BROWNSBURG, Ind. (September 9, 2025) – Leah Pruett will reenter competition with Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) in 2026, driving the TSR Dodge//SRT Direct Connection Top Fuel Dragster in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. This marks her return following a year-long hiatus dedicated to starting a family and supporting the team’s efforts behind the scenes.
Pruett paused her racing career in 2024, stepping aside so her husband and TSR team owner Tony Stewart could fill the driving role for the past two NHRA seasons. The couple welcomed their son Dominic in November 2024, and since then, Pruett has remained deeply involved in TSR, contributing to marketing campaigns and offering technical support to the crew chiefs.
Pruett Reflects on Her Hiatus and Excitement to Return
Leah Pruett expressed gratitude for the team’s support during her break and her eagerness to get back on the track.
“I’d first like to thank Tony, the team, and our partners for allowing me the necessary time on my hiatus to start our family, learn motherhood, and welcome me back,”
she said.
“I tested in Richmond earlier this year, which as expected, validated my eagerness and passion for racing Top Fuel.”
She also addressed the timing of the announcement, noting it was initially delayed to prioritize the ongoing racing season.
“This announcement has been delayed for some time, as the priority has been getting through Indy, and focusing on the Countdown with Tony, Neal (Strausbaugh – crew chief), and team,”
Pruett explained.
“Tony has done an incredible job behind the wheel, as many would expect, but I know how much he’s devoted himself to being the best ‘driver replacement’ he can be, and I couldn’t be more proud and thankful for him.”
A Seasoned Champ Ready to Resume Competition
Leah Pruett is a 12-time NHRA Top Fuel event winner whose racing career began as a youngster in the NHRA’s Junior Drag Racing League. In 2023, she secured her career-best finish by placing third in the Top Fuel championship standings after 14 years in the category. Her return to TSR is seen as a homecoming for both Pruett and the organization.
“Leah taking the wheel of the Direct Connection Dodge//SRT Top Fuel dragster in 2026 feels like she is coming home,”
said Matt McAlear, CEO of Dodge.
“Leah has been part of the Dodge and Mopar family since the 2016 season and has carried the Dodge banner to victory lane on many occasions.”
McAlear acknowledged the strong performance of Tony Stewart during Leah’s hiatus and expressed support for their family’s decision.
“We appreciate the incredible job that team owner and motorsports legend Tony Stewart is doing filling in for Leah in the race car as the couple starts their family with son Dominic, and we will continue to root for Tony as he fights for the 2025 NHRA Top Fuel championship,”
he said.
“But Tony has always said it was Leah’s race car, and we totally support the Stewarts’ decision and look forward to a successful future ahead at the dragstrip for Dodge and Tony Stewart Racing.”
Tony Stewart’s Impact as Driver and Team Owner
During his tenure behind the wheel over the last two seasons, Tony Stewart has helped elevate the TSR Top Fuel program. He finished ninth in the 2024 NHRA Top Fuel point standings and earned the NHRA Rookie of the Year award that year. Through 2025, Stewart has captured two Top Fuel victories, including wins at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Las Vegas and the NHRA Route 66 Nationals in Joliet, Illinois.
Stewart clinched the 2025 NHRA Regular Season Championship at the Indianapolis U.S. Nationals, the largest NHRA event, and enters the Countdown to the Championship at Maple Grove Raceway in Mohnton, Pennsylvania, leading the Top Fuel points.
Stewart shared his enthusiasm for Pruett’s upcoming return.
“I’m excited to see Leah get back in a race car,”
he said.
“She’s done such an amazing job of becoming a mother and going through a whole year of pregnancy and our first year with Dominic. 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.”
He added,
“I appreciate what she’s done to help our family and help this entire race team. She’s been a very critical part of this team’s success and projects that we’re working on, so she hasn’t sat on her hands by any means, but first and foremost, I know she wants to drive that car more than anything.”
Team Dynamics and Crew Chief Continuity
Leah Pruett will work again with crew chiefs Neal Strausbaugh and Mike Domagala, who have supported the Top Fuel program since TSR launched in 2022. Together, they have achieved three wins across two seasons. Pruett recorded TSR’s first-ever Top Fuel victory at Denver in 2022 and followed with two wins and four runner-up finishes in 2023. She amassed a 32-19 win-loss record during that season.
Pruett expressed enthusiasm about reconnecting with her crew chiefs on the track after assisting them in other ways during her hiatus.
“Working with Neal and Mike in a different capacity the past two years has kept me deeply involved, and I’m very pumped to be their driver once more,”
she said.
“To my fans and supporters, I look forward to returning to heavy competition as when I left, just now with a little guy in tow everywhere I go.”
TSR’s Two-Car Operation and Upcoming Events
The 2026 campaign will see Pruett paired with TSR’s existing Funny Car driver Matt Hagan, a four-time Funny Car Champion who secured TSR’s first championship in 2023. Hagan recently signed a multi-year contract extension, strengthening the team’s lineup for future seasons.
The next event on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series schedule is the 40th Annual NHRA Nationals presented by Nitro Fish, taking place September 11-14 at Maple Grove Raceway in Mohnton, Pennsylvania. This race commences the six-event Countdown to the Championship, where the top-10 drivers in each of the four professional categories compete intensely to claim division titles.
Looking Ahead to TSR’s Future with Leah Pruett
Leah Pruett’s decision to return to racing with Tony Stewart Racing in 2026 signifies an important moment for the team, fans, and sponsors alike. With her experience and passion reignited, she is expected to add momentum to TSR’s pursuit of NHRA championships alongside Stewart and Hagan. Pruett’s return blends her personal commitment as a mother with her enduring competitive spirit, raising anticipation for the upcoming NHRA season.
