LEAH PRUETT Hints at NHRA Return After Stepping Away for Motherhood

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July 25, 2025

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NHRA legend LEAH PRUETT, who stepped away from Top Fuel competition for the 2024 and 2025 seasons to focus on motherhood with son Dominic, recently hinted at her racing return during a podcast appearance. The 18-time NHRA National Series winner didn’t just disappear – she’s been grinding behind the scenes, taking MIT courses in decision making and machine learning while serving as technical advisor for Tony Stewart Racing. Her cryptic comment about fans seeing “what the next decision will be” in the near future has us all waiting for the official announcement.
While navigating the identity shift from full-time racer to mom, PRUETT proved she hasn’t lost her edge during a private test session in Virginia this past June. She clocked multiple successful runs in her familiar No. 14 TSR Dodge Top Fuel Dragster, showing that “Racer Leah” and “Mom Leah” can absolutely coexist. Her approach to this transition has been refreshingly honest – admitting she’d barely held a baby before her own and describing the physical challenges of balancing breastfeeding with the stamina demands of professional racing.
Even while away from competition, PRUETT remains deeply embedded in the sport that made her a trailblazer. She made history beating BRITTANY FORCE in the first all-female Top Fuel finals since 1982, and her 12 career Top Fuel wins speak to her talent. Tony Stewart praised how she’s managing dual roles, noting she “plays a very crucial role with the race team” and isn’t just sitting on the sidelines. Her partnership with Converge Technology Solutions on performance optimization programs shows she’s using this time strategically, positioning herself for an even stronger return.