Tony Stewart Comes Up 0.0002 Second Short in NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster Debut

• Madison Payne, a college student from Claremont, Calif., who’s a third-generation alcohol-class racer, edged Tony Stewart on Sunday as each scrapped for a first NHRA “Wally” statue.

• Stewart emphasized that his drag-racing driving debut at the Nevada Nationals at Las Vegas wasn’t about winning.

• Stewart also owns a two-car Camping World Drag Racing Series nitro-class team that features Top Fuel-driving wife Leah Pruett and Sunday’s Las Vegas Funny Car winner Matt Hagan.

The multi-time motorsports champion aced his first NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series test this weekend, qualifying second and recording runner-up finish

He insisted that his goal at the Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was to gain seat time He said before the event began that the weekend could determine whether he falls in love with drag racing

Tony Stewart emphasized that his drag-racing driving debut at the Nevada Nationals at Las Vegas wasn’t about winning.

Ultimately, he didn’t—but he came within two-10,000ths of a second of scoring a Top Alcohol Dragster victory Sunday at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Madison Payne, a college student from Claremont, Calif., who’s a third-generation alcohol-class racer, edged Stewart as each scrapped for a first “Wally” statue (named for NHRA founder Wally Parks). His 5.258-second elapsed time at 271.57 mph on the quarter-mile course couldn’t trump her 5.262, 275.90.

It was the 91st Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series victory for Payne’s family. She is the daughter of former Top Fuel driver Shelly Anderson-Payne and Top Alcohol Funny Car and Pro Modified veteran Jay Payne. She's also the granddaughter of legendary racer-engine builder Brad Anderson.

She said, “I didn’t feel there was any pressure on me (lining up against Stewart). I saw the nose of his car and was just holding on, hoping for the best. I’m glad to have my own trophy. My house is full of them, and none has my name on it.”)

Stewart qualified No. 2 in the 16-car field, even though he never had raced with a driver in the opposite lane until his second qualifying run Friday. Then in the McPhillips Racing Mobil 1-branded nitro-injected dragster, he defeated his first two elimination-round opponents, James Stevens and Taylor Vetter Saturday afternoon. As eliminations continued Sunday, Stewart beat former class champion Chris Demke in the semifinals.

“We said going into this weekend that the primary goal was to get experience,” Stewart said. “It wasn't to focus on performance. It was about learning procedures and learning how to do them correctly and just get the experience of the weekend. So far, we're happy with that experience.”

Then Sunday afternoon, he took a not-all-that-veiled swipe at NASCAR, saying, “I’m definitely having more fun than I’ve had in a long time, definitely not anywhere that has fenders on it. So I’m lovin’ this sport.”

Stewart also owns a two-car Camping World Drag Racing Series nitro-class team that features Top Fuel-driving wife Leah Pruett and Sunday’s Las Vegas Funny Car winner Matt Hagan. So does Stewart see himself continuing to compete in drag racing and maybe stepping up to the Top Fuel ranks to race alongside Pruett?

“I haven't even thought that far, honestly,” Stewart said. “This weekend was about just going through the experience. And truly, after the weekend's over, we'll sit back and say, ‘Hey, is this something that we want to pursue and want to try to do more of?’

“(Friday) was kind of weird. I mean, the way the schedule laid out, it worked out really well. We had a round early in the day, and then the two nitro rounds were in the middle of the day, and then we ran our second round in the evening. Where (Saturday), now I've made a run, we're getting ready to go up for Leah and Matt's first run today and then I'll run my first round of eliminations. Then they run Q4, and then if I get through E1, then I get to go again at 5:30. So the schedule is way different. Can't just show up as a driver and not be a team owner still, too. I still have my responsibilities as an owner,” he said.

“After the weekend, we'll sit there and go, ‘Was that overwhelming? Was it too much? Do I just need to stay in my lane and be an owner? Or does this seem like something that's feasible?’ And honestly, I'm going to rely on Rich McPhillips, Senior and Junior, (owner of his Top Alcohol Dragster entry) and see what their comfort level is.”

Pruett said, “There’s a lot of questions, and we don’t really have a plan, except to enjoy life and enjoy racing and conquering new endeavors together. This is a challenging sport. He’s understanding that. Being able to race together is priceless.”

He said his takeaway from his first two days officially as a drag racer was “just how supportive everybody’s been . . . guys from the pro pits on down . . . the support from the alcohol division, the drivers and crews, how much they welcomed me today. Just an awesome feeling. It’s nice to get through two rounds (Saturday) and get to race on Sunday with the pros. Pretty big deal for me.”

“There's been a lot of moments where I've been a little nervous, because when you're not familiar and you're not in sync with it, you should be nervous. If you're not, you probably shouldn't be doing it,” he said. “But Pops (Richie McPhillips Sr.) has a way just in normal conversation—his demeanor is so calm that just talking to him, and you don't have to talk about what's making you nervous, just have a conversation with him, you just kind of relax, and you kind of know when you're working with people that you click with. This McPhillips team is awesome. They’re fun to race with, and they have a very fast race car.”

Stewart had said this weekend could determine whether he falls in love with drag racing. The courtship has just begun, but what he knows for sure is that “yeah, I want to have a second date.”