Motorsports legend Tony Stewart has confirmed his return to NHRA Top Fuel racing for the 2025 season following his rookie year, which earned him NHRA Rookie of the Year honors. The announcement was made during Tuesday’s Race Industry Week session.
Stewart, who piloted his Top Fuel dragster to a ninth-place finish in the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series standings, expressed excitement about continuing his journey in the nitro-burning category. The news follows a monumental personal milestone for Stewart and his wife, NHRA Top Fuel standout Leah Pruett, who recently welcomed their first child, Dominic.
“I’m going to be back in the Top Fuel car again next year,” Stewart shared. “Leah has decided she wants to be a mom this first year. I’ll be honest, she is literally just over two weeks from having Dominic and I am pretty confident in about two to three weeks, she’ll be ready to get back in a Top Fuel car.”
Pruett delivered Dominic James on race day, Sunday, November 17, of the NHRA World Finals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip.
“She absolutely looks amazing. Looking at her, you wouldn’t even tell she just delivered a little boy to us,” added Stewart. “So, it’s just amazing how strong and tough my wife is and what she does. But, she does wanna be a mom next year.”
Stewart’s debut season in Top Fuel was marked by two final-round appearances, four semifinal finishes, and a strong performance that cemented his status as one of the most promising newcomers in NHRA history. Driving for Tony Stewart Racing (TSR), he took over the reins of Pruett’s Top Fuel dragster when the couple announced their plans to grow their family earlier this year.
“I’m kind of fighting it a little bit,” Stewart said about taking on another season in the driver’s seat. “But the bonus is, I get to drive a Top Fuel car again next year. Either way, I get to win.”
This story was originally published on December 4, 2024. 
