Tony Stewart named NHRA Person, Top Alcohol Driver of the Year

The good news just doesn’t stop for NASCAR legend Tony Stewart after the NHRA season. He just received two more awards from the series. Stewart has been named by the National Dragster All-Star Team panel as the Person of the Year and Top Alcohol Driver of the Year.

In the days after the NHRA season concluded for 2023, Tony Stewart and his wife Leah Pruett announced they are going to try and start a family in the coming year. Stewart will drive Pruett’s Top Fuel dragster in the 2024 NHRA season.

This caps off a season where Tony Stewart’s team won the Funny Car championship with Matt Hagan, while Pruett was third overall in Top Fuel.

For his work on the track, as a team owner, and advocate for NHRA, Stewart earned the award for Person of the Year. His two wins and a second-place finish in the Top Alcohol category earned him Driver of the Year as well.

So, is there anything Smoke can’t do? If it has an engine and four wheels, I’d trust Stewart to take it to a win or two. Stewart beat out Julie Nataas for the Driver of the Year. However, Nataas went home with the championship this season.

When Stewart takes over in the Top Fuel car, it’s going to be a challenge unlike many he’s had in the past. Then again, the former IndyCar, NASCAR, and USAC champion has had many challenges in the past and overcome them all.

Could Tony Stewart win an NHRA championship as a driver?

A rookie in the Top Fuel car, Tony Stewart will have a learning curve. I’ll be honest, I’m not very familiar with dragsters. From what I can tell in reactions from those who do know a thing or two, this is a huge leap.

Stewart earned himself a pair of national wins and performed really well in the Top Alcohol season. Again, I don’t think we can count Stewart out. If he believes he can compete in this car, then he’s going to compete.

Pruett had a shot at a championship this season. So, the equipment and team know what they are doing. If Stewart can get familiar with the car, and adapt quickly – then we could see another impressive season.

Most importantly, Stewart and Pruett are trying to start a family. That will be the focus moving forward for those two while Smoke tries to keep it all going on the race track. Between Stewart-Haas Racing, Eldora Speedway, SRX Series, NHRA ownership and racing, as well as his dirt racing team – I’d venture to say few are as busy as Stewart lately.