Tony Stewart Continues His Drag Racing Career and Will Compete Against His Wife in 2026
NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart will continue to compete in drag racing in 2026, and he will do so by facing his wife. Stewart announced on Thursday that he will drive a Top Fuel dragster for Elite Motorsports next season. This decision comes a week after announcing his plans to hand over his NHRA seat to his wife, Leah Pruett, who took a little over a year off after giving birth to their son, Dominic. Pruett will resume her role at Tony Stewart Racing in 2026, and Stewart will now compete against her, even though their teams have a marketing alliance.Freeman bought the Top Fuel operation from Josh Hart earlier this month and now has one of the most successful drivers in motorsports at the wheel.“First things first, we need to fund the program, but making our intentions known will help,” said team owner Richard Freeman. “Tony is a great driver. We all know he can drive anything. He’s great for drag racing, not only as a team owner, but also behind the wheel. We are excited that, through our marketing alliance with Tony Stewart Racing, we are creating an opportunity for Tony to maintain a seat in Top Fuel and the possibility of competing alongside his wife, Leah.”
Richard Freeman
The 2026 season will be Stewart’s third in Top Fuel. The three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and 1997 IndyCar champion earned the NHRA Rookie of the Year award in 2024 and achieved two Top Fuel victories this year. With five races remaining in the NHRA season, Stewart is second in points.“I said from the beginning that I was just warming Leah’s seat and that it was hers as soon as she was ready to return,” Stewart said. “And as much as I would have liked to keep driving, TSR isn’t in a position to add a second Top Fuel car. But with Richard buying Josh Hart’s team and our recent alliance, I can still work as an owner and driver to help both organizations grow.”
Tony Stewart
