Tony Stewart Will Continue in Drag Racing and Compete Against His Wife in 2026
NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart will continue to compete in drag racing in 2026, facing off against his wife on the track. 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 cede his NHRA position to his wife, Leah Pruett, who took a break of just over a year 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 added that Stewart is very important to drag racing, not only as a team owner, but also behind the wheel. They are excited to create an opportunity for Tony to maintain a position in Top Fuel and have the opportunity to compete alongside his wife, Leah, through their marketing alliance with Tony Stewart Racing. Freeman acquired Josh Hart’s Top Fuel operation earlier this month and now has one of the most prominent drivers in motorsports at the wheel.“First things first, we need to get funding for 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.
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 keeping Leah’s seat warm and that it would be hers as soon as she was ready to return,” Stewart said. “And as much as I would have liked to keep driving, TSR is not 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
