Tony Stewart’s wife’s toughest finish line wasn’t on the track. In December 2023, the 12-time NHRA Top Fuel winner parked her 27-year racing career — a decision she called “one of the most difficult” of her life. Her reason? To start a family with her husband, the NASCAR legend is now tasked with piloting her 11,000-horsepower dragster.
The move shocked fans but revealed a deeper struggle. Behind Leah Pruett’s career-best third-place finish in the 2023 season lay an autoimmune disorder complicating her health.
Leah Pruett’s Health and Family Goals Fuel Career Pause
Pruett’s choice wasn’t sudden. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, which disrupts hormone production, added urgency to her family plans. “Time is not on anyone’s side, and time is not gender neutral,” she told The Associated Press.
“When it comes to being a female and a female racer, time is particularly not on your side. One of the decision-making factors was, ‘What do we want our life to look like when we have a family?’”
The autoimmune condition demanded grueling management even during her championship-chasing 2023 season.
“Hashimoto’s gives me a lot of challenges throughout the year in racing, and it took a lot to get that under control just to race, more or less under control to start a family,” Pruett admitted. Despite nearing her first Top Fuel title, she prioritized long-term goals over immediate glory.
“This has been one of the most difficult decisions to make because of what we have collectively created at TSR [Tony Stewart Racing], 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,” she said.
Stewart backed her unequivocally. “We had discussed starting a family, and this was her decision. I was very supportive as to whether she wanted to do it now or years from now,” he said to the Associated Press.
Tony Stewart’s Unplanned Return to the Driver’s Seat
With Pruett stepping back, Stewart shifted from team owner to driver, a role he hadn’t planned. The three-time NASCAR champion, fresh off a runner-up finish in NHRA’s Top Alcohol Dragster division, now faces Top Fuel’s brutal 330-mph arena.
“My goal is to not suck, and to not get fired by my wife and to not kill myself driving this thing. I think we’ll be fine. It’s just going to be a matter of time,” he deadpanned.
Crew chief Neal Strausbaugh endorsed the move after testing Stewart in Pruett’s car. Reigning Funny Car champion Matt Hagan added, “He’s a natural and a champion in whatever he has driven.”
Pruett remains involved as a Dodge ambassador but eyes a return. “There are no guarantees or promises on when I will be back in the seat, but I have every intention of returning as soon as I can,” she said.
For now, her legacy isn’t just speed — it’s sacrifice. As Stewart straps into her dragster, one truth remains: Some victories happen far from the track.