“It doesn’t get much better than that, especially for a rookie driver.” Leah Pruett was mighty proud of her husband’s performance, claiming Rookie of the Year in the NHRA this season. Tony Stewart’s 2024 season, which included two final-round appearances, four semifinals, and a Countdown to the Championship berth, was solid by rookie standards but fell short of his own lofty expectations.

While the NASCAR Hall of Famer turned heads with flashes of brilliance, a ninth-place finish in the Top Fuel standings left him visibly frustrated. Yet, as he grappled with a tough debut season, his wife and mentor, Leah Pruett, is standing firm with a bold prediction that could change the narrative for 2025.

Leah Pruett shows full faith in her husband

For Tony Stewart, transitioning to NHRA Top Fuel Racing was never going to be an easy task. The three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and 1997 Indy Racing League winner is no stranger to conquering new disciplines. However, the sheer precision required in NHRA drag racing posed challenges even he wasn’t fully prepared for.

As Stewart navigated the ups and downs of his rookie season, Leah Pruett—a 12-time Top Fuel race-winning veteran herself and the driving force behind the couple’s Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) NHRA team—watched from the sidelines. After stepping back from full-time competition to focus on starting a family, Pruett took on the role of mentor and strategist for her husband. She believes Stewart’s 2024 struggles are a stepping stone to greater success.

“Tony’s not good at not winning, he’s not a happy camper,” Pruett remarked in an interview with Mighty Mack. “He was the fourth-best leaver in the entire field.” But as she explained in drag racing, a great start isn’t enough. You’ve got to have a flawless setup, and as Pruett says, “He can’t do anymore as a driver.”

However, she truly believes 2025 will be his breakout year and Pruett’s prediction is grounded in Stewart’s rapid progress. As she noted, his reaction times—the critical skill of launching the car off the starting line—already rank among the best in the series. “Tony next year being the number one leaver, I’m gonna call it here!” she declared confidently. In his first Top Fuel outing, Stewart posted a reaction time of 0.21 seconds, which was clear of Justin Ashley, who Tony Stewart claims is “the best leaver in the Top Fuel division“.

Stewart’s frustration was amplified by the razor-thin margins in Top Fuel competition. In a class where hundredths of a second can separate victory from defeat, the learning curve is steep. Despite his best efforts, Stewart found himself grappling with the technical nuances of an 11,000-horsepower dragster and the intense field of competitors. “This sport demands perfection,” Stewart said during the NHRA Awards Ceremony. “I’ve had a blast learning and competing, but I’m far from satisfied. There’s a lot more I want to accomplish.”

Stewart’s Rookie of the Year title was hard-earned, considering the depth of the 2024 rookie class. Competitors like Jasmine Salinas and Ida Zetterstrom made their strong cases with breakout performances, while Pro Stock and Funny Car rookies also shined. Yet, Stewart’s achievements in a part-time role—combined with his star power and fan engagement—solidified his spot as the top newcomer.

Life as a mother isn’t stopping Leah from staying in touch with racing

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Beyond the track, Pruett has embraced a new chapter in her life as a mother to the couple’s son, Dominic James Stewart, born just before the NHRA Finals in Pomona. Balancing motherhood with her role at TSR has been a whirlwind, but Pruett remains deeply connected to the competitive world of Top Fuel racing and is confident her eventual return to the cockpit will be well prepared despite the ever-sharpening level at the top. “The competition in this class is on another level,” she said. “It’s phenomenal. I mean, if you look at five, six years ago with the top fuel class looked like there was a big delta between the cars that were just fielding and the cars that were just winning and now so many of them are right here [winning].”

Pruett’s unique perspective—both as a seasoned racer and a team owner—gives her confidence in TSR’s ability to close the gap on its competitors. “We’re not being left behind,” she emphasized. “The field is going gangbusters, being a part of our progress as we come in, I feel like once I get back in the seat, I know we’ll be right there.” Although there is still time for Pruett to make a return.”For the public, for the fans, for the partners, they can expect to see Tony Stewart start the 2025 season just as he did the 2024 season,” Pruett told Autoweek.

For now, Pruett is content to guide Stewart as he continues adapting to NHRA’s demands. Her unwavering support and bold prediction for his future provide a compelling backdrop to their shared journey, one marked by challenges, triumphs, and an unrelenting drive to succeed.

As the 2024 NHRA season fades into memory, all eyes are on what’s next for Tony Stewart and Leah Pruett. If Pruett’s faith in her husband is any indication, the couple’s NHRA story is far from over. With Stewart’s legendary career serving as a foundation and Pruett’s strategic insights guiding the way, 2025 could be the year they both leave an indelible mark on drag racing.