Leah Pruett will once again step behind the wheel for Tony Stewart NHRA Top Fuel Racing in the 2026 season, as announced by Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) in Brownsburg, Indiana. After taking a break in 2024 to focus on family, including welcoming her son Dominic with husband Tony Stewart, Pruett’s comeback marks a highly anticipated chapter for the team and fans alike.
Pruett’s Time Away and Continued Team Involvement
In 2024, Leah Pruett temporarily left competitive racing to begin her family journey with Tony Stewart, who took over as her substitute driver during her hiatus. The couple’s son, Dominic, was born in November of that year, and while Pruett was away from the dragstrip, she maintained a hands-on role at Tony Stewart Racing, collaborating closely with partners on strategic marketing efforts and supporting crew chiefs, including Neal Strausbaugh and Mike Domagala, on technical projects. Reflecting on this period, Pruett stated,
“I’d first like to thank Tony, the team, and our partners for allowing me the necessary time on my hiatus to start our family, learn motherhood, and welcome me back,”
—Leah Pruett, Driver.
She continued to express her renewed drive for competition, saying,
“I tested in Richmond earlier this year, which as expected, validated my eagerness and passion for racing Top Fuel.”
—Leah Pruett, Driver. The announcement of her return was postponed to ensure the team could focus on the important events leading up to Indy and the Championship Countdown.
“This announcement has been delayed for some time, as the priority has been getting through Indy, and focusing on the Countdown with Tony, Neal (Strausbaugh – crew chief), and team,”
—Leah Pruett, Driver, she added. Summing up her admiration for Tony’s role during her time away, Pruett remarked,
“Tony has done an incredible job behind the wheel, as many would expect, but I know how much he’s devoted himself to being the best ‘driver replacement’ he can be, and I couldn’t be more proud and thankful for him.”
—Leah Pruett, Driver.
Career Highlights and Connections with Dodge
Leah Pruett has enjoyed a remarkable career, securing 12 NHRA Top Fuel event victories. Her racing journey began at just eight years old in the Junior Drag Racing League, leading to her best Top Fuel championship result—a third-place finish during the 2023 season. Her work with Dodge and Mopar dates back to 2016, and the brand’s leadership welcomed her return warmly.
“Leah taking the wheel of the Direct Connection Dodge//SRT Top Fuel dragster in 2026 feels like she is coming home,”
—Matt McAlear, Dodge CEO. As a long-time representative of Dodge, Pruett has been instrumental in promoting the brand throughout her podium appearances.
Matt McAlear further highlighted the collaborative spirit between Dodge and the Stewarts, recognizing Tony Stewart for his commitment during Pruett’s leave.
“We appreciate the incredible job that team owner and motorsports legend Tony Stewart is doing filling in for Leah in the race car as the couple starts their family with son Dominic, and we will continue to root for Tony as he fights for the 2025 NHRA Top Fuel championship. But Tony has always said it was Leah’s race car, and we totally support the Stewarts’ decision and look forward to a successful future ahead at the dragstrip for Dodge and Tony Stewart Racing.”
—Matt McAlear, Dodge CEO.
Tony Stewart’s Role as Interim Driver
While covering for Pruett, Tony Stewart helped advance the TSR Top Fuel program, finishing ninth in Top Fuel points for the 2024 season and earning the NHRA Rookie of the Year title. In the 2025 campaign, Stewart achieved two major victories at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Las Vegas and the Route 66 Nationals in Joliet, Illinois. He also secured the 2025 NHRA Regular Season Championship at the landmark 71st Annual NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, entering the Countdown to the Championship at Maple Grove Raceway as the current Top Fuel points leader. Expressing his encouragement for Leah’s return, Stewart said,
“I’m excited to see Leah get back in a race car,”
—Tony Stewart, Team Owner/Driver.
Stewart praised Pruett’s enduring dedication to the team, stating,
“I appreciate what she’s done to help our family and help this entire race team. She’s been a very critical part of this team’s success and projects that we’re working on, so she hasn’t sat on her hands by any means, but first and foremost, I know she wants to drive that car more than anything.”
—Tony Stewart, Team Owner/Driver.
Continuity in the Team Structure
Pruett’s return will see the continued collaboration with Neal Strausbaugh and Mike Domagala as crew chiefs. Since the formation of Tony Stewart Racing’s Top Fuel program in 2022, the combination of Pruett, Strausbaugh, and Domagala has yielded three major race wins. Pruett made a mark in Denver in 2022 by securing TSR’s first Top Fuel win, followed by two more victories and four runner-up finishes in 2023, achieving a strong 32-19 win-loss record that season.
Pruett emphasized her ongoing engagement with team operations during her break:
“Working with Neal and Mike in a different capacity the past two years has kept me deeply involved, and I’m very pumped to be their driver once more,”
—Leah Pruett, Driver. She also conveyed her excitement to fans, adding,
“To my fans and supporters, I look forward to returning to heavy competition as when I left, just now with a little guy in tow everywhere I go.”
—Leah Pruett, Driver.
Looking Ahead for Tony Stewart Racing
With Leah Pruett’s return, the organization will continue its two-car strategy, pairing her in Top Fuel with established Funny Car driver Matt Hagan. Hagan, a four-time Funny Car Champion, brought TSR its first championship in 2023 and recently signed a multi-year extension to stay with the team. This dual-threat lineup aims to keep the team competitive in both major NHRA professional categories.
The next event in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series is set for the 40th Annual NHRA Nationals, presented by Nitro Fish, at Maple Grove Raceway in Mohnton, Pennsylvania, from September 11-14. This event begins the six-race Countdown to the Championship, where drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle will compete for their respective titles. With Pruett’s highly anticipated return on the horizon, Tony Stewart Racing, its partners, and fans are poised for an energizing future—one that further strengthens the legacy of Tony Stewart NHRA Top Fuel Racing on the national stage.
