Larson has 2 Cup wins in 2025, as well as Xfinity and Trucks wins.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Tony Stewart talks about his first NHRA win, Indy 500, Kyle Larson
Tony Stewart ticked off another career accomplishment last weekend, winning an NHRA Top Fuel race. But for the winner of so many karting, USAC, World of Outlaws, IROC, NASCAR and IndyCar races through the decades, this win really struck home.
It was the first one attended by his son, 5-month-old Dominic.
“There’s (Stewart’s wife) Leah (Pritchett) coming up the steps with Dominic, and I am not gonna lie, I about lost it. That was the cherry on top. And by the end of the day, it was the two scoops of ice cream,” he said. “That’s a sentimental moment.”
The Columbus, Indiana, native reflected on the weekend and more Tuesday in an NHRA interview, saying that picking up his first win in a different form of racing is “a big deal for me.”
“Throughout my career, anytime I attempted something new, there was a group of people who said, ‘He’ll fail at this,'” Stewart said. “I love the naysayers. They fuel the fire and passion to do something people say I can’t do.”
So what might he drive next? He plans on creating a full list of his wins and types of vehicles he has raced. He said he raced a monster truck once, and broke his back in the process. He said his 53-year-old body couldn’t handle motorcycle racing, but didn’t rule out boat or figure-8 competition.
Tony Stewart on racing the Indianapolis 500 again
Stewart — who competed in five Indy 500s, with a best finish of 5th in 1997 — said he would welcome being part of race activities, but competing is unrealistic.
“I don’t feel I would have that input to help the team make the right decisions to put together the right package and have a winning car,” he said. “The only way I’m going back to the Indy 500 is if I feel I have a shot to win the Indy 500. … I don’t think I’d be capable because of (a lack of) seat time.”
He’s the only driver who has completed the Indy 500-NASCAR Cup Double, racing for 1,100 miles on the same day. He finished 6th at Indy and 3rd in the Coca-Cola 600 in 2001.
Stewart is keeping a close eye on someone he believes could better that feat.
Tony Stewart cheers for Kyle Larson at Indy-NASCAR Double
Kyle Larson is attempting the Double for the second straight year. He finished 18th in the rain-delayed Indy 500, leading 4 laps but suffering a pit-road speeding penalty. The Cup race had already begun as he traveled to Charlotte, but rain there prevented him from getting into his car.
“I don’t think it’s out of the realm for him to beat what we did in terms of performance,” Stewart said. “He’s more than capable of doing that, as well.
“If anyone’s going to break (Stewart’s feat), I’d like it to be Kyle. … Anytime he’s racing anything, I’m a fan.”
Larson’s background matches Stewart’s. He’s willing to race almost anything, and he frequently wins in anything he tries. Larson has 2 Cup wins in 2025, as well as Xfinity and Trucks wins.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Tony Stewart talks about his first NHRA win, Indy 500, Kyle Larson
