Tony Stewart’s NHRA Top Fuel breakthrough with Leah Pruett began with a determined family pivot, as Pruett paused her own racing career in 2024 to embrace motherhood and support the team from behind the scenes. Their journey took center stage at major venues across the USA, notably during the Vegas Four Wide Nationals and a standout weekend at Bristol Dragway, where Stewart achieved key career milestones while his wife guided, encouraged, and led in new ways.
The foundation of this story is a partnership both at home and at the racetrack. Stewart and Pruett, married since November 2021, became parents to Dominic James Stewart in November 2024. Their family’s story turned heads when Stewart left a race in Pomona on short notice to witness Dominic’s birth in Arizona, then returned swiftly to the track, wrapping up a semifinal and flying back to his newborn—all within a single day.
I would do it all over again for that little boy and for my wife and for our family,
—Tony Stewart. This dramatic series of events not only highlighted the personal sacrifices involved but also set the tone for what would become a defining NHRA season.
Leah Pruett: From Champion Driver to Behind-the-Scenes Leader
Leah Pruett’s impact on the racing world began early, starting in junior dragsters at eight years old and rising to capture two NHRA Top Fuel world championships and 18 major victories. As well-known as she was for her skill behind the wheel, Pruett quickly became a spokesperson for positive change—advocating for flexible NHRA medical-leave policies for women who balance racing careers and family life. In 2024, she made the pivotal decision to step back from her driver’s seat as pregnancy approached, choosing instead to support Tony Stewart Racing in a new capacity. Her perspective on this bold move was honest and inspiring:
When you’re doing the hard things, when you’re hustling and you have your own goals and you’re just trying to make it work for yourself, for your team, you don’t really understand what it’s doing for other people. So taking a step back right now is really cool to see that,
—Leah Pruett.
Shifting her energy from competition to leadership, Pruett joined the team’s top ranks, where she influenced race strategy, secured sponsor relationships, and led new initiatives such as sprint car program development. With her eye on detail, she restructured operational strategies at Tony Stewart Racing, notably improving data analytics integration for car tuning and in-race adjustments. Stewart’s appreciation for working closely with someone who shares the same passion was clear:
It’s nice to be with somebody who is also involved in racing and understands it,
—Tony Stewart, Stewart-Haas Radio Podcast.
Understands the demands and the pressures and stresses, and it goes the other way too.
—Tony Stewart, Stewart-Haas Radio Podcast.
Pruett’s transition naturally extended to a “crew chief” role during Stewart’s Nitro campaign, with her stepping in to manage the garage and the team when necessary. She shared a vivid glimpse of this transition:
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. Also way cool having @thepapajohnschnatter hang with us this weekend. Looking to get another win today! #itsbristolbaby
—Leah Pruett. Pruett’s willingness to adjust, lead, and connect with her colleagues underlines her irreplaceable value to the entire crew.
Finding New Purpose Away from the Driver’s Seat
Stepping away from competitive NHRA racing, Leah Pruett embraced her evolving role as a mother and key member of her team’s management. Her presence was most felt not just through leadership but also through a renewed focus on nurturing her family’s milestones—standing beside Tony Stewart in the pits and celebrating moments both on and off the track. Her social media updates often blend racing culture with heartfelt snapshots of parenthood, sharing the realities and rewards of her new purpose. After confirming she would not compete in the 2025 NHRA season, she articulated the honest and daunting side of combining motherhood with racing:
Feeding, pumping, washing parts, napping, changing, and all the things on his schedule, that’s something that should be left for superwoman. I’m a very strong woman, I’m not a superwoman.
—Leah Pruett.
Pruett’s story stands as a tribute to strength, adaptability, and leadership away from the spotlight. Her dedication to Stewart’s continued rise in NHRA, as well as to their son Dominic, cements her vital role as both the heart and engine fueling Tony Stewart Racing’s momentum. Pruett’s decision to have Stewart take over as a driver for TSR Nitro wasn’t just a gesture of trust, but a calculated move that led to one of the most eventful seasons in team history.
Tony Stewart’s Milestone Season Backed by Family and Leadership
Tony Stewart’s journey in Top Fuel drag racing took a spectacular leap at Bristol Dragway, where he secured his very first No. 1 qualifier and conquered the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge. On that pivotal weekend, Stewart’s performance and his crew’s cohesion demonstrated the culmination of months of preparation, adaptability, and behind-the-scenes leadership—much of it orchestrated by Leah Pruett herself. Stewart’s dynamic 2025 season also featured standout results: finals appearances at Pomona and New England and two Top Fuel victories in Las Vegas and Chicago. His qualifying lap of 3.755 seconds at 325.77 mph at Bristol set the benchmark for competitors all weekend.
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,
—Tony Stewart.
Even though Stewart narrowly missed the finals, losing to Steve Torrence in the semifinals by just .002 seconds, his achievements illustrate rapid progress and rising status as a serious NHRA title contender. Observers cited the chemistry and shared vision between Stewart and Pruett, pointing to the powerful link between the driver’s recent breakout results and his wife’s presence in the garage, pit lane, and team office. As the NHRA season marches forward, Tony Stewart Racing carries with it not just impressive stats, but a blend of belief, unity, and family values that set the stage for what may become a legendary chapter in NHRA history.
The Unseen Impact: Leah Pruett’s Leadership and Sacrifice
Beneath Tony Stewart’s run at NHRA history lies Leah Pruett’s quiet but vital influence—a blend of former champion’s wisdom, advocacy for competitors, and personal resilience. As a driver, advocate, and leader, her experience and adaptability have shaped Tony Stewart’s progression and the team’s identity, inspiring both colleagues and fans in the sport’s community. Her transition, from racer to mentor, left many asking whether she is the “unsung hero” powering Stewart’s success and fueling his transformation as a top-tier competitor.
Leah Pruett often led with humility, remaining focused on growth—both personal and collective. While her path diverged from racing victories to team victories, her signature drive pervades each aspect of Tony Stewart Racing, making the current season not just a chapter of personal sacrifice, but also one of shared triumph and hope for continued evolution in the world of drag racing. As Stewart, Pruett, and young Dominic move forward, the motorsport community watches the intersection of family devotion and elite competition, fully aware that true greatness is built not only in the spotlight, but in steadfast teamwork and unwavering belief.
