For years, Tony Stewart has been known for his intense focus on the track, his legendary NASCAR career, and a relentless approach to competition. For Tony, his and his wife, Leah Pruett’s journey to welcoming their son, Dominic, was anything but conventional. Between Leah’s NHRA championship pursuit and Tony’s debut NHRA season, their schedules were a whirlwind of speed, logistics, and high-stakes pressure.

Now, with Dominic in the mix, life for the Stewarts is evolving—grim, gross parts, and all. But when it comes to fatherhood, Stewart is learning there are no pit stops or shortcuts—something his wife and fellow racer, Leah, has ensured with a sharp five-word warning.

Leah’s nappy warning

When Leah Pruett sat down with Mighty Mack to talk about her husband’s transformation into fatherhood, she didn’t hold back. During the interview, she brought to light a softer, more vulnerable side of Tony Stewart as a result of becoming a dad, a side rarely seen amid his gruff, determined public persona. But it also included a cheeky jab at Tony’s reluctance to handle one particular aspect of parenting.

Leah assured, “He has this saying that he’s not going to change the diaper because his dad never changed a diaper. That too is going to change, especially by the time we next speak.” Her tone was playful, but the underlying message was clear: Tony might be a legendary racer, but even he can’t steer clear of every messy duty.

Despite his initial hesitations, Leah painted a heartwarming picture of Tony’s newfound role as a dad. “His sarcasm has not left the room, and his pranks really haven’t… But he’s way more present than I thought he would be,” she shared. “I didn’t have a lot of expectations of him being involved, but he’s just exceeded them. He wants to be with the baby all the time. Doesn’t like it when he cries—he gives it back.”

Leah also highlighted how fatherhood provides a counterbalance to the relentless demands of their racing lives. “Most of our day-to-day conversations are a lot of logistics, from operating a team to Tony operating Eldora and everything happening in NASCAR… That wears on him,” she said. ” So having this child, that brings really nothing but joy to him, makes me really happy… I want him to have these spikes of happiness to go with all the ‘this needs fixing, this part broke’ calls.” 

From chaos to calm: Dominic’s arrival

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Dominic’s birth story was as high-octane as the couple’s racing careers. Tony Stewart was at the racetrack, preparing for a qualifying run during the NHRA finals at Pomona, when he got the call that Leah was heading to the hospital. The news threw him into what he described as “panic mode.”

“In 30 minutes, I’m supposed to be getting dressed to make a qualifying run,” Tony recalled. “So I’m like, am I supposed to leave? Am I supposed to stay?” Leah, ever the composed professional, reassured him. “She’s like, ‘You’re fine, go make the run,’” Tony said.

After securing a seventh-place qualifying spot, Tony rushed to the airport, which was conveniently located near the track. He made it to the hospital just in time, but Leah’s resilience during those moments left him in awe. “The second thing out of her mouth when I walked in the door was, ‘What is the drop-dead time you have to leave in the morning to get back to the racetrack?’” Tony recounted. “I’m like, you’re getting ready for the most life-changing experience of your entire life, and you’re more worried about what time do I need to leave by .”

At 4:43 a.m., Dominic was born. But instead of soaking in the quiet moments of new parenthood, Tony Stewart found himself frantically texting family and friends. “I immediately started texting family—my parents, her mom, her sister, grandmother,” he said. The chaos didn’t stop there. “This is going to come out during the day… on the broadcast that Leah’s had this little baby. There’s so many people we know that need to know from us and not hear it on TV” he realized, adding another layer of urgency to an already overwhelming day.

Tony returned to the track later that day, running on less than two hours of sleep. Despite the exhaustion and a plane crash at the racetrack that delayed the first round, he managed to advance to the semi-finals before finishing seventh in the championship.

For Tony Stewart, Dominic’s arrival has marked a profound shift—not just in his personal life but in how he approaches his high-pressure career. “I knew I had a strong wife, but the night and morning she gave birth to Dominic really showed me how strong she really is,” he said. “She’s a much stronger woman than I will ever be as a man. I’m very proud of her for that.”

Leah echoed similar sentiments about Tony’s growth. “It’s so nice to see the softer side of him,” she said. “When he gets his baby and just sees pure love, I want that for him. It’s a reminder that there’s more to life than all the stress.”

For the Stewarts, the road ahead promises new challenges, joys, and, yes, messy moments.