Leah Pruett provided a direct account of the Tony Stewart NHRA crash during the Reading Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway, giving insight into the tense moments as the incident occurred. The crash, which took place on Sunday, September 13 during the opening event of the “Countdown to the Championship,” saw Tony Stewart face Doug Kalitta in the second round of Top Fuel eliminations. Doug Kalitta won the round but lost his left front wheel shortly after crossing the finish line.
As the two vehicles moved into the shutdown area, Kalitta’s dragster swerved into Stewart’s lane, causing Stewart’s car to briefly overturn and ultimately crash into the wall. Kalitta’s car stopped along the center line, and Stewart exited his wrecked car seemingly without serious injury. Despite this, Leah Pruett described feeling unsettled and shocked by what she witnessed.
“All of this massive smoke and then first thing I heard over the PA was oh, and their parachutes are tangled and dug its into Tony. And then it’s just pure silence. And I go to radio, Check Tony and, Silence. Nothing there.”
– Leah Pruett, Top Fuel driver
“So just, you know, trying to think of the best case scenario, definitely not the worst. Very scary, but it’s part of what you subscribe for, I guess, like a small percentage of it. But yeah. Let’s not do that anymore,” she added.
– Leah Pruett, Top Fuel driver
Stewart later admitted he had no memory of the crash itself and reported having concussion symptoms. Despite this, Tony Stewart confirmed he would still compete in the second race of the “Countdown.” Before the crash, Stewart was leading as regular season champion, but the event caused him to fall to second place in the points standings, now trailing Doug Kalitta by nineteen points.
The Competitive Dynamic Between Stewart and Pruett
Tony Stewart and Leah Pruett, married since 2021, have a unique relationship both personally and professionally. Pruett took a break from NHRA competition during her pregnancy in the previous season, with Stewart stepping in at Tony Stewart Racing Nitro to fill her role. She is slated to return in the 2026 season, which will introduce a competitive element between the couple on the track, as they represent different teams in the NHRA.
During the same episode of Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour podcast, Tony Stewart commented on the prospects of racing against his wife in future seasons.
“I said I would not race against my wife, I lied to myself obviously….I thought if we race each other and we win, I get kicked to the couch for an undisclosed amount of time. If I lose, then I have to sit there and listen to my phone blow up about how I got my a** kicked by my wife,” he said.
– Tony Stewart, Race Car Driver
Despite his candid remarks, Stewart believes their matchup could still be enjoyable as both understand the demands of racing at a high level. Leah Pruett will take up her previous position at TSR Nitro, while Stewart has committed to drive for Elite Motorsports starting in 2026.
Pruett’s Return to Top Fuel After Hiatus
Leah Pruett recently returned to the cockpit in a private test arranged by Stewart’s team at Virginia Motorsports Park. This session marked her first time piloting a Top Fuel dragster in 499 days since stepping away from competition. The test provided her with valuable seat time ahead of her planned return and highlighted her intent to re-establish herself among top NHRA drivers.
The Tony Stewart NHRA crash has resonated within motorsports circles, drawing attention both for the intense on-track moment and the emotional responses of those involved—including Leah Pruett and Tony Stewart. As the NHRA playoffs continue, Stewart aims to recover his position in the standings, while Pruett prepares for her comeback, setting the stage for a highly anticipated face-off between the married drivers in the seasons to come.
It was his first crash at 300+ mph. @TonyStewart and @LeahPruett_TF talk with @KevinHavick about Stewart's wreck at the NHRA Reading Nationals. pic.twitter.com/mcZPofqips
— HarvickHappyHour (@HarvickHappyPod) September 18, 2025
