“No, who told you that?": Tony Stewart once joked about never getting married, long before tying the knot with Leah Pruett
NASCAR legend Tony Stewart has been a dynamic personality both on and off the race track. The 53-year-old is married to Leah Pruett, who also drove for him in NHRA and other competitions. However, long before saying 'I do' to Leah Pruett, Tony Stewart was adamant he was never going to marry.
In an old interview at “The Dan Patrick Show,” Stewart was asked by the host if he was getting married. Smoke immediately quashed the claims and said:
“No. Who told you that? I’ve made it 46 years!”
The Stewart-Haas Racing co-owner has certainly come a long way since. He got engaged to Playboy model Pennelope Jimenez just 65 days after stating his desire never to marry.
Although his engagement with Jimenez did not work, Stewart popped the question to Pruett in 2021 and later married the NHRA star. The couple are expecting their first child (a baby boy) soon. Pruett is also a 12-time NHRA National Event Champion and a 2-time NHRA World Champ.
The 3-time NASCAR champion and Pruett married in November 2021 in an intimate ceremony at Los Cabos. The couple currently spearhead their NHRA team Tony Stewart Racing in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.
Tony Stewart and team include pregnant Leah Pruett in their team dinner with a cute gesture
Leah Pruett was not present physically during Tony Stewart's NHRA team dinner, but that did not mean Stewart's wife was not involved in it. Pruett, who is pregnant and expecting their first child anytime soon was involved in the team dinner, courtesy of husband Stewart's lovely gesture.
In a social media post by Smoke's NHRA team, Stewart was seen holding his wife's cut-out replacement with the caption:
"Even when @LeahPruett_TF isn’t at the team dinner, she’s still here"
The team is currently in Ponoma, California for the final round of NHRA Finals. Normally, it is Pruett who pilots Stewart's NHRA car. However, the 3-time NASCAR champion decided to fill in for his wife during her pregnancy.
Pruett has also announced that she does not plan on driving again in 2025 but her NASCAR champion husband will continue to participate in her absence.
She said: (Quotes via Autoweek)
"For the public, for the fans, for the partners, they can expect to see Tony Stewart start the 2025 season just as he did the 2024 season."
She also mentioned,
"Just because I might be ready in 2026 to get back in, well, that means Tony has to come out. Tony loves NHRA drag racing, and I don't want to get him out."
Stewart is currently 10th in the points standings with 2215 points. He is 260 points behind leader Justin Ashley.