For years, Tony Stewart has been synonymous with success on the race track. First as a NASCAR legend, and now as a rising force in the NHRA drag racing world. Since 2023, Stewart has steadily built his reputation in the Top Fuel category. He has turned a new chapter in a career already defined by versatility. But 2025 has been different. After a season of consistent performances, Stewart now finds himself on the verge of rewriting expectations in drag racing. The three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion is staring down an opportunity few thought possible when he first transitioned into the straight-line discipline. But what exactly unfolded this year that put Stewart in this rare position?

Much of that transformation has been tied to the foundation Stewart built. This was done with Leah Pruett, his wife and former Top Fuel star. However, Pruett stepped back from full-time driving to focus on family. Meanwhile, Stewart entered this season still adjusting to the unique demands of NHRA competition, facing seasoned rivals like Doug Kalitta, Steve Torrence, and Brittany Force. Each race weekend tested his adaptability, but with every round, Stewart’s progression became harder to ignore. Now, with the sport’s Countdown to the Championship underway, his breakthrough has brought him to the center of drag racing’s spotlight. As Stewart’s performance trajectory sharpens, it sets the stage for a development that may alter his legacy beyond the stock-car ovals that once defined him.

Tony Stewart with an unthinkable leap into contention

In just his second year of Top Fuel competition, Tony Stewart has shocked the drag racing world and his fans beyond that. Weeks ago, he clinched the 2025 NHRA regular season championship, securing the No. 1 seed for the Countdown to the Championship. The achievement marked a first in motorsports history. No driver had ever transitioned from another discipline and captured a regular-season crown so quickly. Reflecting on the milestone, Stewart recently spoke in an interview, saying, “We were able to do something last weekend that had never been done in motorsports before. With everything we’ve accomplished in our resume, adding a regular-season championship… it still means a lot.” For Stewart, the victory was more than a statistical triumph. But now, a bigger challenge is on the line.

The achievement speaks to more than just one man’s adaptability. Stewart’s dragster program under Tony Stewart Racing has shown remarkable consistency across the season. That hard work is what Stewart credits above all. “You look at where we were a year ago. We finished ninth in points at the end of the season and really struggled the entire year with the car,” he recalled. “To see where we’ve been able to turn the program around this year, that’s not because of us as drivers. Neal Strausbaugh, Mike Domagala, and Phil Shuler have been a huge help to our program.” The combination of disciplined strategy and raw pace has allowed Stewart to outmaneuver veterans in pressure-packed situations. After all, the regular-season crown was “unthinkable,” but Stewart knows a bigger test looms, and he has set his eyes on it.

“The only thing that can make it bigger is adding a world championship at the end of the season. So we’re going to buckle down and try as hard as we can to accomplish that goal,” he said. However, veterans like Doug Kalitta and Steve Torrence are waiting in the Countdown. Stewart’s confidence, coupled with the regular-season title, has fueled the belief that his team can now chase the one prize that still eludes them.

Stewart’s unexpected position as the top seed underscores a larger trend in motorsports. Champions are not bound by discipline. Just as Kyle Larson and Jimmie Johnson once crossed into different arenas, Stewart is attempting to build a dual legacy in NASCAR and NHRA. For the fans, it symbolizes the blending of traditions once thought separate, while for Stewart, it cements the idea that adaptability and hunger define greatness.

Tony Stewart to yield NHRA seat back to wife for 2026 season

Meanwhile, Leah Pruett has officially been confirmed to return to the driving seat very soon. She will return in the TSR Dodge//SRT Direct Connection Top Fuel dragster in the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Pruett stepped away in 2024 primarily to focus on starting her family with husband Tony Stewart, so Stewart filled in those past two seasons. The announcement had been in preparation through testing earlier in 2025 and through discussions with crew chiefs and team partners.

During her hiatus, Pruett stayed deeply involved with TSR. She contributed to technical projects, marketing, and team operations. She tested again at Virginia Motorsports Park in mid-2025. This confirmed her passion and readiness to return had not diminished. Stewart has expressed gratitude for how Leah managed both motherhood and her supporting role in keeping the team strong when he was behind the wheel.

Pruett is a decorated driver. She has amassed 12 NHRA Top Fuel event wins, multiple runner-ups. In her last full season (2023), she finished third in championship points. This was her best finish in her Top Fuel career thus far. Stewart, in his place, won two Top Fuel races in 2025. He clinched the NHRA regular season championship and entered the Countdown as the No. 1 seed. The transition now becomes a key moment. Fans move from Stewart’s unexpected rise back to Pruett’s established record. This certainly sets new expectations under TSR.

Stewart’s 2025 season has achieved what many deemed unlikely. However, a larger test at the championship still lies ahead. And for Leah Pruett, resuming full-time competition in 2026 will mean regaining driving rhythm, maintaining physical and mental sharpness, and competing against increasingly intense rivals.