In major news coming from the world of NHRA, 3-time Cup Series champion Tony Stewart is stated to replace his wife, Leah Pruett, to race in the Top Fuel dragster in the upcoming 2024 season. The standout drag racer, who is also a 12-time NHRA Top Fuel winner, has, after long consideration with her crew chief, selected her husband, Tony Stewart, as a worthy replacement for her in the Dodge Top Fuel dragster.

The Stewart-Haas Racing co-owner will be at the helm of the 11,000-horsepower dragster, making his Top Fuel debut in 2024, while his wife steps aside for him to focus on starting a family. Reacting to the major update, drag racing legend and 16-time Funny Car champion John Force shared his thoughts, saying that it’s just a matter of time before the NASCAR Hall of Famer goes trophy hunting in the NHRA.

Funny Car Legend ushers in the beginning of a new era in NHRA Top Fuel as Tony Stewart steps in to replace his wife

While 2023 was a heartbreak year for SHR fans, seeing one of their favorite drivers (Kevin Harvick) bid farewell to the sport for co-owner Tony Stewart, aka “Smoke,” was the beginning of a new journey. The NASCAR, IndyCar, and USAC champion racked up his first-ever NHRA National Event win when he won it earlier this year in Vegas.

The NASCAR Hall of Famer was obviously emotional and joyous considering that the win was a long-sought-after one, something that had been in the making for a long time. But as the year draws closer to the end, Stewart has been selected as his wife’s replacement after careful consideration in NHRA Top Fuel.

Reacting to the major announcement, John Force said, “Tony Stewart is a great guy, he’s a champion under NASCAR and IndyCar, wherever he has been and he’ll come over here and maybe not the first year but or maybe the first year.” 

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He further added, “He will win in Top Fuel and it’s just a matter of time so it’s great to have him and who doesn’t love Tony Stewart?” 

Stewart reacts to Pruett’s decision: “I am very proud of my wife”

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Now, if there’s one thing that “smoke” loves, then it’s definitely racing. The man has an insatiable hunger for racing, whether it be in stock cars, open-wheel machines, midgets, or even dragsters. Much like everyone else, a major part of the community believes in Stewart’s abilities and that he will start dominating the drag strips like he did in NASCAR & IndyCar.

But Tony Stewart got the opportunity to pilot his wife’s Top Fuel dragster owing to her decision to sit out and let her husband take charge. While Pruett is saddened to leave a sport that shaped her for the last 27 years, he is also proud that her dragster will be safe in her husband’s hands.

Reflecting on his wife’s decision to step aside for him in order to start a family, Tony Stewart said, “I am very proud of my wife. To make a decision like this has got to be extremely hard. I don’t think from a male’s perspective that we can fully grasp it. To be a competitive, professional race car driver and have to make the decision to take yourself out of the seat to start a family is not a position most males would want to be put in.” 

“We had discussed starting a family and this was her decision. In those discussions, we came to the conclusion that the timing was up to her. I was very supportive as to whether she wanted to do it now or years from now. I’m very humbled that Leah and [crew chief Neal Strausbaugh] felt I was the driver to fill in for her. I feel honored that I can do that for my wife and this team,” exclaimed Tony Stewart as per Motorsports.com.

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