ADEL, Ga. — Leah Pruett has loved a robust begin to her return to the High Gas ranks and seems as shut as ever to her first win of the season within the NHRA Mission Drag Racing Collection.
Heading to South Georgia Motorsports Park for this weekend’s NHRA Southern Nationals, Pruett can also be one in all a handful of drivers with expertise on the new monitor on NHRA’s national-event circuit.
She’s examined in quite a lot of automobiles on the facility and whereas none of these had been in a High Gas dragster, there may be some familiarity for Pruett at SGMP, which may bode effectively for the standout as she stays on the verge of her first win throughout NHRA’s seventy fifth anniversary season.
Pruett superior to the ultimate quad final weekend in Charlotte, ending third, marking her second closing spherical previously three races. Add in a No. 1 qualifier from Pomona and Pruett, who’s presently third in factors, is feeling good in her 12,000-horsepower American Insurgent Beer dragster for Tony Stewart Racing heading into this weekend’s SGMP debut.
“This yr, with my return to driving, I get to reestablish myself in entrance of everybody and each single eyeball,” Pruett mentioned. “I really feel that issues are shifting very effectively and in the fitting route for me again within the automotive and dealing with the workforce once more. This workforce can positively battle for a championship just like the previous three years, with myself and Tony (Stewart) within the driver’s seat. I’m anxious to get to (South Georgia Motorsports Park) now. I acquired my Humorous Automobile license there and examined Professional Mod and Manufacturing facility Inventory at that monitor.”
This weekend’s NHRA Southern Nationals marks NHRA’s historic first go to to South Georgia Motorsports Park and the primary of the 4 new amenities added to the 2026 NHRA season.
Pruett brings a wave of momentum to the primary back-to-back race of the season. She’ll be making an attempt to decelerate factors chief and reigning world champ Doug Kalitta, who picked up his second win of the season final weekend in Charlotte.
However he’s hardly the one standout within the class, as Pruett may even must take care of the likes of Shawn Langdon, her husband, racing legend Tony Stewart, Justin Ashley, Clay Millican, Tony Schumacher and four-time champ Antron Brown.
However after not racing the previous two years, Pruett has jumped proper again into the thick of issues, acting at a excessive stage proper off the bat. That bodes effectively for the remainder of the season as Pruett continues to get increasingly snug within the seat once more.
“Our TSR workforce continues to point out energy each single weekend,” Pruett mentioned. “I’ve to take a seat again and check out my private efficiency since Gainesville once we began the season. Then, there have been slight enhancements at Phoenix and Pomona. I’ve made the largest features (in Charlotte). I attempted one thing new (final) weekend that I used a very long time in the past. It didn’t go in addition to deliberate this time, however I’ve many advantages from the weekend for my response time toolbox. We’re very pleased with the automotive and we’re No. 3 in factors now.”
