Tony Stewart, a motorsports icon with three NASCAR Cup Series titles, 49 Cup Series wins, and the 1997 IndyCar Championship, has long been celebrated for his adaptability across racing disciplines. His recent shift to NHRA Top Fuel racing marked a new chapter, culminating in a historic victory at the 2025 Four-Wide Nationals at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

However, the racing world was rocked when Stewart’s wife, Leah Pruett, an accomplished NHRA Top Fuel driver herself, made a surprising statement that shifted the spotlight and stirred controversy. Pruett’s comments, focusing on crew chief Neal Strausbaugh rather than her husband’s achievement, have sparked debates about recognition and teamwork in the high-stakes world of drag racing.

Stewart’s journey to Top Fuel glory wasn’t without challenges. After Pruett stepped away from racing in 2024 to start a family, Stewart took over her 11,000-horsepower Top Fuel dragster, a move that brought significant adjustments. “My body weight’s different, tubing changes from a year ago… we were either shaking the tires or frying them on the hit,” Stewart admitted, reflecting on the technical struggles that plagued his 2024 season. Despite finishing sixth in the championship standings, his perseverance earned him the 2024 NHRA Rookie of the Year award. His breakthrough came in Las Vegas, where he clinched his first Top Fuel win, defeating Antron Brown, Justin Ashley, and Jasmine Salinas with a 3.870-second run at 317.42 mph. The victory made Stewart the first driver to win in NASCAR Cup, IndyCar, USAC Triple Crown, and NHRA Pro races, propelling him to second in the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series standings, just 16 points behind leader Shawn Langdon.

Amid the celebration, Pruett’s statement on Instagram stunned fans and insiders alike. Instead of highlighting Stewart’s driving prowess, she shifted focus to the team’s crew chief, Neal Strausbaugh, stating, “Neil has been the heartbeat of this Top Fuel effort. His perseverance, vision, and belief have carried this team through every challenge.” She elaborated on Strausbaugh’s leadership through “performance dead-ends to full-scale changes,” praising his “loud determination and relentless drive” alongside car chief Mike Domagala. This deliberate pivot away from Stewart’s achievement as a driver was a stark departure from traditional racing narratives, where the spotlight typically shines on the person behind the wheel. Pruett’s comments have ignited discussions about the often-overlooked role of crew chiefs in NHRA racing, where the car and team account for 70% of success, as Stewart himself noted.

The statement has created ripples of tension. Some fans view Pruett’s tribute as a refreshing acknowledgment of the teamwork behind Stewart’s success, especially given the family dynamic—Pruett and Stewart welcomed their son, Dominic, in November 2024, and she has been deeply involved in the team’s strategy despite stepping away from driving. Others, however, see it as a slight to Stewart, whose historic win marked a triumphant return to victory lane after a nine-year drought since his last NASCAR Cup Series win in 2016. The emotional high of the victory was palpable when Pruett brought Dominic to the winner’s circle, a moment Stewart described as overwhelming: “When I saw her come up those steps with him, my heart stopped. That was a feeling I’ve never had in my life.”

Pruett’s advocacy for women in motorsports adds another layer to the narrative. In 2024, she spearheaded an NHRA policy change allowing driver substitutions for medical reasons—like maternity—without time limits, preserving points and sponsorships. This reform, born from her own experience balancing racing and family, has made the sport more inclusive for female drivers. Yet, her recent statement has some questioning whether her focus on Strausbaugh undermines Stewart’s legacy at a pivotal moment. As Stewart continues his Top Fuel journey, the racing community watches closely to see how this family dynamic—and the controversy—will shape their future on and off the track.