When you think of Tony Stewart and Leah Pruett, you probably picture the roar of engines, the smell of burning rubber, and a life full of adrenaline. But for first-time parents Tony and Leah, life looks a little different these days—there’s a lot more baby talk and sleepless nights as they navigate the world of parenting with their toddler, Dominic.

Having a little one is a full-time gig, with no days off, but Leah’s managed to find a way to balance her busy life. She’s learned how to steal a little “me time,” and what better way to do that than by embracing her inner kid and sharing some quality time with her mom and grandma?

Leah Pruett takes the ladies on an adventure

While Leah’s gearing up for a return to NHRA racing, it looks like that won’t be happening in 2025. As she recently said, “I think my answer to racing in 2025 is an unknown. But I definitely will not be starting the season. I want to do the best job I can being a mom before I get back in that seat.” And honestly, who could blame her? Spending as much time with Dominic as possible is obviously a priority.

But it’s not just about Dominic—Leah’s also made the most of this time by bonding with her mom, Linda, and her grandmother. And while Christmas may have come and gone, the gift Leah had for her mom was definitely worth the wait!

Leah recently treated her mom and grandma to something truly special—a hot-air balloon ride at the 2025 Havasu Balloon Festival! If you haven’t heard of it, the festival is an annual event where you can take a ride in one of many vibrant hot air balloons over Lake Havasu, with views of the colorful balloons floating above the Colorado River—talk about picturesque!

Leah was clearly thrilled about the surprise, sharing the moment on Instagram. She posted a story, “So I have just dropped my mom and my grandma off at the mass ascension. Part one is taking place as you can see behind me, and the balloon they’ll be flying in is this one. So we’ll be on the lookout for Dixie! This was my Christmas gift to my mom and grandma, getting them in a hot air balloon! Huge thanks to the hot air balloon festival for putting on such a great show. Let’s see if we can spot more balloons.”

While Leah wasn’t actually on the balloon herself, it wasn’t hard to track her mom’s ride, thanks to the unique colors of each balloon. There was even a champagne-shaped balloon this year—how cool is that? Dominic was also there, helping his mom spot his grandma and great-grandma from the ground. A family adventure through and through!

And talking of Dominic, many fans have criticized Tony Stewart for being selfish and choosing fatherhood so late in life. But he’s fine with it!

Tony’s thoughts on fatherhood at 53!

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Now, let’s talk about Tony for a second. He became a first-time dad at 53, which definitely raised some eyebrows. Some social media critics have labeled him “too old” to be starting a family, but Tony’s got no problem with that. In fact, he’s embracing it.

“I think the one negative in my eye is just the age,” Tony admitted. “Obviously, I’m 53. I wouldn’t say it’s the ideal time. But it’s funny how social media works. Some people just love to share their opinions, and they think it’s selfish.”

But Tony’s not bothered by the criticism. “Leah and I laugh about it a lot,” he said. “I’d much rather be ‘selfish’ and have this little boy in our lives than not have him at all. So, I’m fine with being called selfish for being a 53-year-old dad.”

Tony believes this is actually the perfect time for him to be a father. No Stewart Haas Racing, no NASCAR. “I think 15 or 20 years ago, when I was deep into racing, it wouldn’t have been the right time for me to be a good father,” he explained. “But now that some of the big-ticket items are off my plate. I’ve got more time to focus on Dominic. I’m in the right place at the right time.”

What do you think about Tony becoming a dad later in life? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!