NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

As hard as it is to believe, in their first year together in Top Fuel, Tony Stewart and wife Leah Pruett have yet to meet in eliminations. They’ve run each other many times during qualifying, but not yet with points on the line on raceday, and with the Finals being Pruett’s last race for a while as she and Stewart work on expanding their family next season, it may be now or never.

Pruett has raced 15 different drivers this year, but never Stewart. Stewart has had 14 different drivers on his dance card this season, but never his wife. They've run each other 16 times in qualifying, including on two of four sessions in Chicago, Epping, Norwalk, Martin, and St. Louis. For what it's worth, Stewart reached the finish line first nine times, Pruett seven.

Las Vegas was looking good for that first eliminations showdown as both drivers reached round two with a potential semifinal date in the waiting. Pruett racked up her third holeshot win of the season, beating Josh Hart on a 3.687 to 3.681 holeshot, but Stewart did the inverse, losing on a holeshot to Antron Brown by just .006-second.

"Tony and I talked all last winter about racing each other in Top Fuel,” said Pruett. “We did match up in qualifying numerous times this year, but that was not at an elimination race. It's funny. I thought we would go up against each other several times, but it just never happened. We did race in the Four-Wide Final at Charlotte, but that wasn't really head-to-head. And neither of us won that race. We thought we would line up at Las Vegas, but he didn't advance out of the second round as we were set to race in the semifinals. It's unusual that you don't race against someone once in the 19 races. So, maybe we will get that matchup at Pomona before I get out of our TSR Dodge dragster."

"I thought it would be difficult to race against Leah this year, but we never matched up in eliminations,” agreed Stewart. “We were close like last week in Las Vegas. I thought I would be kicked to the couch if I beat her this year. But I had a friend tell me, 'it's a win-win situation for me.' If I beat her, then I move on to the next round. But, if she beats me, my racing team moves on to the next round. It took me a minute to think about, but he was right. So, I have been waiting for that moment all year. We did race in the final of the Four-Wide at Charlotte, but neither of us won that one. Plus, it wasn't really head-to-head. Now, just Pomona is left to race against her. How about she and I compete in the final round at Pomona? Now that would be a very interesting matchup!"

Now it’s down to Pomona and Pruett’s last ride for a while. Fans may remember the 2023 season finale before she stepped out of the cockpit in 2024 and ultimately had the couple’s first child, son Dom, when Pruett reached the final round and came within one round of winning the world championship. There's no title on the line this year, just one more chance for another race victory for her team.

“I would absolutely be lying if I didn't say there were some emotions coming into these final races of the season that present an oxymoron,” she said. “I'm living through moments that feel immediately nostalgic because I will be looking back on them and knowing I gave it my absolute all. I used all the tools in my toolbox—my mindset, my 'don't-give-an-f-ness,' not sweating the small stuff, and being the powerful racer that I know I am. Mentally, I'm more than hungry; I'm starving for the satisfaction of knowing I'm giving it my all every single time. “