It didn't take Pro Stock driver Tanner Gray long to write his name in NHRA's record book.

Gray, in just his fourth career NHRA start, captured his first Wally and at 17 years old became the youngest driver in NHRA history to win a national event in a pro class.

Gray made history by snaring a hole shot victory over Bo Butner Sunday in the finals of the Denso Spark Plugs Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

“It’s indescribable, especially since my dad (Shane) did it here last year (in the fall race, Oct. 30),” Tanner said. “It’s really cool to come here and do that, and that’s the same car he won in. I think this car works good with this track and it’s a cool feeling, there’s nothing quite like it. I was pretty pumped up when I won and very excited.”

Gray clocked 6.681-second elapsed time at 206.61 mph to Butner's quicker 6.678-second lap at 206.76 mph. The difference was at the starting line. Gray had a .010 reaction time while Butner had a .088 reaction time.

"I was pretty nervous coming up (to the finals)," Gray said. “This is something I wanted to do since I was real young and finally got the opportunity to do it when I started this deal, and I told my dad (Shane) I wanted to be the youngest Pro Stock winner, and to do that is really cool.”

Tanner is now NHRA’s youngest series champion (pro) at 17 years, 11 months. Tanner turns 18 on April 15. Jeb Allen was the previous youngest at 18 years, 1 month when he captured the 1972 NHRA Summernationals crown in Top Fuel. 

This was the second Pro Stock win in as many races for the Gray family. Shane Gray won the Gatornationals March 19 in Gainesville, Fla. Tanner also becomes the first third-generation pro winner in the same family in NHRA history. Johnny Gray, a seven-time NHRA national event pro winner, is Tanner’s grandfather.

“They (his dad, and grandfather) just said they are proud of me,” Tanner said. “I told them thank you for everything and I definitely would not be here without them.”

Tanner’s accomplishment didn’t come easy as he defeated Deric Kramer and Summit Racing world champion drivers Greg Anderson and Jason Line in consecutive rounds before ousting fellow Summit Racing driver Butner in the finals.

“I can’t thank everybody enough,” Tanner said. “There definitely the reason I’m standing here and I do a small part. It feels really cool. I just focus on my job of driving and I let Dave (Connolly, his crew chief) make the calls. I trust those guys, that they are going to give me a good race car and I think they trust me that I’m going to do my job.”

Tanner proved himself in circle track racing before coming onto NHRA’s Pro Stock scene, and he didn’t change his mind set when he started drag racing.

“It’s a different type of racing, obviously, and this racing is just more intense for a short amount of time,” Tanner said. “That racing (circle track) you have to stay calm and have more of strategy to what you are doing. Up here, you’re going up here and you’re trying to crack the tree as best as you can and if the cards fall your way, they fall your way.”