Tony Stewart named NHRA Rookie of the Year

“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.”

Tony Stewart earns significant accolade in NHRA

Stewart, 53, made his Top Fuel debut in 2024 filling in for his wife, Leah Pruett. Pruett gave birth to their first child Sunday morning. Smoke finished ninth in the Top Fuel points standings. He advanced to a pair of final rounds, four semifinals and a berth in the Countdown to the Championship.

After being present for the birth of his son, Stewart traveled back to Pomona to compete at the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals. Stewart advanced to the semifinals, recording a career-best run of 3.688 seconds at 334.73-mph.

“It was an honor to be part of this group this year,” Stewart said. “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.”