Tony Stewart shocked the racing community earlier with the announcement that he would replace his wife Leah Pruett in the NHRA Top Fuel category. The couple has decided to start a family together. While he gears up for racing in the top NHRA division, it has come to light that his shoulder injury from 2006 came back to haunt him and he had to undergo shoulder surgery recently.

However, there’s nothing to be worried about, especially when Smoke has Leah by his side. When the Stewart family decided to visit Performance Racing Industry Week, it led to the fans getting inside knowledge on Stewart’s recent troubles and how Leah is giving it her all to make sure Tony stays safe.

Leah Pruett guards Tony Stewart after shoulder surgery revelation

While Leah Pruett was walking alongside Tony Stewart as the pair entered the PRI convention, the NHRA dragster clarified why she was protecting Stewart’s shoulder with all her might. “Also, if you see us guarding his arm, Tony had shoulder surgery, not one, not two, not three, but four procedures 14 days ago, so, he’s not in a sling, [he is] supposed to be,” Leah revealed. This prompted Tony to playfully snap at Leah for exposing his shenanigans in good humor, stating that he didn’t want to appear like a cripple as he walked around the PRI.

Throughout the video, the pair engaged in exhilarating activities with the racing community as well as appeared in some media interviews. The Stewart-Haas Racing co-owner’s excitement to be at the convention amongst some of America’s greatest racecar builders was evident from his laughter at every corner booth. Their close interactions with fans also gave us a rare insight into just how receptive Leah Pruett is to what her fans have to say, with their conversations seeming effortless from the get-go.

Not soon after, Leah was seen writing on a giant red cross on Stewart’s shoulder. Her message was simple: “Please do not touch!” Tony thanked Leah for helping him avoid the wrath of overly enthusiastic friends. He shared, “You have to be creative when you come to PRI sometimes. We got a lot of friends that we don’t see very often.” He felt that if one of these friends decided to pat him on the shoulder as a greeting, he would end up on the floor in an instant!

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It’s safe to say Tony Stewart and Leah Pruett had a wonderful time catching up with some old faces at the PRI convention. But there was a lot more to it that made it special for the pair.

“It’s like going to a candy shop for a kid“—Tony Stewart reveals the PRI’s importance in his life

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Further along, Tony Stewart shared his thoughts on Performance Racing Industry Week and why it holds a special place in his heart. Speaking on his personal experience, which differs from Leah Pruett’s, Tony shared how he knew most of the people at the convention since he had run in various forms of motorsport. He added, “They’re all in the same place at the same time and that’s what makes it unique and special so. That and it’s like going to a candy shop for a kid, for us that’s exactly what it’s like so, this is an awesome show for us.”

The story was a little different for Leah Pruett, who believed catching up with the community and partners is what makes PRI so memorable. She shared that she had been going to PRI for nearly 20 years, starting from when the convention used to be held in Orlando. Back then, it was all about visiting the show to find the perfect performance deals for next season’s competition.

Reflecting on the current scenario, Pruett mentioned, “Not a whole lot has changed in regards to that. We come in and we make deals for next year but no it’s not as performance-based. For us, it’s making sure that we give back to the fans and spend time with our partners. So yeah, it’s good to see familiar faces.”

READ MORE: “I’ll Never Get Invited Back to the Bedroom”- Tony Stewart Lets Slip ‘Competitive Reality’ Behind Refusing to Race Against Wife Leah Pruett

With the PRI convention giving fans an inside glimpse at Leah Pruett and Tony Stewart’s wholesome dynamic, we wish Smoke a speedy recovery!