Tony Stewart Bio: Parents, Wife, Kids, Legal Issues, Other Ventures, Boycott Goodyear And Net Worth
Anthony Wayne Stewart, a.k.a Tony Stewart, is a famous American semi-retired professional stock car racing driver.
Tony, nicknamed “Smoke,” is four NASCAR Cup Series championships: two as a driver in 2002 and 2005, one as an owner/driver in 2011, and another as an owner in 2014.
His range of skills shines through as he’s achieved racing titles in Indy, midget, sprint, and USAC Silver Crown cars.
Apart from being a successful NASCAR team co-owner of Stewart-Haas and the Superstar Racing Experience owner, he’s achieved remarkable achievements in his racing career.
Anthony is the sole driver to secure championships in both IndyCar and NASCAR.
His journey includes winning the 1999 Winston Cup Series Rookie of the Year and entering the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2001.
Likewise, in the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series, Tony showed remarkable consistency by winning six races, stating his skill and determination.
However, his talent in racing and Tony’s passion show in his contributions to charity.
In 2003, he founded the Tony Stewart Foundation, whose main objective is to raise and provide money for good causes.
With his second Cup championship and wins at Infineon, Daytona, New Hampshire, and Watkins Glen, the 2005 season for Stewart was another high point.
Anthony Wayne’s talent went further in NASCAR as he won the 2007 Budweiser Shootout and the Chili Bowl Nationals midget car feature.
Parents
Anthony Wayne Stewart was born to Pam Boas and Nelson Stewart on May 20, 1971, in Rushville, Indiana, USA.
While Tony is widely famous, he has always valued his family’s privacy, so there is little public information about them.
However, Tony’s mom, Pam Boas, is an Administrator at the Tony Stewart Foundation.
According to EssentiallySports, his dad, Nelson Stewart, has been racing for over sixty years and still participates in 3-quarter midget races.
Smoke often talks about how his father’s love for racing greatly influenced his career.
Tony has a sister named Natalie. She attended Columbus North High School and later graduated from Ivy Tech Community College.
Stock car racing driver Tony’s sister, Natalie, keeps a low online profile, and she’s currently the Administrator/Board of Directors-Secretary at The Tony Stewart Foundation.
Growing up, Tony and Natalie have been close and supportive of each other’s dreams and goals.
On her Facebook page, she mentions being married since October 6, 2001, and living in Zionsville, Indiana, with her family.
Leah Pruett, Wife Of Tony Stewart
Tony Stewart, the famous retired professional American stock car racing driver, is happily married to Leah Pruett.
Born on May 26, 1988, in Redlands, California, Leah Pruett is no stranger to the world of racing.
Stewart’s wife’s journey began in Top Fuel in 2013 with Dote Racing, transitioning from Pro Mod and Nostalgia Funny Car.
Before her union with Tony, Leah had her share of life’s twists. She was previously married to Todd Leduca, an off-road racer.
Later she married Gary Pritchett, a crew member for NHRA Top Fuel drag racer Steve Torrence. However, both marriages eventually ended in divorce.
Other than that, Leah Pruett secured the NHRA SAMTech Factory Stock Showdown championship in 2019, marking DSR’s inaugural series title in their debut year in the class.
Also, she stands as the sole female champion in the class’s brief history.
Leah and former NASCAR driver Tony Stewart’s love story took a beautiful turn. They charmingly shared their engagement news, posting on Instagram simultaneously on March 18, 2021.
The couple exchanged vows at a wedding on November 21, 2021, in the pretty place of Los Cabos, Mexico.
Leah Pruett’s racing skill is impressive too. She secured the 2010 Nostalgia Funny Car title in the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series.
Anthony’s wife, Leah’s racing achievements include a total of 12 event wins, with 9 in Top Fuel and 3 in Pro Modified.
Kids
While Tony Stewart and Leah Pruett, the dynamic couple, have yet to welcome children into their lives, their hearts are captivated by their shared passion and busy careers.
As they go into the exciting world of racing, their love story continues to unfold, with the possibility of expanding their family.
Their bond is undeniable, proof of their deep affection for one another. With their racing activities, they find comfort and joy in their partnership.
They travel together whenever they have spare time, discovering new locations and creating experiences that deepen their bond.
Legal Issues
In August 2014, Tony Stewart was involved in a tragic incident that led to the death of Kevin Ward Jr. during a sprint car race at Canandaigua Motorsports Park in New York.
Tony Stewart’s car made contact with Ward’s, causing Ward to spin out and crash into the wall.
