Tony Schumacher Will Join Tony Stewart Racing in 2027

Leah Pruett will step down from full-time competition after the 2026 season to prioritize family.

Updated on Sept. 18, 2026 in Motorsports

Tony Schumacher Will Join Tony Stewart Racing in 2027

Driver Leah Pruett plans to step down from her full-time NHRA Top Fuel seat following the 2026 season. Tony Schumacher will join Tony Stewart Racing to take over the Top Fuel Dragster beginning in 2027.

Why it matters

Pruett intends to prioritize spending time with her son, Dominic, whom she and Tony Stewart welcomed in November 2024. The move signals a major shift for the Tony Stewart Racing team as it brings on one of the most decorated drivers in NHRA history.

Tony Schumacher holds 88 career NHRA Top Fuel wins and eight championships, significantly outpacing Leah Pruett's 13 career wins in the same division. Matt Hagan also remains a key figure for the team with four Funny Car titles.

The players

Leah Pruett

She is an accomplished NHRA Top Fuel driver who has recorded 13 career wins.

Tony Schumacher

He is a veteran drag racer with eight Top Fuel championships and 88 career wins.

Tony Stewart Racing

This is a professional racing organization competing in the NHRA league.

Matt Hagan

He is an NHRA Funny Car champion who competes for Tony Stewart Racing.

The details

Pruett, who previously stepped away from the seat during the 2024 season, chose to transition out of full-time competition to focus on family life. Schumacher will depart from his current role at Rick Ware Racing to join the Tony Stewart Racing organization for the 2027 season.

Pruett stepped away from racing during the 2024 season.
Pruett and Stewart welcomed their son Dominic in November 2024.
The 2026 season marks the current racing year.
Schumacher will begin driving for Tony Stewart Racing in 2027.

Season Trajectory

This transition marks a departure from the established driver lineup for Tony Stewart Racing as they integrate a legendary champion for the 2027 season. The move effectively resets the team's Top Fuel trajectory while Pruett steps away following her 2024 sabbatical.

Schumacher's arrival in 2027 represents a major shift in the Top Fuel standings potential for Tony Stewart Racing given his 88 career victories. The team will look to leverage his championship experience to build on the performance standards set by Pruett and Funny Car champion Matt Hagan.

The takeaway

Pruett's choice highlights the challenges of maintaining a full-time professional racing career alongside the demands of new parenthood. Fans of the sport should expect a high-profile performance shift as one of the most successful drivers in NHRA history changes teams in 2027.