IDA ZETTERSTRÖM Brings European Gold to NHRA as LEAH PRUETT Takes Maternity Break

April 2, 2025

by Sumedha Mukherjee // from www.essentiallysports.com

• Swedish powerhouse IDA ZETTERSTRÖM has made her NHRA debut with JCM Racing after a dominant 2023 European campaign where she lost just one elimination round all season. The former Super Street Bike champion broke barriers as the first woman to win in Scandinavian Super Street Bike class back in 2019, ruffling some male egos along the way but ultimately earning respect through pure performance.
• While LEAH PRUETT takes a well-deserved maternity break, her husband Tony Stewart stepped up as her substitute, famously declaring “I will gladly step out of that car for my wife…I’m just the fill-in guy.” Stewart’s public acknowledgment that the Top Fuel dragster belongs to Pruett exemplifies the respect women command in NHRA, a stark contrast to the initial resistance Zetterström faced in European racing.
• Zetterström’s transition to Top Fuel represents a massive technical challenge – these 11,000 horsepower beasts demand split-second precision where any throttle adjustment can destroy an engine or cause dangerous tire shake. JCM Racing owner Joe Maynar praised her as “the full package,” recognizing both her driving skills and savvy understanding of social media partnerships that benefit sponsors.

european drag racing, jcm racing, lucas oil nhra nationals, nhra top fuel