Tony Stewart Making Jump To Top Fuel Drag Racing In 2024
Tony Stewart Making Jump To Top Fuel Drag Racing In 2024
Tony Stewart is set to go Top Fuel racing in 2024 to fill in for wife, Leah Pruett.
Tony Stewart has conquered many things in his illustrious racing career. From the IndyCar Series to NASCAR, Sprint Cars, track and series ownership and everything in between, “Smoke” has just about done it all. But in 2024 he’ll be taking on a new challenge: Top Fuel drag racing.
Stewart just finished his first season in Top Alcohol competition, but will be making the jump to Top Fuel at the start of 2024 in his wife, Leah Pruett’s car. For reference, a Top Alcohol dragster usually tops out at 285 mph, but Top Fuel dragsters can reach speeds of 338 mph.
On Thursday morning, Stewart explained that he will take over his wife’s car as they try to focus on starting a family together. Pruett wanted to step out of the car because that “is what’s best for myself and Tony to start a family.”
When your wife wants to try to start a family & wants you to drive her car, what are you going to say? I’m proud of @LeahPruett_TF & excited we’re going to focus on starting a family in 2024. I’m humbled Leah & Neal Strausbaugh felt I was the driver to fill in for her.@TSRnitro pic.twitter.com/lbvv4xYLm1
— Tony Stewart (@TonyStewart) December 7, 2023
Stewart explained that he doesn’t feel quite ready to be making the leap to Top Fuel, but he said he was the only person that Pruett wanted to see race her Tony Stewart Racing dragster.
“There have been so many instances in my career where I didn’t feel like I was ready,” said Stewart in the TSR press release. “There is a lot of validity to it that you’re not ready until you just get in and do it.”
Pruett had completed 27 consecutive season in NHRA competition prior to stepping out of the car at the start of 2024.