Tony Stewart and Leah Pruett are no ordinary racing couple; their union fused the explosive worlds of NASCAR and NHRA. Married in November 2021 and parents to baby Dominic James Stewart, born in November 2024, they have navigated parenthood at light speed. In a whirlwind weekend, Tony left an NHRA race in Pomona to witness Dominic’s birth in Arizona, then turned right around to finish the semifinal before flying back to his newborn son, all in under 24 hours. “I would do it all over again for that little boy and for my wife and for our family,” said Stewart. The moment underscored the difficulty of binding a career with the responsibilities of a new family, forging a bond rooted in shared passion and unwavering support.

On the other hand, Leah Pruett’s ascent in drag racing has been nothing short of spectacular. Starting junior dragsters at the age of eight and later claiming 2 NHRA Top Fuel world championships, she tallied an impressive 18 career wins before joining Tony Stewart Racing in 2022. In the dynamic world of fast cars, she became a respected competitor and advocate, pushing NHRA for flexible medical-leave policies for female drivers balancing family needs. But in 2024, Leah chose family over racing, stepping out of her driver’s seat so Stewart could fill in during her pregnancy. And she has no regrets even today, as she decides to walk on a calm and different path altogether.

Leah Pruett redefines winning off the track

In a recent interview with Dodge Garage Cast, Leah Pruett was seen speaking candidly about her decision to step back form her on-track passion and into off-track responsibilities. “When you’re doing the hard things, when you’re hustling and you have your own goals and you’re just trying to make it work for yourself, for your team, you don’t really understand what it’s doing for other people. So taking a step back right now is really cool to see that,” said Pruett.

Leah Pruett seamlessly shifted from driver to executive presence, taking on responsibilities that stretch far beyond her days behind the wheel. As part of Tony Stewart Racing’s leadership team, she is deeply involved in race strategy, sponsor coordination, and sprint car program development. Her vision helped restructure aspects of the operational approach of the team, most notably how the team integrates data analytics with tuning on-track performances. “It’s nice to be with somebody who is also involved in racing and understands it,” Stewart said in a January 2021 episode of the Stewart-Haas Radio podcast. “Understands the demands and the pressures and stresses, and it goes the other way too.” Not to mention, she’s doing a brilliant job of keeping the team on their toes as a crew chief.

Her role has even extended into the garage, where she earned the affectionate title of “crew chief” for the team. Posting a glimpse of the Bristol race, Pruett wrote, “So far Bristol has been good to us. 👌🏽 Got our first #1 qualifier of the year, and won the #2Fast2Tasty Challenge! Our Car Chief Ryan was out all day Saturday and I did my best to fill his shoes. Even though I’m not back in the seat yet, I am for sure enjoying racing with our team and proud of our progress. Also way cool having @thepapajohnschnatter hang with us this weekend. Looking to get another win today! #itsbristolbaby” This leadership moment underscored her transition from competing to coaching, configuring race strategy, guiding pit decisions, and fostering unity within the crew.

With Pruett stepping back from racing, she has also found a renewed purpose supporting both her husband’s NHRA return and their son’s early milestones. Her social media reflects a heartwarming tapestry of racing life mixed with everyday family moments. After the birth of her son, when Pruett announced that she would not be participating in the NHRA event in 2025, she wrote, “Feeding, pumping, washing parts, napping, changing, and all the things on his schedule, that’s something that should be left for superwoman. I’m a very strong woman, I’m not a superwoman.” While racing could mean a lot to Pruett, nothing compares to the joy she has felt since embracing motherhood.

Leah Pruett’s journey from powerhouse drag racer to devoted mother and behind-the-scenes leader exemplifies quiet strength and selfless dedication. Whether supporting Stewart’s ambitions or nurturing Dominic, Pruett remains the glue holding it all together. And as far as her choice of replacement driver goes, she indeed made the right call in fielding her husband in that TSR Nitro, setting up another milestone journey for Smoke.

Leah Pruett steps up as Tony Stewart hits a new high

Tony Stewart’s Top Fuel career reached a new peak at Bristol Dragway, where he clinched his first-ever No. 1 qualifier position and conquered the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge. Backed by his ever-supportive wife Leah Pruett, Stewart’s performance marked a major milestone in what has already been a breakout NHRA season.

Stewart’s success at Bristol builds on an already impressive 2025 season. He previously reached the finals at Pomona and New England and notched his first Top Fuel victory in Las Vegas before winning again in Chicago. His qualifying time of 3.755 seconds at 325.77 mph remained unbeaten all weekend, demonstrating both speed and consistency. “This is great, obviously. We’ve been in the final of the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge and haven’t been able to finish it. Now, to win one and get our first low qualifier is big. For our team, it’s a huge accomplishment,” said Stewart.

Though Stewart was narrowly defeated by Steve Torrence in the semifinals by just .002 seconds, his dual accomplishments at Thunder Valley proved that he is fast becoming a serious title contender. His wife’s pit-lane contributions and heartfelt public support reinforced the bond behind the scenes that is propelling Tony Stewart Racing forward. As the NHRA season moves ahead, the team carries with it not just speed and stats, but momentum, chemistry, and belief in what is still to come.