Tony Stewart defends Leah Pruett involvement in his racing operations following intense criticism after the closure of Stewart-Haas Racing and his recent decision to part ways with veteran driver Donny Schatz. The NASCAR Hall of Famer, now grappling with challenges as a team owner, confronted accusations that his wife, Leah Pruett, influenced these business decisions.
Stewart, best known for his 46 Cup Series wins and three championships, has encountered new scrutiny since the 2024 shutdown of Stewart-Haas Racing. Speculation emerged that Stewart’s focus and resources were shifting toward supporting Leah Pruett, an accomplished NHRA Top Fuel drag racer, especially as she took a break for her pregnancy. The departure of Donny Schatz from Stewart’s Sprint Car team only added to the controversy, as fans and media questioned both the team’s future and the role played by Pruett.
Clarifying Leah Pruett’s Position Amid Speculation
Leah Pruett, who races for Tony Stewart Racing in NHRA events, is currently on maternal leave, while Stewart handles her duties in the Top Fuel series. The latest rumors suggested that Stewart was winding down his Sprint Car program to prioritize his wife’s drag racing career.
Stewart addressed these claims directly during a recent discussion with FloRacing. He confirmed that the search for Donny Schatz’s replacement is ongoing, with team plans dependent on selecting the right person for the seat.
Stewart explained,
“Yeah. I mean, the biggest thing is, it’s all in steps. I mean, the first thing we need to do is get somebody else in the car that can help us evaluate where a program is,”
—Tony Stewart, Racing Team Owner and Driver.
He elaborated on the immediate priorities for his Sprint Car team:
“It’s like, where are we? Where are we at? What do we really need to work on? And so we’ve got to reevaluate our program at this point before we worry about next year, we got to figure out where we’re at.”
—Tony Stewart, Racing Team Owner and Driver.
Despite recent restructuring, Stewart reaffirmed his commitment to the sport.
“But yeah, this isn’t a situation where we’re trying to leave the sport,”
—Tony Stewart, Racing Team Owner and Driver.
Rejecting Criticism Targeted at Leah Pruett
The discussion sharply turned when Stewart responded to growing criticism aimed at Pruett, insisting that she had no influence on his recent cost-cutting measures or personnel changes. He firmly stated,
“And that’s that’s the other frustrating thing. I mean, my wife, reading comments and people blaming my wife (Leah) is the most ludicrous thing I’ve ever seen. I mean, of all things, we’re a f*****g racing family,”
—Tony Stewart, Racing Team Owner and Driver.
Stewart went on to highlight Pruett’s supportive role across all of his racing ventures, including his ownership of Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, and the former Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) series.
“She’s a racer. And nobody’s been more supportive of every venture, whether it was when we met with the All Stars, with Eldora (Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio), with (the now-defunct) SRX (series), with Stewart-Haas. I mean, nobody was more supportive of all of it than her.”
—Tony Stewart, Racing Team Owner and Driver.
Concluding his remarks, Stewart responded bluntly to detractors:
“And again, it’s just, you read so much stupid s**t by stupid people that have no clue what the hell they’re talking about.”
—Tony Stewart, Racing Team Owner and Driver.
The Future of Stewart’s Racing Operations
As Tony Stewart navigates a turbulent chapter in his racing legacy, he maintains that Leah Pruett’s involvement has always been one of support, not influence over his business decisions. The search for a new driver continues, with Stewart reiterating his intention to remain active within Sprint Car racing.
This outspoken stance from Stewart underscores his determination to shield both his team’s future and his wife from unfounded allegations. As the spotlight remains on Stewart-Haas Racing’s closure and transitions across both NHRA and Sprint Car operations, the motorsports community awaits Tony Stewart’s next move with keen interest.
