LEAH PRUETT Returns to NHRA Top Fuel After Two-Year Break for Motherhood

February 4, 2026

• LEAH PRUETT is making her much-anticipated return to NHRA Top Fuel competition in 2026 after a two-year hiatus to welcome her son Dominic with husband Tony Stewart. The 12-time event winner, who nearly captured the 2023 championship, admits she wasn’t sure if the competitive fire still burned after being away from racing for the first time since age 8. Multiple test sessions confirmed she’s ready to reclaim her spot among drag racing’s elite.
• While PRUETT was on motherhood duty, her husband Tony Stewart kept the seat warm in the TSR Dodge dragster, winning two events and snagging the 2025 regular season points championship. Now Stewart moves to Elite Motorsports for 2026, setting up an intriguing husband-wife dynamic where they’ll be competitors rather than teammates. It’s the kind of storyline that writes itself, and we’re here for every pass down the track.
• The 2026 NHRA Gatornationals on March 5-8 will mark PRUETT’s official comeback, sporting fresh Dodge livery and an all-new TSR Top Fuel dragster. With her proven track record of 12 wins and a near-miss championship in 2023, she’s positioned to immediately challenge for victories. The question isn’t whether she can compete at the highest level – it’s whether the competition is ready for a motivated mother with something to prove.

dodge, gatornationals, nhra top fuel, tony stewart racing