Tony Stewart celebrates first Top Fuel No. 1 qualifier at Bristol during an exhilarating weekend at Bristol Dragway, reaching new career heights in front of his wife and teammate Leah Pruett. Stewart not only secured the No. 1 qualifier position, but also clinched the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, marking a milestone supported and commemorated by Pruett’s public praise and hands-on involvement with the team.
Leah Pruett, who is taking a break from her own racing career in 2024 to start a family with Stewart, played a crucial role with the Tony Stewart Racing Dodge crew throughout the Bristol event. With car chief Ryan McGilvry absent due to a family celebration, Pruett worked diligently in the pits to help maintain the team‘s performance, contributing to the consistency seen in Stewart’s standout qualifying runs. Pruett later shared a series of images from the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, expressing her joy and pride in an Instagram post.
“So far Bristol has been good to us.👌🏽 Got our first #1 qualifier of the year, and won the #2Fast2Tasty Challenge! Our Car Chief Ryan was out all day Saturday and I did my best to fill his shoes. Even though I’m not back in the seat yet, I am for sure enjoying racing with our team and proud of our progress.”
—Leah Pruett, Top Fuel driver
Leah Pruett’s Vital Role and Stewart’s Breakout Year
Saturday, June 7, signaled another major step in what has been a landmark year for Tony Stewart, now a father and NASCAR Hall of Famer. Embarking on his second full-time season competing for TSR Dodge, Stewart has shown rapid progress in the world of Top Fuel drag racing. Despite adjusting to the demanding new discipline, he advanced to the finals at both the Pomona Winternationals and New England Nationals.
Stewart’s momentum surged with his first Top Fuel victory at the Four-Wide Nationals in Las Vegas, shortly followed by another triumph in Chicago, where he also achieved a personal-best elapsed time of 3.679 seconds. The team’s momentum carried them to Bristol, where Stewart claimed not only the Mission Challenge title but achieved his first No. 1 qualifier status, aided by both engineering prowess and Pruett’s support in the pit lane. Other notable drivers featured at the event included Aaron Stanfield and Gaige Herrera, both securing wins in their respective classes.
Breaking the Streak in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge
The NHRA’s Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, an intense bonus contest among semifinalists from the previous event, had been dominated by Doug Kalitta’s team through the first six rounds of the 2025 season. The Bristol Dragway event, however, saw Stewart shatter that streak. He delivered a final–round run of 3.803 seconds at a speed of 324.05 mph to edge out Kalitta, giving Team Stewart its inaugural win in the challenge. Other class winners at Bristol included J.R. Todd (Funny Car), Aaron Stanfield (Pro Stock), and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle).
“This is great, obviously. We’ve been in the final of the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge and haven’t been able to finish it. Now, to win one and get our first low qualifier is big. For our team, it’s a huge accomplishment,”
Stewart said. (via NHRA)
Stewart’s top qualifying effort occurred in his first session of the day, clocking a 3.755-second pass at 325.77 mph—a time that remained unbeaten through the weekend. That level of performance consistency has become a hallmark of Stewart’s 2025 NHRA campaign and a testament to the Tony Stewart Racing team’s development.
The Outcome and Looking Ahead
Though the overall weekend victory at Bristol Dragway went to Steve Torrence, who narrowly defeated Stewart by just .002 seconds in the semifinals before prevailing over Justin Ashley in the final, Stewart’s dual achievements marked a significant turning point. He left Thunder Valley not only with new records and accolades, but also with the admiration of Leah Pruett, colleagues, and fans, proving he is fast becoming a genuine championship contender in Top Fuel. The energetic environment and the commitment of the Tony Stewart Racing team have added even more optimism to Stewart’s ongoing season as the NHRA tour continues to its next destination.
