Posted on 06/17/2024 10:04:43 AM PDT by mabarker1
Leah Pruett and Tony Stewart wanted to start a family, but that meant she had to step away from racing, and Stewart knew she was going to struggle.
When a person devotes 27 years of their life to something it becomes a part of them, and taking a step back from it is never easy as NHRA competitor Leah Pruett is discovering this year.
The 35-year-old Pruett started in Junior Dragsters at age 8 and she’s spent her life climbing the drag racing ladder, often thrashing to find sponsors to keep her career afloat. She has recorded 18 career victories – 12 in Top Fuel and three each in Pro Mod and Factory Stock Showdown. Last year, she finished a career high third in the Top Fuel standings. During the 2023 season she recorded two victories, and four runner-up finishes.
Then she and husband Tony Stewart decided to start a family and that meant stepping out of the car and turning it over to Stewart, who has championships in every form of racing in which he has competed. It’s not been an easy move for Pruett, according to Stewart.
“The first two events were a little rough,” Stewart said during the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway. “Gainesville was bad. It was bad for her, which means it was also bad for me, but we all expected it.”
Stewart said he and the crew knew they needed to be careful about their conversations and their excitement going into the season opening event at Gainesville, Fla.
“We knew she was going to struggle,” Stewart said. “We’ve talked about it a bunch of times, but to make the decision she had to make first of all, and to execute and do what she’s doing is super hard. I’m glad I’m a male race car driver. The female race car drivers are way tougher than all of us men because to have to take yourself out of a car to have a baby …. to sit there and do what you love doing and have your career best finishing points last year and then make a decision you want to start a family. There’s a lot that goes into that from the female side.
“I was proud of my wife when I met her. I was proud of her while we were engaged and I’m proud of her as her husband. This year, I’m even more proud of her than I’ve ever been because I’m watching her go through this. She has a million excuses to be off center every day and be frustrated and mad, and she’s been amazing through it.”
Pruett, who plans to return to Top Fuel racing as soon as she can, suffers from Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, an autoimmune disorder that prevents her thyroid from producing enough hormones. When the couple began their journey to become parents, Pruett was unsure how her condition would affect her attempt to get pregnant. Last year, she told The Associated Press Hashimoto’s gave her numerous challenges throughout the year in racing and it took a lot to get it under control so she could race.
Stewart said watching what Pruett deals with on a daily basis makes him think about things that bother him in their personal and racing life.
“She’s got it way worse than me and handling it way better,” Stewart said. “It’s making me look at things differently and make my life better because of what she’s doing.”
Live Like A Race Star: Tony Stewart's $22.5 Million Indiana Dream Home, Ranch For Sale.
Stewart's 400-acre ranch paradise is the ultimate sportsman's playground, complete with its own bowling alley.
Have you ever wanted to live like three-time NASCAR champ and current NHRA star Tony Stewart?
Well, now you can. But it's going to cost you.
Built in 2011, Stewart's 400-plus acre Hidden Hollow Ranch is on the market in Columbus, Indiana, for $22.5 million. This one is quite the catch. There's plenty of room on the 19,713 square foot property for family and guests with six bedrooms, eight full bathrooms and three half baths.
It might be tough to beat the views from the picture windows on the Tony Stewart property that is for sale in Columbus, Indiana. It also includes:
8,700 gallon freshwater aquarium in great room
Cleaning room and tank for fish
Indoor 1,500 gallon koi stream with bridge through entryway
Two-story indoor waterfall
Ring from a naval battleship holds great room roof in place
Hibachi grill with commercial exhaust in kitchen
Hickory kitchen cabinets
Expansive floor to ceiling views of a 9-acre private lake, fully stocked with trophy bass
3,500 sq. ft. guest house
No house is complete without an indoor Koi pond.
And, if hunting is your game, the 400 or so acres on the property has plenty of turkey, deer and elk. If weather is an issue, there's in in-home gym, bowling alley and golf simulator.
The home is famous for housing Stewart's one-of-a-kind racing helmet collection (we don't suspect the helmets come with the house).
Okay, we get it. We're not RealEstateWeek, but it's still fun to dream on living like a racing legend once in a while.
For more information and more incredible photos, CLICK HERE to check out the listing over at Compass Realty.
Tony Stewart home racing helmet collection.
Ping
the Koi pond is a bit much...
Fresh Sushi ?
Kid Rock would LOVE this place OR Ted Nugent, this is right up their alley!!!
They have been competitive and have helped to keep NASCAR interesting and entertaining all these years.
I wish Tony Stewart and his family great success in whatever is next for them.
KR - I can see him there but Uncle Teddly it might be a bit too uppity for Him.
HORRIBLE! LOL...what a train wreck that place is!
I had no idea his wife was a dragster driver.
I was always surprised such a short-tempered, mean, hothead could go so far.
Place looks one of those hokey Country Bears Bass World stores.
Wow! That place is nice. If you have a lot of money, you better spend it. You can’t take it with you in the end.
Probably the same interior designer who did Bass Pro Shops.
Yeah, I don’t think NUTSCAR was expecting that kinda move from SHR, it’s messing with their Charter scheme.
I fully expect Tony to finish “learning” how to kick butt in a Top Fueler a add an NHRA Championship Trophy to His Collection.
no thx...
Could you imagine how much it takes to dust that place.
I’d have to go with the Tim Allen Dusting Plan. Duct Tape everything down and fire up the Leaf Blower...
He doesn’t even duct tape the small schmit down. Just opens the windows, fires up the leaf blower and starts dustin’. Lol
No kidding - expecting to see a BassPro sign light up...
Good luck with starting a family
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