Tony Stewart has been awarded the prestigious 2024 NHRA Rookie of the Year honor. At a ceremony held at the Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, California, the driver was celebrated for his outstanding debut in the Top Fuel category, forming yet another milestone in an already illustrious career.
Stewart started on his NHRA journey with strong performance, advancing to two final rounds and four semifinals, all while securing a position in the Countdown to the Championship. He concluded the season with a respectable ninth-place standing in the Top Fuel points rankings, managing a career-best run of 3.688 seconds at an impressive speed of 334.73 mph.
The competition Stewart faced was strong, featuring talented drivers like Brandon Foster, Richard Gadson, Derrick Reese, Jasmine Salinas, Sienna Wildgust, Daniel Wilkerson, and Ida Zetterstrom.
The season also stepped in for his wife, Leah Pruett, and her racing career, as they started their family journey with the birth of their son, Dominic James Stewart.
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Tony Stewart’s roots in motorsports run deep. A three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and a 1997 IndyCar titleholder, he became a part of the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2020. Moving from NASCAR to NHRA, Stewart initially launched a two-car team in 2022, navigating the Top Alcohol Dragster ranks before moving to the Top Fuel division in 2024.
Stewart has openly acknowledged the impact of his support system, his wife and his coaches, for their invaluable guidance. “It was an honor to be part of this group this year. The two main coaches I had were Matt Hagan and my wife, Leah. Thank you Leah for giving me this opportunity and I want to thank everyone at NHRA. It’s been a blast this year,” he said during the ceremony.
The accolade of NHRA Rookie of the Year is pretty substantial, awarded by a panel of auto racing journalists based on performances and contributions to the sport. Past recipients include the likes of Chase Van Sant and Camrie Caruso.
The season saw champions like Antron Brown, who captured his fourth Top Fuel world title, and Gaige Herrera, who retained his Pro Stock Motorcycle championship with a record-breaking series of wins.
“It’s a big honor to win this award this season,” Stewart said. “There are some great drivers in the NHRA and it’s one of the most diverse forms of motorsports I’ve been a part of. I’ve had a really good time working with the series this season to promote and continue to grow the sport.”
