In early 2024, Leah Pruett stepped away from NHRA Top Fuel racing to start a family with husband Tony Stewart, leaving the driver’s seat to him while she focused on her pregnancy. Their son, Dominic, was born in November 2024, and during her absence from racing, she stayed active behind the scenes, helping with technical projects, working with partners on marketing, and remaining engaged with the Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) team’s operations. Now, after a private test in Virginia in mid-2025 that confirmed she still had the speed and hunger for competition, Pruett has announced a return.

As Pruett prepares for her 2026 return, reclaiming her role in the Dodge/SRT Direct Connection dragster, Stewart has expressed his support, stating, “I’m excited to see Leah get back in a race car… I know deep down inside that she wants to drive that race car really bad, so I’m just excited to see her get that opportunity again.” It’s not just a comeback, it’s a rebuild of her dual identity: racer and mother, backed by her longstanding crew chiefs Neal Strausbaugh and Mike Domagala, with support from her team’s partners and Dodge, who have framed her return as “coming home.” Meanwhile, Stewart has also opened up about his future racing plans, but only after revealing a ‘bittersweet’ sacrifice he made for his wife.

How Tony Stewart carried the torch until Leah Pruett’s return

In the latest episode of the Dale Jr. Download podcast, Stewart spoke about the difficulties, as well as the excitement, of going through such a change. “There were a couple of small moments where I had to bite my tongue because I really don’t want to get out of this race car, but I do because I’m doing it for a person I love, and I know how much she loves being in it. And it was the first time that I actually stepped back and said, I can’t believe I’m actually doing this… But, at the end of the day, it was bittersweet when we had to do her announcement,” he explained. At the same time, he has done his utmost in the car, pushing to perform well under the spotlight.

This includes wins in 2025, for instance, at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Las Vegas and the Route 66 Nationals in Joliet, as well as clinching the 2025 NHRA Regular Season Championship at the U.S. Nationals. Stewart also reflected on what this fill-in period has meant personally. “But ultimately, it was still her decision. Her and the crew chief made the call of two of us that were on the card of who to pick. And I told him, I said, ‘pick who you think is going to give us the best opportunity to have the best results at the end of the day,’ and so to be able to step in and fill in for her, I feel pride in that as her husband,” he continued.

There was always a plan in action for this transition. He recalled, “This wasn’t about me. Me driving her car was about her and her decision for us to start a family together. And she got to dictate the timing of it and all that because I felt like that was really important. She’s giving up what she loves to do the most of driving that race car, but somebody had to drive in the meantime.” Still, Stewart has not simply “kept the seat warm.” His performance has been remarkable.

He earned Rookie of the Year in 2024, finished 9th in points in his first full season, and in 2025 clinched the NHRA Regular Season Championship at Indianapolis. As he put it, “But love the opportunity as a race car driver to go to another form of motorsports, get in another type of race car that people are going to say, ‘ah, he’s not going to figure this out, he’s going to get his a– kicked,’ and be able to sit there and perform and get up to speed and win a couple of races.” But as 2026 approaches, Stewart makes it clear that the plan has always been to hand the keys back.

He further added, “It’s going to be a lot of fun. If racing with Rico is not fun enough, this just encompasses all of it. And the season we’re going to have next year to do and to have Rico in our shop. I mean, literally our funny car team, our top fuel team, and Rico sprint car team, we’re all in the same building.” Whether or not he returns in a different Top Fuel seat, possibly with Elite Motorsports, Stewart’s dual role as competitor and supporter is a unique chapter in motorsports.

Tony Stewart’s dual duty on-track and off-track

A ‘double’ role is nothing new for Tony Stewart. Back in 2001, he famously completed the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day, becoming the only driver to finish on the lead lap. Now, after driving his wife Leah Pruett’s Top Fuel dragster in 2024 while she stepped aside for pregnancy, Stewart is balancing a different kind of dual duty: racing success and fatherhood. Reflecting on this chapter, he admitted, “To get to go to the racetrack each weekend, get to do it with my wife, to now have our son there.”

The three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion has already notched two NHRA wins this year, but his perspective shifted after a frightening 240 MPH crash at Maple Grove Raceway. Stewart shared, “Our crash the other day happened at 240 MPH…We had a backup car, we had the opportunity to test with Leah on Monday. She got to make the hits in the car, and I’m banged up a little bit. The doctor’s orders not to get in the car…So to have my wife shake up the car, that’s a pretty cool deal for me.” His pride comes from seeing Pruett return to her passion, while he recovers and embraces fatherhood.

Indeed, Stewart’s joy shines in the simple moments. Speaking about his son, Dominic, he said, He is 30 ft away from me at all times. I can go run in that trailer at any time, hug him, kiss him all I want, play with him.” He also reflected on his roots, adding, “My dad’s 87 years old now; we raced three-quarter midgets together. And so, getting to race with my dad occasionally, that’s something that I haven’t had the opportunity to do before.” Summing it all up, Stewart left no doubt about where his heart lies: “We are just truly a racing family.”