Tony Stewart Switching To Elite Motorsports NHRA Top Fuel Team In 2026

Tony Stewart is going to be racing against his own team in the NHRA next season.

The 2025 regular season Top Fuel champion is giving the Tony Stewart Racing car back to his wife Leah Pruett in 2026 as she returns from maternity leave, but he isn’t giving up the sport.

Stewart instead plans to drive a new Elite Motorsports Top Fuel car the team is adding, the two parties have confirmed. Elite has purchased the Josh Hart Racing Top Fuel program, which it will take over at the end of this season. It’s already the largest NHRA operation, running several cars in lower classes, primarily Pro Stock.

The ride is contingent on the car getting sponsors and team owner Richard Freeman said getting the world out that Stewart is on board will help. Tony Stewart Racing and Elite Motorsports had already formed a sales, marketing, and hospitality partnership.

See It: BRITTANY FORCE JUST BROKE HER NHRA SPEED RECORD AT 343.51 MPH AS TONY STEWART WINS CHAMPIONSHIP

“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,” Freeman said. “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.”

Stewart is coming off of a huge crash at the Reading Nationals, where Doug Kalitta’s car lost control after the finish line and veered across the center line. Both escaped serious injury and will be racing at the 4-Wide Carolina Nationals in Charlotte this weekend.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE FREE AMERICAN CARS AND RACING NEWSLETTER FOR THE LATEST

Stewart, in just his second Top Fuel season, is second in the points behind Kalitta with five races to go in the Countdown to the Championship postseason racing slate.