NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

When Leah Pruett stepped away from the cockpit after the 2023 season to start a family with husband Tony Stewart, she did so at the height of her powers, just one win light shy of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series world championship.

Her return came with immense expectations. Now balancing motherhood — son Dominic, born in November 2024, is already mobile and mischievous — with her roles as driver, team leader, and one of the public faces of Tony Stewart Racing, all eyes were on her.

It didn’t take long to, ahem, deliver her first win as a mother.

Pruett reached her first final round just two races into the season in Phoenix, finishing runner-up to Shawn Langdon, then returned in the final quad in Charlotte two races later, placing third behind Doug Kalitta and Langdon.

Four races after that, she found herself back on the sport’s biggest stage, racing for one of the coveted 75th anniversary diamond Wallys and a shot at redemption against points leader Langdon. Their final-round matchup at the NHRA New England Nationals presented by bproauto was delayed by rain until the following Friday, during qualifying at the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.

After waiting more than two years to hoist another Wally, what was five more days?

Pruett, who last won in Dallas in 2023, seized the moment, defeating Langdon, 3.79 to 3.85, to earn her 13th career Top Fuel victory. The win also marked her 19th overall NHRA national event triumph, including Pro Mod and Factory Stock, tying her with Brittany Force for third on the all-time list of female winners. She had previously been tied with the great Shirley Muldowney at 18.

“I’m happier than I thought I would be,” Pruett said. “Now I finally get to take a breath and enjoy it. This race didn’t come by accident. We earned it.

“To see the smiles on my crew and my crew chiefs’ faces, that’s everything. The Diamond Wally is super cool, but what it means to this team means even more. We’re chipping away, and that’s what gave us confidence in the final.

“Early in the season, I was still figuring out my new normal, how to manage everything emotionally, and I got pretty down. But we took a step back, set attainable goals, and stuck to a plan with a team that never wavered. That’s why this win is so fulfilling. I feel like I’m in a better place than I’ve ever been as a driver.”

Another compelling storyline in her return has been the anticipation of a first elimination-round matchup with Stewart, now competing for Elite Motorsports. Despite seven events, that meeting still hasn’t happened.

(The duo has faced off eight times in qualifying this year, and even though they’re not technically racing — maybe not even trying to leave on one another — Stewart owns a 5-3 bragging rights advantage for crossing the finish line first, twice by the slimmest of margins, .001-second in Epping Q1 and .005 in Chicago Q2.)

At Epping, a second-round showdown loomed if both advanced. Pruett handled her part, defeating Scott Farley, but Stewart lost traction against Maddi Gordon.

“I was really hoping to run Tony,” Pruett said. “It was a bummer to see him go out before that could happen. When that does, it just makes me want it more. We have to carry the flag.”

She did just that in the next round, showcasing her trademark car control by pedaling through tire smoke to defeat Gordon.

“I pedaled it and knew right away I hadn’t let it settle enough when it started to fishtail, so I lifted,” she said. “I told myself, ‘Breathe, let it settle.’ It felt like I was out there forever waiting for it to come back to me. I couldn’t hear her, so I knew she wasn’t right there. That was a big win for us.

“My goal is to be as consistent as possible every round. That’s what’s gotten us here. Our motto is ‘One Team, All Team,’ and consistency is everything.”

With confidence building and results following, Pruett sees the bigger picture taking shape.

“The momentum is tangible right now,” she said. “Winning races and beating the points leader reinforces what we already believed. We’ve got a hot rod.”