Leah Pruett Bio
Leah Christine Pruett is an American semi-retired drag racer who last drove a National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Top Fuel dragster for Tony Stewart Racing. Over the course of her career she has earned national event wins across multiple categories, beginning in Top Fuel in 2013. She is widely recognized for winning the first all-female Top Fuel final round since 1982.
Pruett is married to former NASCAR driver Tony Stewart, and the couple announced in 2024 that she would step aside from full-time racing to start a family. She is regarded as one of the most prominent female Top Fuel drivers of her generation.
Early Life and Background
Leah Christine Pruett was born on May 26, 1988, in Redlands, California. Growing up in Southern California placed her near a strong drag racing culture, and she developed an early interest in the sport. The specifics of her family background and education are not widely documented in public sources.
Before turning professional, Pruett built a foundation in the sport through grassroots drag racing events. She gained seat time in a variety of cars, which helped shape her path toward the higher ranks of the NHRA.
Path to NHRA Top Fuel
Pruett moved through several classes of drag racing on her way to the professional ranks. She competed in Pro Mod and Nostalgia Funny Car, learning to manage high-horsepower machinery and refine her reaction times at the starting line.
Her Top Fuel debut came in 2013 with Dote Racing. The opportunity gave her a regular seat in the category and marked the beginning of a professional career that would span more than a decade.
Leah Pruett Career
Early Career (2013-2015)
Pruett began her Top Fuel career in 2013 with Dote Racing and steadily adapted to the demands of the class. She also drove for Don Schumacher Racing and Bob Vandergriff Racing during this period, gaining valuable experience across multiple teams.
Her early seasons focused on consistency and learning crew chief communications. By the middle of the decade she was ready to contend for national event victories.
Top Fuel Breakthrough (2016-2021)
Pruett’s first career national event win came on February 28, 2016, at the Carquest Auto Parts NHRA Nationals in Chandler, Arizona. She defeated Brittany Force in the final round, marking the first all-female Top Fuel final since 1982.
In 2016 she finished seventh in Top Fuel points with one win, then improved to fifth in 2017 with four victories. She placed fourth in points in 2018 with two wins, in 2019 with one win, and again in 2020 with no wins. In 2021 she added another win to her resume.
Tony Stewart Racing Era (2022-2024)
On October 14, 2021, Pruett was announced as the Top Fuel driver for Tony Stewart Racing beginning in 2022. The move paired her with the team co-owned by her future husband, Tony Stewart, and elevated her profile within the NHRA.
During her time with Tony Stewart Racing she worked with crew chiefs Neal Strausbaugh and Micheal Domagala. Her final full season of competition was 2024, after which she stepped aside from racing to focus on starting a family.
Driving Style and Strengths
Pruett is known for steady reactions at the starting line and the ability to perform in pressure-packed elimination rounds. Her partnership with experienced crew chiefs helped her refine tuning choices and in-race adjustments throughout her career.
Notable Races and Milestones
Her signature moment came in 2016 at Chandler, where her victory over Brittany Force produced the first all-female Top Fuel final in more than three decades. Multiple national event wins across several seasons reinforced her standing as a top contender in the class.
Leah Pruett Career Wins
Across her career, Leah Pruett has accumulated national event wins in Top Fuel, including standout seasons in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2021. Her win at the 2016 Carquest Auto Parts NHRA Nationals remains the most celebrated of her career.
Top Fuel Highlights
Pruett secured multiple Top Fuel wins during her time with Tony Stewart Racing and earlier teams. Her four-win season of 2017 stands as her most prolific single season in the class.
Other Wins and Performances
Before reaching Top Fuel, Pruett competed and earned wins in Pro Mod and Nostalgia Funny Car, contributing to an overall tally reported at 18 wins across different categories during her career.
Leah Pruett Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Pruett was first married to Todd LeDuc, an off-road racer and Monster Jam truck driver. She later married Gary Pritchett in 2013 and filed for divorce in 2019. She is not related to former stock car, open-wheel, and sports car driver Scott Pruett.
Personal Life
Pruett announced her engagement to former NASCAR driver Tony Stewart on March 18, 2021, and the couple married on November 21, 2021, in Los Cabos, Mexico. They welcomed a son, Dominic James Stewart, in November 2024.
2025 Season Performance
Leah Pruett is not actively competing in the 2025 NHRA season. Following the birth of her son in late 2024, she has stepped away from full-time driving duties at Tony Stewart Racing.
Tony Stewart took over driving duties for Tony Stewart Racing in 2024, a transition that was already planned as the couple prepared to start a family. The team’s Top Fuel program continues to operate under the Tony Stewart Racing banner.
While Pruett has not announced a formal return date to competitive drag racing, her influence within the team and the sport remains notable. Any future racing plans for the 2025 season have not been publicly confirmed.