"He takes everything personally": Leah Pruett reflects on Tony Stewart’s personal approach to leading TSR through 25 years

NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart's wife Leah Pruett recently reflected on Stewart's significant role in guiding the NHRA team Tony Stewart Racing to its success. The team recently completed 25 years of its establishment.

Stewart, a multi-time NASCAR champion and a legend of the sport, has long been recognized as one of the most influential figures in racing. His career spanned decades and across various disciplines, including IndyCar, NASCAR, and the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA).

Beyond his driving career, Stewart has also carved out a successful career as a team owner. Recently, the Columbus, Indiana native guided the team Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) to its milestone 25th anniversary.

In a recent interview with Behind The Catch Fence, Leah Pruett, Stewart's wife and a drag racer, reflected on the significance of this milestone. Praising Stewart’s commitment and the personal investment he brings to every decision, she said:

"I would say that Tony walks the talk, and celebrating 25 years is a really good representation of that. At the end of the day, Tony doesn't get to 25 years of TSR without looking at all the positives and how he got here." (0:07)

Pruett emphasized how Stewart takes every decision personally, pouring his heart and soul into TSR’s success. She added:

"He takes everything really personally. 25 years of TSR being in business, every single decision along the way has been personal for him. That takes a toll on somebody, right? And I think that's why today is great that we can celebrate everything that he's done in 25 years."

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Leah Pruett compares her involvement in TSR to that of Tony Stewart

As a key member of TSR and Stewart’s partner, Leah Pruett has had a front-row seat to his leadership journey. However, Pruett described her contribution to the team as more heavy on emotional support. She said:

"I consider myself a very small portion of that from a driving perspective, and a larger portion from the support factor. It's been 5 years now, being alongside Tony when he's making decisions. And seeing how he comes to each decision is something that's super inspiring." (0:36)

Pruett highlighted the lessons she’s learned from Stewart, even as their approaches sometimes differ.

"I learned from him," she said. "There's some things I definitely don't do that he does, but I learned from the way he manages his thought process and how he gets there."

After the discontinuation of the two-time NASCAR Cup Series Championship-winning outfit Stewart-Haas Racing at the end of the 2024 campaign, Tony Stewart has shifted his focus towards NHRA. It remains to be seen whether the 53-year-old will make a return to the sport in the near future.