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Tony Stewart ‘Proud’ Of His Wife As She Navigates Struggles Away From The NHRA
Autoweek ^ | APR 28, 2024 | DEB WILLIAMS

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.

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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.”


TOPICS: Sports
KEYWORDS: automotive; family; leahpruett; nhra; racing; sports; tonystewart
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To: mabarker1

100%

to me, seafood is Mrs. Paul’s filet of fish, wi enough sauce so’s not to taste the fish... 8^)


21 posted on 06/17/2024 11:43:34 AM PDT by Chode (there is no fall back position, there's no rally point, there is no LZ... we're on our own. #FJB)
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To: Chode

Yellow and White corn meal mix with S&P lightly coated (Dredged) on Freshly caught Bass, Bream or Farm Raised Tilapia or Catfish. Deep Fried with Hushpuppies, Fried Taters of some kind (Tots/FF) and/or Onion Rings with lots of Ketchup (NOT hienz !!!) and Lots of Cold Brewskis !!!


22 posted on 06/17/2024 11:59:12 AM PDT by mabarker1 ( (Congress- the opposite of PROGRESS!!! A fraud, a hypocrite, a liar. I'm a member of Congress!!!)
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To: GBA

LOL !!!


23 posted on 06/17/2024 11:59:56 AM PDT by mabarker1 ( (Congress- the opposite of PROGRESS!!! A fraud, a hypocrite, a liar. I'm a member of Congress!!!)
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To: NWFree

Ditto’s on that !!!


24 posted on 06/17/2024 12:00:57 PM PDT by mabarker1 ( (Congress- the opposite of PROGRESS!!! A fraud, a hypocrite, a liar. I'm a member of Congress!!!)
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To: mabarker1

Farm Raised Tilapia, ewww... they live on sh!t don’t they???


25 posted on 06/17/2024 12:24:49 PM PDT by Chode (there is no fall back position, there's no rally point, there is no LZ... we're on our own. #FJB)
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To: GBA

SHR is smart, ahead of the curve. They saw the handwriting on the wall...Nascar is Bud Lighting themselves out of business. This year’s rainblow flag garbage is killing them.
Besides, electric cars aren’t that exciting to watch, without the sounds.


26 posted on 06/17/2024 12:27:45 PM PDT by Fireone (Who killed Obama's chef?)
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To: Chode

https://www.ift.org/career-development/learn-about-food-science/food-facts/food-facts-food-health-and-nutrition/wildcaught-fish-vs-farmraised-fish

https://www.villagevoice.com/


27 posted on 06/17/2024 12:34:58 PM PDT by mabarker1 ( (Congress- the opposite of PROGRESS!!! A fraud, a hypocrite, a liar. I'm a member of Congress!!!)
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To: mabarker1
i'll have a few smelt now and again when they're running...

Since they are raised in crowded fish pens, tilapia are more prone to diseases. Farm owners give them antibiotics to prevent them from getting sick. They're also given pesticides to treat sea lice, a common problem. These chemicals are effective but are nevertheless harmful to people's health when ingested.Nov 30, 2023


28 posted on 06/17/2024 1:42:47 PM PDT by Chode (there is no fall back position, there's no rally point, there is no LZ... we're on our own. #FJB)
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To: Chode

Can’t they swim faster than they walk ?


29 posted on 06/17/2024 4:46:00 PM PDT by mabarker1 ( (Congress- the opposite of PROGRESS!!! A fraud, a hypocrite, a liar. I'm a member of Congress!!!)
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To: mabarker1

i just void things that pizz, sh!t, breath, and EAT all in the same space... 8^(


30 posted on 06/17/2024 5:40:23 PM PDT by Chode (there is no fall back position, there's no rally point, there is no LZ... we're on our own. #FJB)
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