It has been a busy two weeks at Elite Motorsports and Tony Stewart Racing (TSR). First, it was announced that Stewart’s wife, Leah Pruett, would be driving the TSR Top Fuel dragster in 2026. Elite Motorsports then announced it was buying Josh Hart’s Top Fuel operation. And now, it has been confirmed that Tony Stewart will be the driver of the Elite Motorsports Top Fuel dragster.

It was also recently announced that Elite Motorsports and TSR would be forming a strategic alliance, so Stewart taking on the driving duties for the Top Fueler makes sense. The team will be fully brought online once funding for 2026 has been secured. It was also announced that Eric Enders and Aaron Stanfield would test in the dragster and obtain their Top Fuel licenses. This is part of Elite Motorsports team owner Richard Freeman’s bigger plan to grow the organization within the NHRA.

“Having Tony as our driver, adding another Top Fuel entry, we’re taking care of the sport and opening up possibilities, that’s why we’ll have Erica and Aaron get licensed in the car as well. First things first though, we need to get the program funded, but letting everyone know our intentions, that will help,” said Freeman. “Tony is a great driver, we all know he can drive anything. He’s great for drag racing, not just as a team owner, but behind the wheel. We’re excited that through our marketing alliance with Tony Stewart Racing we’re creating an opportunity for Tony to keep a Top Fuel seat and a chance to race alongside his wife, Leah [Pruett].”

Stewart will now be in a unique position; he will own one team and be driving for another in 2026. This doesn’t seem to faze Stewart at all since it aligns with the plan to put Pruett back in the TSR car next year.

“I said from the very beginning that I was just keeping Leah’s seat warm and that it was hers as soon as she was ready to come back,” Stewart said. “Well, she’s coming back in 2026, and that Direct Connection Dodge//SRT Top Fuel dragster is going to have her name on it, not mine. And as much as I wanted to continue driving, TSR is not in a position to add a second Top Fuel car. But with Richard buying Josh Hart’s team and our recent alliance, I can still work as an owner and a driver to help both our organizations grow.”

No matter what your opinion is on Richard Freeman or Tony Stewart, one thing is clear: both of these individuals are dedicated to growing the sport of drag racing in a positive way. They continue to create opportunities within the sport, and it appears they’re not done adding teams to the nitro ranks.