Full Breakdown
Leah Pruett Steps Away from NHRA Top Fuel to Focus on Family; Tony Schumacher to Take Her Seat in 2027
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
Leah Pruett, a contender for her first NHRA Top Fuel championship, announced she will step out of the Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) Top Fuel dragster at the end of the 2026 season to concentrate on expanding her family with husband Tony Stewart. The team confirmed eight-time champion Tony Schumacher has signed a multi-year agreement to drive the TSR dragster beginning in the 2027 season.
Background & Context
Pruett, 38, entered NHRA competition in 2015 and has 13 Top Fuel victories, including a win at the 2026 New England Nationals—the first since becoming a mother. She missed the 2024 and 2025 seasons after the birth of her son Dominic James Stewart in November 2024, returning for the 2026 campaign while Stewart raced for Elite Motorsports.
Tony Stewart, a three-time NASCAR champion and former IndyCar champion, owns TSR and has partnered with Dodge and Mopar since 2022. His relationship with Schumacher dates to 2009, when Schumacher helped Stewart acclimate to drag racing.
Timeline
- November 2024 – Birth of Dominic James Stewart.
- 2025 season – Pruett’s first hiatus.
- 2026 season – Pruett returns; ranks third in Top Fuel standings, 43 points behind leader Doug Kalitta and 17 points behind Shawn Langdon.
- End of 2026 season – Pruett announces she will step away.
- January 2027 – Schumacher’s TSR contract begins.
Data & Statistics
- Points gap: 43 points behind Doug Kalitta, 17 points behind Shawn Langdon.
- Career wins: 13 for Pruett; 88 national event wins and eight Top Fuel world championships for Schumacher.
- Team performance: TSR’s Dodge partnership has produced 25 victories and two regular-season championships.
Official Statements & Responses
Pruett clarified she is not retiring, describing the decision as a temporary “step out of the seat” to focus on family. She will remain involved in TSR’s logistics, technical development, and race-day operations, and may return when circumstances allow.
Stewart expressed full support, noting her dedication “exemplifies strength and determination.” He highlighted Schumacher’s experience as a “perfect fit” for the team’s championship ambitions.
Schumacher said joining TSR feels like a “full-circle moment” given his prior collaborations with crew chief Neal Strausbaugh and car chief Ryan McGilvry.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Some might think: ‘You got out, then did all this work to return, and you guys are doing so great, how could you ever get out again?’” — Leah Pruett
- “It’s like deciding to play baseball and then the Yankees call and ask if you want to play for them,” — Tony Schumacher
- “The ‘R’ word is something I’m not using by any means. I’m simply stepping out of the seat for a little while to focus on family.” — Leah Pruett
- “I can't say thank you enough to Tony and Leah for putting this together,” — Tony Schumacher
What’s Next
Schumacher’s TSR agreement starts in January 2027, positioning the team for the Countdown to the Championship. The Great Lakes Nationals at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park will be the first Countdown event, marking the series’ return to Michigan after 66 years. Pruett will continue attending races, managing team logistics, and pursuing data-science studies she began during her previous hiatus. Future family plans remain open, with the possibility of another child influencing her timeline for a potential return.