Tony Stewart taking over for wife Leah Pruett in NHRA Top Fuel amid family news
Big news for Tony Stewart Racing in the NHRA. Smoke is taking over for his wife, Leah Pruett, in the Top Fuel category. Stewart raced in the Top Alcohol Dragster category in 2023. However, 2024 brings another new challenge for the three-time NASCAR champion.
With Tony Stewart and Leah Pruett attempting to start a family, things are changing at TSR. Stewart is going to take over the Top Fuel car and do his best to live up to his wife’s standards.
Pruett had a chance at the Top Fuel championship this season but fell short in the final round. Ultimately, she was third on the season and had a very strong year in the NHRA. So, the stakes are high for Stewart.
“When your wife wants to try to start a family [and] wants you to drive her car, what are you going to say?” Stewart tweeted on Thursday. “I’m proud of [Leah] [and] excited we’re going to focus on starting a family in 2024. I’m humbled Leah and Neal Stausbaugh felt I was the driver to fill in for her.”
As for Leah, this is not a decision she came to easily. This is her career, after all.
“This decision did not happen overnight, and I feel that stepping out of the seat right now is what’s best for myself and Tony to start a family,” said Pruett in a statement. “This has been one of the most difficult decisions to make because of what we have collectively created at TSR, a highly successful program and enjoyable operation. I’m excited about how competitive this team is, and to be able to have Tony compete in a very safe, vetted, well-performing car with an established team.”
The 2024 season will be a new adventure for Tony Stewart.
Tony Stewart doesn’t want to get fired by his wife
As far as Smoke is concerned, he has two jobs next year. Top Fuel cars are no joke. When you think about the dangers of racing, drag racing is up there near the top. However, these machines are basically bombs that have been harnessed to send the car flying at high speeds.
Then there are the timing mechanisms and the fuel used and the power – that thing can turn into a real bomb. It can veer off the track. There have been gnarly accidents in NHRA history.
According to Jeff Gluck of The Athletic, Stewart has just two things he wants to accomplish in 2024.
“My goal is to not suck, to not get fired by my wife and to not kill myself driving this thing.”
While this is a new path for Tony Stewart, it’s not really anything new. Smoke has spent his life getting behind the wheel of a race car and taking it to the top of its class. Now, he’s taking on Top Fuel and hopes to make his wife and family proud.
So, how do you think Smoke will do? Does he have what it takes to compete with Top Fuel’s best?