A caution flag was displayed, and an upset Ward left his car and walked onto the track to confront Stewart.
Moreover, as Stewart’s car approached under caution, it struck Ward, resulting in Ward’s fatal injuries.
The incident occurred on the eve of a Cup Series race where Stewart was set to participate but chose not to race out of respect for the tragedy.
Later, he expressed deep sorrow for the accident and extended his condolences to Ward’s family and friends.
Furthermore, investigations were conducted, and the local sheriff stated there was no evidence supporting criminal charges against Stewart.
NASCAR implemented a new rule that drivers involved in accidents should stay in their cars until emergency crews arrive.
Despite the turmoil, Stewart returned to racing, emotionally sharing his pain and empathizing with Ward’s family.
A grand jury decided not to charge Stewart with criminal charges, noting that videos showed no reckless driving on Stewart’s part and that Ward was under the influence of cannabis.
Ward’s family pursued a civil lawsuit against Stewart. The suit was settled out of court in April 2018, shortly before the scheduled trial.
However, the terms of the settlement remained confidential. Throughout the process, Stewart maintained that the incident was tragic and expressed his conviction that he had done nothing wrong.
Other Ventures
Tony Stewart’s contribution to the racing world extends beyond his driving career.
1998 New England 200(London) winner Tony achieved USAC car owner championships in the Silver Crown division. He secured titles in 2002 and 2003 with J. J.
Yeley, in 2004 and 2005 with Dave Steele, and in 2010 and 2011 with Levi Jones of Olney, IL.
After the 2008 season, he obtained a 50% stake in Haas CNC Racing, a Chevrolet vehicle team.
However, the change allowed him to become an owner-driver, leaving his previous team, Joe Gibbs Racing.
At first, his team, Stewart-Haas Racing, ran two vehicles: the #14 for Anthony and the #39 for Ryan Newman.
The squad eventually increased to four vehicles and changed to Ford engines in 2017.
Also, they won two NASCAR Cup Series titles, the first in 2011 with Stewart at the wheel and the second in 2014 with Kevin Harvick.
Boycott Goodyear
A prominent NASCAR driver, Tony Stewart, expressed frustration with Goodyear’s tires after a race at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 2014.
Anthony Wayne criticized the tire’s performance and suggested that Goodyear exit the sport, advocating for Hoosier or Firestone as alternatives.
Stewart’s comments prompted a meeting with Goodyear officials during a rain delay at Bristol Motor Speedway.
While he didn’t retract his complaints, he apologized to Goodyear workers for any offense caused.
Furthermore, Leah’s husband stood by his belief that the new car’s tire had issues, even though Goodyear officials had communicated tire information well in advance to teams.
The tire manufacturer maintained that Stewart’s frustrations stemmed from a lack of grip and were focused on safety.
Other drivers came in, supporting Goodyear’s efforts while acknowledging the challenges of finding the right tire balance.
Despite the meeting, Stewart remained resolute, emphasizing that was on Goodyear to address the concerns raised.
Networth Of Tony Stewart
Tony Stewart is a retired American race car driver and businessman. According to Celebrity networth, Tony’s networth is about $90 million. He’s renowned for his NASCAR career, winning the Cup Series three times.
Additionally, Tony Stewart co-owned the IRL team Tri Star Motorsports from 1999 to 2001, along with Larry Curry, Andy Card, and Rich Ehrgott.
Besides driving, he started his racing team, the Superstar Racing Experience, and secured another title as an owner in 2014 with Kevin Harvick.
In 2003, Stewart founded the Tony Stewart Foundation, focusing on aiding chronically ill children and injured motorsport drivers and safeguarding animal species.
Also, he’s actively engaged in racing, frequently competing in a dirt late-model Chevrolet Impala labeled No. 14.
Beyond racing, he owns Custom Works, a company producing radio-controlled oval track cars.
Stewart purchased Eldora Speedway in Ohio in 2004 and co-owns Paducah International Raceway in Kentucky.
He’s also a co-owner of Macon Speedway in Illinois alongside Kenny Schrader, Kenny Wallace, and Bob Sargent.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who is the wife of Tony Stewart?
Leah Pruett is his wife.
Does Tony Stewart Have children?
No, he does not have any children for now.
Who is Tony Stewart’s Parents?
Nelson Stewart and Pam Boas is his parent’s name.
Why is the nickname of Tony Stewart “Smoke”?
“Smoke” became Tony Stewart’s nickname due to his habit of sliding the right rear tire during dirt races and experiencing engine failures throughout his 1997 championship campaign.
