Tony Stewart Moving to NHRA Top Fuel Class, Will Replace Leah Pruett

Tony Stewart vowed that he would never want to run against wife Leah Pruett in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Top Fuel class.

But he never said he wouldn't race in the class instead of her.

Today, husband and wife Stewart and Pruett announced that Pruett will be stepping out of her Dodge/SRT Direct Connection top Fuel dragster "temporarily" to focus on starting a family. The racing power couple married in 2021.

Pruett is coming off her most successful Top Fuel season in 2023, where she came one round from winning the championship. She lost to Doug Kalitta in a winner-take-all championship final run at Pomona in the last event of the season.

Three-time NASCAR Cup champion Stewart, meanwhile, raced a full season in NHRA Top Alcohol Class, where he finished second in the points as a rookie behind champion Julie Nataas.

Stewart's Top Fuel debut will be at the NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville, Fla., the weekend of March 7-10.

“This decision did not happen overnight, and I feel that stepping out of the seat right now is what’s best for myself and Tony to start a family,” said the 35-year-old Pruett, a 12-time NHRA Top Fuel national event winner. “This has been one of the most difficult decisions to make because of what we have collectively created at TSR, a highly successful program and enjoyable operation. I’m excited about how competitive this team is, and to be able to have Tony compete in a very safe, vetted, well-performing car with an established team.”

The 52-year-old Stewart said he is "humbled" by the newest racing challenge.

“I am very proud of my wife,” said Stewart. “To make a decision like this must be extremely hard. We had discussed starting a family and this was her decision. I was very supportive as to whether she wanted to do it now or years from now. I’m very humbled that Leah and Neal felt I was the driver to fill in for her. I feel honored that I can do that for my wife and this team.

"I enjoyed my time in the Top Alcohol Dragster class. I absolutely loved racing with the McPhillips Racing family. But to have an opportunity like this, where you have your wife, who’s also a driver, and the crew chief feel I’m capable to come in and drive the car is very flattering. It’s an honor to be able to fill in for her until she’s ready to come back.”