Tony Stewart Lets Out Don Schumacher’s Contribution to His Love for NHRA as He Unravels His First Date With His Wife Leah Pruett

A couple of days ago, 3-time Cup Series champion Tony Stewart announced his full-time entry into drag racing, replacing his wife, Leah Pruett, in the NHRA series. The Stewart-Haas Racing co-owner had his eyes set on going all in, making his Top Fuel debut later next year. Though Stewart scored 4 wins in 2023, he did not insist on being his wife’s replacement ever but was selected by Leah Pruett herself along with crew chief Neal Strausbaugh after the duo scoured the market for worthy replacements.

Speaking exclusively, Tony Stewart elaborated on how the world of drag racing opened up to him once he met Leah Pruett during the pandemic. The couple met in 2019 through NHRA icon Don Schumacher, a mutual acquaintance. He also mentioned how the drag racing legend’s liberality got him closer to his wife and the NHRA.

The pandemic days – How Don Schumacher got Tony Stewart closer to NHRA and consequently to his wife

Tony “Smoke” Stewart is arguably one of the best to do it, be it in the open-wheel, stock car, midget, or sprint car. In a nutshell, he is the sort of racer even the best drivers look up to and try to be like. While the 52-year-old was inclined to the NHRA, wanting to know more about it, it was only until Don Schumacher, who decided to give him a free pass, that he finally got into the garage area and got a first-hand experience in the world of drag racing.

“I got invited to the US Nationals and hang out with Don Schumacher and Tony and have the opportunity to see what it was like, but that is their Super Bowl, that the US Nationals at Indianapolis is their Super Bowl,” added the veteran. Tony Stewart, in an interview, opened up about how Schumacher’s generosity got him closer to the sport and eventually closer to his wife, Leah Pruett. Though Stewart and the lady drag racer got along pretty well, with Pruett dropping down to sprint car races, Stewart explained how Schumacher did it for him, lighting up his world.

He said, “Don Schumacher was very generous; he had a policy unless you were working on the car, you were not allowed to pit, and he allowed me permission to come in and be with Leah and really be there and be a lot closer to it.”

He further added, “Literally every event, every day that I went there, I saw things, I was learning but I have a lot of questions but was scared to ask anybody but as time went on you ask more questions, and every answer I got spawned 3 more questions and it really did not take long after that to really set the hook and really get engrossed in what drag racing is all about and what the NHRA is all about. 

WATCH THIS STORY: Stewart-Haas Racing signs Noah Gragson on a multi-year deal 

The ultimate fan experience: Here’s why NHRA events are the best, according to Stewart

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Drag racing and stock car racing are certainly 2 worlds apart, but that doesn’t keep drivers like Stewart from venturing out in search of new passions. The 52-year-old, who has been on almost every track there is for racing, believes that the drag events at NHRA are the ultimate fan experience a speed fanatic can get.

Stewart believes the NHRA’s key strength lies in the access fans have around the track. Unlike NASCAR events, where fans are bound to the stands, the scene is pretty different at the drag strips. He said, “That is exactly one of the biggest things I love about NHRA is the fact that, for a fan to buy a ticket, they buy their ticket and they literally can go anywhere but the starting line. Fans are able to somewhat, a little bit mill around in the staging lanes when the drivers are getting in the cars.” 

Furthermore, to prove his point, the driver cited an example from dirt racing, saying, “In dirt-track racing, for example, you can buy a pit pass on top of it, you know, and the pit pass is more expensive than the reserve seats or general admission seats in the grandstands, but for one ticket in the NHRA, you get your seat, you get to go in the pits, and you get to watch the drivers and the crews interact.” 

READ MORE: Tony Stewart Describes the “Dream Scenario” in His NHRA Career Despite Wife Leah Pruett Coming Short of the Title

Above all, in NHRA, fans get a total of 40 minutes to spend time with engine builders and get a good whiff of what they are dealing with. Moreover, according to “Smoke,” the fan experience at the drag strip is simply otherworldly.