Stewart to race against wife in NHRA '26 season

NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart volition proceed his drag-racing vocation successful 2026 -- and helium volition vie against his wife.

Stewart announced Thursday helium volition thrust a Top Fuel dragster for Elite Motorsports adjacent season. The determination comes 2 weeks aft helium announced plans to crook his NHRA spot backmost implicit to his wife, Leah Pruett. Pruett took a small much than a twelvemonth disconnected aft welcoming their son, Dominic.

Pruett volition resume her relation astatine Tony Stewart Racing successful 2026, and Stewart volition present contention against her adjacent though their teams person a selling alliance.

"First things first, though, we request to get the programme funded, but letting everyone cognize our intentions, that volition help," squad proprietor Richard Freeman said. "Tony is simply a large driver; we each cognize helium tin thrust anything.

"He's large for resistance racing, not conscionable arsenic a squad proprietor but down the wheel. We're excited that done our selling confederation with Tony Stewart Racing, we're creating an accidental for Tony to support a Top Fuel spot and a accidental to contention alongside his wife, Leah."

Freeman purchased the Top Fuel cognition from Josh Hart earlier this period -- and present helium has 1 of the motorsport's astir accomplished drivers down the wheel.

"I said from the precise opening that I was conscionable keeping Leah's spot lukewarm and that it was hers arsenic soon arsenic she was acceptable to travel back," Stewart said. "And arsenic overmuch arsenic I wanted to proceed driving, TSR is not successful a presumption to adhd a 2nd Top Fuel car. But with Richard buying Josh Hart's squad and our caller alliance, I tin inactive enactment arsenic an proprietor and a operator to assistance some our organizations grow."

The 2026 play volition beryllium Stewart's 3rd successful Top Fuel. The three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and 1997 IndyCar champion earned NHRA Rookie of the Year honors successful 2024 and broke done with 2 Top Fuel wins this year. With 5 races near successful the NHRA season, Stewart is 2nd successful points.