Leah Pruett stepped away from NHRA Top Fuel racing in early 2024 to start a family with her husband Tony Stewart, focusing on her pregnancy and handing over the driver’s seat to him. Their son, Dominis, was born in November 2024. While away from the track, Pruett remained deeply involved with Tony Stewart Racing (TSR), assisting in technical areas, collaborating with partners on marketing, and supporting team operations. Following a private test in Virginia in mid-2025 that showed she maintained her competitive edge, Pruett announced she is making a full return for the 2026 season in the Dodge/SRT Direct Connection dragster with TSR.
This comeback, backed by longtime crew chiefs Neal Strausbaugh and Mike Domagala and team partners including Dodge, represents Pruett’s effort to balance motherhood with racing. Meanwhile, Tony Stewart revealed his own plans for the future, sharing reflections on the sacrifices he made during his wife’s absence from racing.
How Tony Stewart Took Over Driving Duties During Leah Pruett’s Hiatus
During Pruett’s time away from racing in 2024, Tony Stewart stepped into her Top Fuel dragster role, embracing a new challenge while supporting his wife. On the Dale Jr. Download podcast, Stewart described the experience as emotionally complex.
“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.
Despite the bittersweet feeling, Stewart pushed hard on the track, securing victories at the 2025 NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Las Vegas and the Route 66 Nationals in Joliet. He also won the 2025 NHRA Regular Season Championship at the U.S. Nationals. Reflecting on stepping in for his wife, he expressed pride.
“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,”
Stewart recounted the intentional planning behind the transition, emphasizing that his role was centered on supporting Pruett’s choice.
“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.”
Far from simply holding the seat, Stewart achieved impressive results during this period. In 2024, he earned Rookie of the Year honors and placed ninth in the points standings for his first full season. His 2025 NHRA Regular Season Championship at Indianapolis further highlighted his success.
“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,”
he said. However, Stewart made it clear that returning the driving responsibilities to Pruett was always the plan for 2026.
“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.”
Stewart hinted at the possibility of continuing his NHRA participation in a different Top Fuel seat, potentially with Elite Motorsports, while maintaining his supportive role within the family and team.
Balancing Life on and Off the Track: Stewart’s Unique Dual Role
Tony Stewart has a history of managing dual roles in motorsports. He famously completed both the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 race in the same day in 2001, finishing on the lead lap in each. Now, his latest dual challenge involves balancing racing success and fatherhood after driving for his wife Leah Pruett during her maternity leave. Stewart shared his gratitude for having his family close during this phase.
“To get to go to the racetrack each weekend, get to do it with my wife, to now have our son there.”
Stewart’s 2025 season included two NHRA victories, but his perspective on racing shifted following a high-speed crash at Maple Grove Raceway.
“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 is clear in witnessing Pruett’s return as he heals and embraces his new role as a father. Stewart’s joy is evident in everyday moments with their son, Dominic.
He described his close bond with his child:
“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.”
Reflecting on his own racing roots, Stewart shared a personal connection with his father.
“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 up his perspective, Stewart emphasized the deep ties that racing holds for the family:
“We are just truly a racing family.”
Looking Ahead: What Tony Stewart’s Future Holds Beyond 2025
As Leah Pruett prepares to step back into her dragster for the 2026 NHRA season, Tony Stewart’s future plans remain flexible yet rooted in the family’s shared passion for racing. His 2025 successes in NHRA while filling in for Pruett demonstrated his ability to compete at a high level in a different motorsport discipline. At the same time, Stewart’s reflections reveal a broader commitment to his family and team.
Their collaboration with crew chiefs Neal Strausbaugh and Mike Domagala, alongside partners like Dodge, highlights a strong support network aiming to balance competitive racing with family life. Stewart’s hints about continuing to race alongside teammate Rico, potentially across multiple racing formats, suggest an evolving chapter in which he balances fatherhood and competition.
Ultimately, Stewart’s story is one of dedication, adaptability, and perseverance. His role during Pruett’s absence illuminated how he not only “kept the seat warm” but excelled, proving himself as both a skilled driver and a devoted partner. As both continue their careers, the coming season will showcase how well they manage the challenges and opportunities of combining racing with family life, shining a light on the unique dynamic inside the Tony Stewart Racing family.
