TONY SCHUMACHER SIGNS MULTI-YEAR DEAL WITH TSR

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Sept. 18, 2026) — Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) announced today that eight-time NHRA Top Fuel world champion and 88-time NHRA national event winner Tony Schumacher has signed a multi-year agreement to drive for the organization beginning with the 2027 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.

Schumacher will assume the driving duties of the TSR Top Fuel Dragster following the departure of Leah Pruett, who is stepping away from full-time competition to focus on growing her family with husband and team owner Tony Stewart.

“I made the decision to step out of the seat to put some more focus on our family. Hopefully that means growing our family, but it also gives me the opportunity to be more present with Dom during such an important stage of his life. I feel incredibly fortunate that I’m in a position where I can make that choice, and I’m genuinely excited about what this next chapter looks like for us,” said Pruett. “At the same time, this season has been one of the most fulfilling of my career. I’ve had so much enjoyment racing with my team, and personally, the pursuit of continuing to push myself to try to match the level at which this team performs has been incredibly challenging and rewarding. I’m proud of the progress we’ve made together, and I’m proud of where this program is headed.

“That makes me even more excited about who we’re putting in the seat. Tony Schumacher is one of the most decorated racers our sport has ever seen,” Pruett continued. “There’s been so much momentum building within this team, and I have every confidence that Tony can take what we’ve built and continue pushing it forward. When you look at the team, the partners and now the driver, the puzzle pieces have really come together to create something that I believe will compete for championships for a long time.”

Currently sitting third in the NHRA Top Fuel Championship point standings, Pruett has 13 national event wins to her name including the 2026 NHRA New England Nationals, her first win since becoming a mother. Pruett first stepped away from driving duties following the 2023 season when she battled to a winner-take-all final round against Doug Kalitta at the NHRA Finals. She came up 57 points short of winning the Top Fuel world title.

“I also have to acknowledge our partners and the fans who have supported me through every version of this journey,” Pruett said. “They supported me when I stepped away three years ago to start our family, they welcomed me back with an incredible amount of love when I returned to racing, and they continue to support me as our family evolves again. There really isn’t a roadmap for navigating motherhood and a career at this level of motorsports, so having that kind of support has meant more to me than I can put into words.

“And just to be clear, this is not retirement, and I’m not going anywhere. I plan to be every bit as involved with this team as I was the last time I stepped out of the seat,” Pruett clarified. “And, just like before, the hope is that there’s another opportunity for me to get back in the car. I’m not making any promises or putting a timeline on it, but I feel really comfortable and confident knowing we’ve built a solid foundation and a formidable team that can continue chasing championships for years to come.”

The winningest driver in Top Fuel history, Schumacher brings more than three decades of championship-caliber experience and an unmatched record of success to TSR’s Nitro program. He will compete alongside four-time Funny Car world champion and 2026 regular season champion Matt Hagan, while Stewart will continue competing in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series with Elite Motorsports.

“I am truly proud of Leah. I think anyone who knows her can understand what I mean. As a mother, as a wife, as a race car driver: she really is an incredible human being,” Stewart said. “For her to be able to make the decision to step out of the seat, not just once, but twice, especially after the comeback year the team is having, that takes a level of strength and determination few people have. Seeing her with Dom, juggling the pressures of racing while being so present for him and for me, I’m really not sure how she does it all. Like I said three years ago, the decision, the timing, is up to her and I completely support any decision she makes.

“We have some of the best partners who have been supportive of Leah’s journey and our family, and we could not do this without them. That’s why I think we’re lucky to be able to say Tony Schumacher is coming on board to fill the seat. His experience, talent and understanding of what it takes to compete at this level make him the perfect fit for this opportunity. We have a lot of confidence in him, and we are excited about what the future holds for the team.
“I will continue to drive for Elite Motorsports. I’m enjoying myself and the rapport I’ve built with Mike Green, Joe Barlam, Richard Freeman and the group they’ve put together. Racing against my own team keeps things interesting.”

As part of the agreement, Schumacher’s longtime partners—American Communications Construction, Aloha Beauty Lounge, 5.11 and Hollinger—will join Tony Stewart Racing’s established partner portfolio, including Dodge and Mopar, who will both have a continued presence on the TSR Top Fuel Dragster in a primary and an associate capacity.

