LEAH PRUETT Plans 2026 NHRA Comeback While TONY STEWART Shifts to Elite

December 17, 2025

• LEAH PRUETT is gearing up for her 2026 NHRA Top Fuel return after stepping away following the birth of her son Dominic in November 2024. She’ll reclaim her Direct Connection Dodge/SRT seat under the Tony Stewart Racing banner, marking her first full campaign as a mother. We love seeing a driver who made the choice that worked for her family now getting the chance to come back on her own terms.
• The transition worked brilliantly for everyone involved – TONY STEWART took over PRUETT’s seat and absolutely crushed it, earning 2024 Rookie of the Year honors and dominating 2025 with wins in Las Vegas and Chicago plus the regular-season championship. His success proved this wasn’t just about keeping the seat warm; he legitimately earned his place in Top Fuel while learning from his wife’s expertise.
• Now we get the best of both worlds: STEWART moves to an Elite Motorsports-backed seat while PRUETT returns to competition, meaning both will be racing under the TSR banner in 2026. PRUETT has already started limited testing and plans to ramp up after Christmas, setting up what should be a fascinating dynamic with both spouses competing at the highest level of drag racing.

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