LEAH PRUETT SIGNS OFF – FOR NOW
When Leah Pruett announced in December her plans to step out of the driver role to try to start a family with husband and team owner Tony Stewart , she noted that the PRO Superstar Shootout would be her final appearance in her Tony Stewart Racing Top Fuel dragster for the time being . Stewart will take her place as the team attempts to improve on Pruett ’ s third-place finish in the 2023 NHRA Top Fuel points standings .
That made for a bittersweet weekend for Pruett , who signed special “ Thank you , fans !” hero cards throughout the event . She didn ’ t show signs of stressing over this transitional phase of her career , instead focusing on the bright future .
“ I really consider this race multi-dimensional ,” Pruett told FloRacing ’ s Courtney Enders . “ For one , we ’ re focusing on success – for this car , for this race . It ’ s the Super Bowl of all drag races . But also , significance – for what PRO has done and what this means for the entire industry of drag racing . And then for me personally , it could be one of my last times in the short term for racing . I ’ m really embracing all of the moments and trying to get this race car with this team in a hot pursuit for a championship for Tony when he gets in it .”
With Johnson ’ s Horsepowered Garage represented prominently on her dragster , Pruett qualified No . 8 with a 3.72 at 329.99 before drawing No . 3 qualifier Mike Salinas in the random chip draw . She made the second-quickest pass of the first round , a 3.972 at 266.53 , to move past Salinas and his 4.412 . That set up a semifinal rematch of the Top Fuel final round from the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals , where Doug Kalitta beat Pruett to win the championship . This one also went Kalitta ’ s way , with Pruett ’ s 3.741 at 328.38 coming up short to Kalitta ’ s 3.709 . DI
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