During an interview with FloRacing ahead of the upcoming 40th edition of the 2026 Chili Bowl Nationals, Tony Stewart, the renowned former NASCAR Cup Series champion and team owner, provided a detailed comparison of two legendary motorsport events—the Daytona 500 and the Chili Bowl Nationals. Stewart, a veteran in both disciplines, emphasized distinct challenges, scale, and stakes in each race, providing insight valuable to fans and drivers alike.
Stewart outlined the notable differences in field size, explaining that the Chili Bowl Nationals attracts a massive number of competitors, with over 400 entries divided across several nights of preliminary races before the main event. By contrast, the Daytona 500 features just over 40 cars in a single dramatic 200-lap contest. The sheer scale of participation at the Chili Bowl Nationals presents unique difficulties, as competitors must first battle through multiple rounds just to reach the finale.
Another sharp contrast Stewart pointed out relates to the structure and duration of each race. The Daytona 500, known as the “Greatest American Race,” stretches over 500 miles, granting drivers ample opportunity to recover from setbacks and strategize over the long haul. In comparison, the Chili Bowl Nationals are decided largely by the results of heat races, meaning mistakes can be more costly and opportunities to recover are limited.
“There’s so many good drivers and teams out there that you really can’t afford to make a mistake in the Daytona 500; you can have a bad pit stop. You can get a pit road speeding penalty, and you can recover from it. It is very hard to recover from when the state gets chilly. It is a 380-person bar room brawl, and at the end of it, somebody is going to take home a golden driller.”
– Tony Stewart, Former NASCAR Champion and Team Owner
Stewart’s insights reflect his own achievements, as he has won the Chili Bowl Nationals twice, in 2002 and 2007. His remarks also underscore the intensity of this year’s competition, which will see reigning champion Kyle Larson, associated with Hendrick Motorsports, defending his title against another accomplished Cup Series driver, Christopher Bell, who has claimed the Chili Bowl crown three times. Their participation is likely to amplify both the caliber of racing and the attention the event garners from fans of multiple disciplines.
Tony Stewart on Contrasting NASCAR and NHRA Drag Racing
In a further reflection on racing distinctions, Tony Stewart joined fellow racing veteran Kevin Harvick on the Happy Hour podcast in October 2024 to share his experiences across different motorsport arenas. Stewart, formerly of Stewart-Haas Racing, shed light on the vast differences between the world of NASCAR and the NHRA drag racing series, highlighting just how unique each discipline is.
Stewart described the time demands of each format. NASCAR Cup Series events typically extend for three to four hours, giving teams multiple chances to adjust strategies and recover from errors. In contrast, NHRA drag races are over in mere seconds, with little room for error or recovery from mistakes. This difference, Stewart suggested, defines the mental and tactical approach required for drivers who make the switch between the series.
“It’s not like what you and I were used to, where we’ve got a three-and-a-half-hour race,” Stewart said. “We’ve got six or eight pit stops throughout the day, and we have three, four, or five hundred laps to get the job done. If we make a mistake, we’ll fix it.”
– Tony Stewart, Former NASCAR Champion and Team Owner
Stewart also noted the dramatic disparity in engine performance. NASCAR vehicles are engineered for endurance and oval circuits, limited to about 650 horsepower for close-quarters racing. Drag racing engines, by comparison, deliver an astonishing 11,000 horsepower, built solely for explosive, straight-line power. This gap not only affects vehicle handling and speed, but also determines the physical and mental preparation drivers need for each event.
The Lasting Impact of Racing’s Biggest Events
Tony Stewart’s comprehensive comparisons highlight the range and depth of motorsports—from the intense, communal atmosphere of the Chili Bowl Nationals to the high stakes and tradition of the Daytona 500, as well as the lightning-fast world of NHRA drag racing. With elite competitors like Christopher Bell and Kyle Larson vying for the Chili Bowl title and established names continuing to cross over disciplines, these iconic races push the limits of both drivers and teams. Stewart’s candid perspectives will resonate as fans and industry insiders gear up for this season’s marquee events, spotlighting just how singular each motorsport tradition remains.
“For NASCAR, the Daytona 500 is the pinnacle. In short-track racing — especially on the Midget side — nothing comes close to the #ChiliBowl.” – @TonyStewart #Daytona500 🎟️ https://t.co/RiUJDMJ40u pic.twitter.com/zu1l4JY2Pb
— FloRacing (@FloRacing) January 12, 2026
