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Tony Stewart Reveals Heartwarming Reason Behind Return To Full-Time Racing

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NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart stunned the racing world on Tuesday morning when he revealed he would run full-time in the NHRA Top Fuel division in 2024.

In doing so, the often controversial 53-year-old is set to replace his wife Leah Pruett.

But there’s a good reason for that.

Stewart stated on X that Pruett is stepping away for the season in hopes that the two can begin a family

Tony Stewart Replaces Wife In Drag Racing Series In Order 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,” he wrote.” 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.”

Pruett finished a career-best third in the Top Fuel standings in 2023. She also released a statement about the decision.

“This decision did not happen overnight, and I feel that stepping out of the seat right now is what’s best for myself and Tony to start a family. This has been one of the most difficult decisions to make because of what we have collectively created at TSR, a highly successful program and enjoyable operation. I’m excited about how competitive this team is, and to be able to have Tony compete in a very safe, vetted, well-performing car with an established team.”

Pruett and Stewart married just over two years ago.

“This is an incredibly personal decision, and what led to making this decision are other personal situations that have happened in my life and our lives,” she told The Associated Press about the decision. “Time is not on anyone’s side, and time is not gender neutral. But when it comes to being a female and a female racer, time is particularly not on your side. One of the decision-making factors was, ‘What do we want our life to look like when we have a family?’ And it is easy to sit back and have the immediate view that we’ve got this killer race team and we can do what we didn’t do this year, which is win a championship.”