For over two decades, Tony Stewart was one of NASCAR’s most dominant figures. With three Cup Series championships and a successful run as both a driver and owner, Smoke cemented his place as a motorsport legend. However, his NASCAR chapter officially came to a close last year, when he shut down Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) after the team struggled to remain competitive and secure sponsorships. Now, Stewart has turned his focus to a completely different kind of racing.

After retiring from NASCAR, he embraced the world of drag racing. He is currently competing in NHRA Top Fuel events. Unlike NASCAR’s grueling three-hour races, NHRA drag racing delivers explosive, high-adrenaline action, deciding winners and losers in just a few seconds.

But Stewart’s shift to NHRA comes with an interesting twist as his wife Leah Pruett is already a well-established star in the sport. For Stewart, potentially competing against his wife comes as a huge dilemma. As he ventures deeper into drag racing, Stewart finds himself in a tricky situation where winning and losing both come with consequences.

A battle no racer wants to face

Tony Stewart has been known as one of the most polarizing figures in NASCAR. From on-track wheel-to-wheel battles to victory lane fistfights, he has been there for everything. As he now transitions to a completely different segment of racing, he feels the heat of potentially competing against his wife. In a recent interview, Stewart candidly addressed this issue. He joked that facing off against his wife on the track is a no-win situation for him. Whether he wins or loses, there are repercussions at home for Smoke.

While speaking with FOX 35’s Good Day Orlando he said, “I would say for my sanity I better probably lose to a certain degree. But if I win or lose, it’s not good for me either way. If I win, I get kicked to the couch. If I lose, all my buddies are gonna tell me I got my b-tt kicked by my wife. So, I just don’t see it being a positive thing for us to race.”

Notably, Leah Pruett is a very serious challenger. While Stewart is a legend of stock car racing his wife is equally great in NHRA. She has claimed 18 NHRA victories across different categories, including 12 in Top Fuel. Her experience and skill make her a formidable presence on the track, and even Stewart acknowledges that she’s one of the best in the business. She has been mentoring Stewart in the Drag racing world since he decided to shift from the NASCAR world. Notably, in November 2023, Leah stepped away from full-time competition after giving birth to her and Stewart’s first son, Dominic. However, she is still active in NHRA and remains signed with Tony Stewart Racing (TSR), the drag racing team Stewart owns.

Unlike NASCAR, where female drivers have struggled to find long-term success, NHRA has provided a platform where women can truly compete on an even playing field. The sport has seen multiple female champions, proving that talent behind the wheel is what matters most. Ashley and Brittany Force have shattered records in drag racing and have proven that women belong at the top level. Ashley made history in 2008 as the first female to win a Funny Car event. Brittany has won 16 NHRA events. In 2019, she became the fastest qualifier at the U.S. Nationals.

As Pruett and other female drivers continue to build on their legacy, Stewart continues to face the struggles of Drag Racing. Stewart’s words reveal an underlying truth that racing against his wife is a different kind of pressure, one that even his years in NASCAR didn’t prepare him for. But aside from this unique dilemma, Stewart has also had to adjust to the radical differences between NASCAR and NHRA racing itself.

Tony Stewart reveals struggles in NHRA

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While Tony Stewart has won races in NASCAR, IndyCar, and dirt racing, NHRA has presented a completely different challenge. NHRA dragsters are a completely different beast compared to stock cars. In NASCAR, drivers need to stay calm and lower their heart rate before a race, focusing on endurance and strategy. But in NHRA, Stewart says it’s the opposite.

“The split-second decisions you make in a NASCAR car, sprint car, or IndyCar—now you take that split-second and make a split-second decision off of that. That’s how fast your body and your mind have to react because it’s so violent. When you get into the dragster, you want to be the polar opposite. You want your heart rate up. You want to be as alert as you can be because it’s gonna happen quick,” Stewarts told FOX 35’s Good Day Orlando. Notably, his dragster, the Dodge//SRT Direct Connection Top Fuel Dragster, can accelerate to over 330 mph in less than four seconds. That kind of speed requires instant reactions and unparalleled focus—something completely different from his 20+ years in NASCAR.

Despite being a Hall of Fame driver, Stewart admits he’s still learning the nuances of drag racing. But his competitive nature keeps him pushing forward, determined to prove himself in yet another motorsport discipline. The three-time Cup Series champion Tony Stewart will race full-time in NHRA this season, looking to build on the experience he gained over the last two years. Leah Pruett will stay involved with Tony Stewart Racing. However, she will focus more on the family after giving birth last year. Do you think Stewart will succeed in his NHRA journey?