In an endearing new chapter for the Tony Stewart family racing legacy, motorsport fans witnessed Tony Stewart himself cheer on his toddler son, Dom, during a charming walker race at Indianapolis in 2025. The memorable scene unfolded just over a year after Stewart and NHRA standout Leah Pruett welcomed their baby boy into a family deeply rooted in speed and competition.
A New Beginning for the Stewart-Pruett Family
The story of Dom Stewart’s arrival began in June 2024, when Tony Stewart and Leah Pruett announced they were expecting. With Pruett stepping away from her Top Fuel seat in late 2023—her focus turning to family—Stewart raced in her dragster for the 2024 season. By June, they shared their news with fans: a baby boy was expected that November. True to form, on the wild NHRA Finals weekend, Pruett posted that Dominic James Stewart entered the world in the early morning just hours before Stewart raced at Pomona, earning the title of NHRA Rookie of the Year by the day’s end.
Stewart soon spoke candidly with the local media, describing fatherhood as “a blast” and expressing they sometimes wished they had started earlier. This blend of racing grit and familial warmth set the tone for their parenting journey—one that celebrates tradition but allows for new directions.
Letting Dom Chart His Own Course
When asked what future path Dom might take, Tony Stewart defied expectations by avoiding any predetermined plans. In a March 2025 interview, he revealed that he and Pruett had already made an agreement:
“we just want to let him choose his own path.”
—Tony Stewart, NHRA Star
Stewart reflected on the changing landscape of motorsports, recognizing that young drivers often specialize much earlier today:
“The days of running all the different cars, like I did, I just don’t see guys being able to do that… The closest one to that now is still Kyle Larson.”
—Tony Stewart, NHRA Star
Despite his son’s inherited racing genes, Stewart emphasized that his focus is on Dom’s freedom to decide for himself, rather than setting him on a rigid karting or competition ladder from the outset.
The Viral Toddler Race Moment at Indianapolis
The 2025 Indianapolis weekend brought a lighthearted spectacle that captured the attention of the racing community and beyond. Kelly Krandall, a NASCAR insider, shared an image of Stewart in his NHRA fire suit, holding a stuffed toy and encouraging Dom during a toddler walker race, writing:
“If you had Tony Stewart in his NHRA fire suit holding a stuffed animal trying to get his son Dom to win the toddler race at Indianapolis in the year 2025, please collect your winnings.”
—Kelly Crandall, NASCAR Insider
A video posted by Leah Pruett on Instagram showed Dom moving in his red walker, sporting a blue jersey emblazoned with “Stewart,” while his father waited at the finish line with encouragement and a plush toy in hand. Pruett captured the spirit of the moment, joking:
“Lost some ET mid track, but made it to the stripe under power.”
—Leah Pruett, NHRA Star
The official Stewart Racing account added to the fun:
“Don’t blink! Dom Day! Getting some warmup laps in before the baby Walker Nationals at 2:30 pm! Watch Dom along the front wall in front of the grandstands.”
—Stewart Racing
Though Stewart finished tenth in his own Top Fuel event that weekend, his presence cheering Dom across the line quickly became the heartwarming highlight of Indy, underscoring the balance between competition and family devotion within the Stewart household.
Tony Stewart’s Racing Highlights in 2025
While the toddler race brought laughs and smiles, Stewart’s own racing season was nothing short of intense. In April, he enjoyed a major Top Fuel breakthrough victory at Las Vegas, following up with another strong result at Route 66 in May. By the summer, as the racing calendar neared the critical U.S. Nationals homestretch, he had climbed to the top of the NHRA points standings at one stage, securing his reputation as both a fierce competitor and a dedicated parent.
Meanwhile, Leah Pruett began making her return to the track, with private testing sessions in June marking the start of her comeback. The Stewart Racing camp, a hub for family and racing, has been thriving—blending professional pursuits with the joys and responsibilities of raising their son together.
A Racing Family Tradition Spanning Generations
The legacy on display at Indianapolis stretches far beyond one toddler race. The Stewart-Pruett story is grounded in the lineage of Nelson Stewart, who supported Tony’s career from the garage, now echoing through Tony and Leah’s efforts to create a space where Dom can pursue his own interests. The entire Stewart family, including extended relatives and generations before, have made racing and family inseparable parts of their identity—something fans have celebrated in this new, more playful era.
Fans Applaud as the Racing Community Embraces the Next Generation
The racing world lit up with reactions to the Stewart family’s playful moment. Motorsport enthusiasts have long admired the tradition of starting young, recalling stories such as Robby Gordon placing his son Max in a safety seat off-road before he could walk, with Max later racing karts as a child. Similar memories include John Hunter Nemechek taking to go-karts at age five before a rapid ascent to NASCAR; these examples highlight the sport’s ingrained family approach.
One viewer summed up the sentiment with a witty remark,
“lol! I had Tripp Coughlin. Almost happened,”
—(Fan) referencing Indy’s beloved Baby Walker Nationals, where children of racing stars, like Tripp Coughlin, showcase their first forays into motorsport tradition. Even before the main drag racing events, these pint-sized entrants—backed by families like the renowned Coughlins—capture the spirit of multigenerational competition.
Another fan brought humor to Stewart’s parental efforts:
“Hope you got the stagger and the air pressure right on that ride.”
—(Fan) The term “stagger” in racing refers to tire size differences that help a car take corners—a playful nudge connecting big-league tactics to the intricacies of toddler racing.
Some in the NASCAR community commented on the growing roster of motorsport families:
“Ayeee that’s not fair Where is Becks @BubbaWallace & also y’all should’ve waited till Baby @Blaney popped out.”
—(Fan) Their comments referenced recently welcomed children into the families of racers Bubba Wallace and Ryan Blaney, alluding to a future where these kids may eventually face off on the track, continuing the sport’s family-driven saga.
And, in nodding to the pride Stewart takes in his son, one observer remarked:
“When it comes to making families proud and drive a car Nothing beats a guy name Dom.”
—(Fan) This echoes the ethos that has long shaped Tony Stewart’s own path: deep connection to family, unwavering support, and the joy of sharing milestones both great and small.
The stories and tributes from fans reinforced what has been apparent throughout Stewart’s career. Whether in Columbus, Indiana, where he celebrated victories with his own father, or through candid social media clips, his devotion to family remains clear. Today, that tradition is carried forward as Tony and Leah cheer for Dom, on and off the track.
The Significance for the Sport—and What’s Next
The lighthearted scene at the Indianapolis toddler race encapsulated more than a fleeting family moment—it underscored the evolving narrative of the Tony Stewart family racing legacy and revealed how a new generation is beginning to leave its mark. As Tony Stewart and Leah Pruett support their son’s choices in an era where specialization can come early, they embrace an approach that values family, autonomy, and a celebration of racing heritage.
With other racing families such as Bubba Wallace’s and Ryan Blaney’s also welcoming children, fans may soon witness an entirely new generation growing up with racing in their DNA. For the Stewart household and the wider motorsport community, the adorable walker race at Indy signaled that the legacy is not just alive—it’s thriving, evolving, and set to delight fans for years to come.
