Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) didn’t just start as just another racing outfit; it was born from Leah Pruett’s ambition and Tony Stewart’s support. Pruett, a driver since age eight, had built a decorated NHRA Top Fuel career long before TSR fielded its first full-time Top Fuel entry under her name. When Stewart founded TSR’s Nitro program, it was with Pruett in mind. Over the years, TSR collected owner championships in USAC, World of Outlaws, and other disciplines, establishing itself as more than just a namesake. But now, everything seems to be changing.
After welcoming their son Dominic in late 2024, Pruett stepped out of the cockpit and Stewart took over the wheel of her Top Fuel car. But TSR always planned for this pivot, and now, as she returns in 2026 with the Direct Connection Dodge/SRT dragster, Stewart is handing the seat back, while also planning to race side-by-side with his wife. And that shift is bringing major changes in the garage.
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Tony Stewart and Leah Pruett’s rivalry journey
In an interview with Kevin Harvick on his Happy Hour podcast, Harvick asked Stewart about his racing future now that Pruett will be returning to her NHRA seat. Stewart answered plainly, “I am going to be driving, too. So, I said I would not race against my wife, and I’ve lied to myself, obviously.” The dilemma recalls other racing families, from Richard Petty mentoring Kyle Petty to Dale Earnhardt and Dale Junior occasionally sharing the same racetrack. While family rivalries can have infinite fanfare, they also stir personal stakes that go far beyond the sport itself. For the couple, the partnership extends through TSR’s marketing alliance with Elite Motorsports, which now provides Stewart with a car to ride in 2026.
Harvick compared it to his own experience of racing against his son, Keelan, noting how such promises never hold up. Stewart acknowledged the humor but emphasized the personal stakes. “I have a great opportunity with Richard Freeman and everyone at Elite Motorsports to drive a Top Fuel car next year… at first and on paper, did I think it was a very good idea. I thought if we race each other and I win, I get kicked to the couch for an undisclosed amount of time. If I lose, then I have to sit there and listen to my phone blow up about how I got my a– kicked by my wife,” he said.
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Joking aside, this scenario mirrored past family matchups in motorsports history. Think of the 1990s when Michael and Mario Andretti clashed in IndyCar, where family pride was on the line as much as championship points. The added wrinkle in Stewart and Pruett’s case is that both bring championship pedigrees from NASCAR and NHRA, creating anticipation that blends competition with household banter. Stewart admitted he initially questioned whether joining Pruett in Top Fuel was smart, but credited his wife with changing his mind. “Leah has been the one that actually has convinced me that, hey, this isn’t a bad thing,” he said.
He likened it to a reverse version of Dale Earnhardt Sr.‘s partnership with Richard Childress Racing and Dale Earnhardt Inc., where family ties and business alliances intertwined to elevate racing programs. But Stewart emphasized that family comes before anything in this world. “First and foremost, before the race team, our relationship and our family comes first. No matter what the outcome is at a drag race, we’re getting in the car together as a family. We’re going home as a family. And wherever I have to sleep at the end of the day is where I sleep,” he said.
For Pruett, the opportunity came quickly. She explained how Richard Freeman’s acquisition of Josh Hart’s former operation set the stage. “The question was, can we build a second top fuel team? No, we’re not going to do that. There’s a lot of work in the beginning… Tony is the main portion of the pie. And as he calls it all the time, I’m the crust… And the biggest part of it is getting that team funded. Tony’s not going to race that car until it’s properly funded. And so that falls on the shoulders of Elite, myself, TSR. TSR still needs to be funded itself. And we will be competing for a championship,” she said. NHRA drag racing has always carried financial hurdles, with costs for parts, transport, and crew often exceeding millions per season. That reality has shaped the sport since Shirley Muldowney’s pioneering days, when she relied on sponsorship struggles just to keep racing.
Today, teams like TSR and Elite recognize how vital aligned sponsorship and technical strategy are to remain competitive at the highest level. However, the transition from sprint racing to drag racing wasn’t very smooth for Stewart.
Tony Stewart reveals frustration and declining passion for sprint racing
In May 2024, Tony Stewart had already endured the heartbreak of shutting down Stewart-Haas Racing in NASCAR. But the emotional toll deepened when another long-standing bond in sprint car racing reached its breaking point. “After 18 years, it’s very tough,” Stewart said about parting ways with Donny Schatz, who delivered eight World of Outlaws titles, nine Knoxville Nationals wins, and over 230 victories with TSR.
Reflecting on his loyalty, Stewart admitted, “I wanted Donny Schatz to retire as a sprint car driver in a TSR car…But it just comes to a point where things cycle through and decisions are made along the way. The variables in the equation change. And finally, it got down a path that we couldn’t recover from. And you have to make that tough decision. Honestly, I probably should have done it two years ago for the sake of our people.” The decline wasn’t just about results; it weighed on Stewart’s passion.
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Despite his devotion to sprint racing, the once-thrilling journey turned into a draining battle. As he recalled, “I mean, we changed everything. Anything he asked for, we gave him. And we just can’t get the results. You just realize at some point that you’re just butting heads.” Stewart also confessed to the toll on his own mindset, saying, “I haven’t been this excited about sprint car racing in a long time. I mean, it’s always my number one passion…But it’s been hard the last couple of years to get excited about going to the racetrack, ’cause it’s just been so much friction and such a toxic atmosphere with Donny and the team.”
Making the final call wasn’t easy, with Stewart comparing the decision to ending a marriage. Yet, he now turns toward a fresh chapter, welcoming Rico Abreu into his sprint car program and to a new journey ahead.