Tony Stewart Extends His Drag Racing Career and Will Compete Against His Wife in 2026
The renowned Tony Stewart, NASCAR Hall of Fame member, will continue his drag racing career in 2026, and the competition will be even more exciting: he will face his own wife. Stewart revealed on Thursday that he will pilot a Top Fuel dragster for Elite Motorsports next season. This decision comes a week after announcing that he would cede his position in the NHRA to his wife, Leah Pruett, who took a break of just over a year after the birth of their son, Dominic. Pruett will resume her role at Tony Stewart Racing in 2026, which means Stewart will compete against her, despite the marketing alliance between their teams.Freeman acquired Josh Hart’s Top Fuel operation earlier this month, thus securing one of the most prominent drivers in motorsports for his team.“First of all, we need to fund the program, but making our intentions known will help,” commented team owner Richard Freeman. “Tony is a great driver. We all know he can drive anything. He’s fantastic for drag racing, not just 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 have the chance to compete alongside his wife, Leah.”
Richard Freeman
The 2026 season will mark 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 in second place in the overall standings.“From the beginning, I said I was just warming Leah’s seat and that it would be hers as soon as she was ready to return,” Stewart stated. “And as much as I’d like 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
