Crossover between types of motorsports has always had its place and that trend continues during the modern era of the sport.
From Kyle Larson’s numerous accomplishments in winged sprint car racing and NASCAR, to NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart beginning a career in NHRA Top Fuel competition this year after nearly two decades of chasing titles in stock car’s premier series.
However, it’s a rare feat to find success in drag racing before heading to NASCAR.
Tanner Gray’s story is deeply rooted at the dragstrip.
His grandfather, Johnny Gray, won championships in NHRA before Tanner’s father, Shane Gray, won on NHRA’s biggest stage — the U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
Needless to say, those were big shoes to fill.
Tanner Gray, however, was up for the challenge. After taking home rookie-of-the-year honors in NHRA’s Pro Stock class in 2017 and finishing fourth in the standings at age 18, Gray was hungry for more.
Gray churned out eight victories the following year and earned the No. 1 seed for the Countdown to the Championship and a title at 19 years old.
In the midst of a stellar season, came the U.S. Nationals on Labor Day weekend.
Gray wheeled his Pro Stock Chevrolet Camaro to an impressive victory over Jeg Coughlin Jr. with a 0.003 reaction time, which propelled him to a holeshot win.
For Gray, what stood out to him the most was having the opportunity to experience Big Go glory with his father, who won four years prior in 2014.
“To be able to share that with him and just have my whole family there, it was really cool,” Gray recalled.
Gray’s father was with Tanner’s brother, Taylor Gray, before deciding to make a last-second trip to Indy to support Tanner during Monday eliminations.
“As you are in the sport, that’s one that you certainly want to be able to say that you accomplished and crossed it off the list,” Gray said.
He was bound for a career in NASCAR the following year, where he’s currently a full-time driver in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with Tricon Garage.
Six years removed from Big Go glory, Gray appreciates the victory more than ever.
“I certainly appreciate winning more now than probably what I did then,” Gray said. “But, I feel like that also kind of just goes along with the thing, you don’t know what you don’t know.
“At that time, I won fairly early and I guess kind of took winning for granted. So, I definitely probably look back on it now and appreciate those things a lot more than what I did when I was in that moment.”