“I couldn’t have seen this coming or planned something this good—it truly fell into place as perfectly as possible. Over the last several years, it’s been a building process. To get to this moment where I get to represent ACC, Aloha Beauty, and all my partners alongside people who operate at a high level and truly love the sport—I couldn’t be more pleased to be joining TSR,” Schumacher said. “I feel privileged that Tony Stewart and Leah Pruett, such a power couple who are in this purely for the love of the sport, trust me with the seat of the Top Fuel dragster. I’ve known them for a while, Leah at DSR, Tony when he had Ryan Newman’s Army car, and I’ve worked with (crew chief) Neal Strausbaugh and (car chief) Ryan McGilvry before, we’ve battled through championships together. Then to be brought into the Dodge family—who were an affiliate for the Army car at DSR—and now be a teammate to some of the best drivers and team owners is pretty incredible. My wife, Summer, our sponsors, and I are excited for the future and look forward to chasing championships.”

American Communications Construction (ACC) and Aloha Beauty Lounge first partnered with Schumacher during the 2025 NHRA U.S. Nationals and have remained committed to supporting the Hall of Fame driver’s long-term racing program. Their continued involvement underscores the strength of Schumacher’s partnerships as he begins this next chapter with Tony Stewart Racing.

“American Communications Construction is proud to support Tony Schumacher, the winningest Top Fuel driver in NHRA history, as we embark on this exciting new partnership with Tony Stewart Racing. Tony Schumacher’s extraordinary record, experience, and commitment to excellence make him an exceptional representative of the sport and a tremendous partner for our company,” said Aven McBride, President of American Communications Construction. “We are equally excited about the opportunity to align American Communications Construction with the Tony Stewart Racing organization and its culture of competition, performance, and innovation. We look forward to building a strong and successful partnership and to becoming a force together in the NHRA Drag Racing series.

The Dodge brand began its partnership with TSR in 2022, the team’s debut year in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. The partnership has since yielded 25 wins, a 2023 NHRA Funny Car world championship with Hagan and two regular season championships (2025 in Top Fuel with Stewart and most recently 2026 in Funny Car with Hagan). Dodge was previously an associate sponsor for Schumacher through their partnership program with Don Schumacher Racing from 2003 to 2021.

“Since joining forces with Tony Stewart Racing in 2022, Dodge has built a winning NHRA partnership highlighted by 25 victories, Matt Hagan’s 2023 Funny Car world championship and Leah Pruett’s championship-caliber Top Fuel run that same season,” said Matt McAlear, Dodge CEO. “Dodge has spent more than six decades forging one of the most successful legacies in NHRA history, collecting championships and race wins across generations. We thank Leah for her tremendous partnership and contributions to Dodge, and we’re excited to welcome Tony Schumacher, the winningest Top Fuel driver in NHRA history, to Tony Stewart Racing’s Dodge lineup for the 2027 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. With Tony and Matt behind the wheel, we’re ready to chase more wins, contend for more championships and give Dodge enthusiasts more to cheer about next season.”

Schumacher will make his debut under the TSR umbrella at the 2027 season-opening NHRA Winternationals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona, Calif. February 18-21, 2027.

About American Communications Construction

Since 2001, American Communications Construction, Inc. (ACC), has been a trusted leader in building the backbone of communication across the greater Houston, Texas, area and beyond. ACC specializes in every aspect of the communications industry, including aerial and underground fiber optic placement, single-mode and multi-mode fiber splicing, cable testing, structured wiring, and complete infrastructure design for both commercial and residential projects.

Our experienced team – many with more than 20 years in the industry – takes pride in delivering precision, safety and efficiency on every job. Whether it’s connecting entire communities through large-scale fiber optic networks or providing tailored solutions for businesses and homes, our mission is to ensure reliable, high-quality communication systems that stand the test of time.

Beyond our technical expertise, we are deeply committed to giving back, supporting local organizations, and investing in the communities we serve. At American Communications Construction, we don’t just build networks – we build connections that last.

About Aloha Beauty Lounge

Since 2007, Aloha Beauty Lounge has been a trusted destination for beauty, self-care and connection in the heart of Tomball, Texas. Offering a full range of services – all delivered by a skilled and passionate team dedicated to helping clients look and feel their absolute best.

Our philosophy is simple: every guest who walks through our doors is treated like family. We take pride in creating a welcoming, relaxing environment where beauty meets genuine care. Beyond our services, we are committed to giving back, supporting local schools, sponsoring community events and partnering with charities that make a difference. At Aloha Beauty Lounge, beauty is just the beginning. Our true passion lies in uplifting our community, one client at a time.

About Dodge
For 112 years, the Dodge brand has carried on the spirit of brothers John and Horace Dodge. Today, that legacy roars louder than ever in the lineup of Dodge, America’s performance brand.

The Dodge Charger multi-energy lineup features:

• SIXPACK-powered 420-horsepower Dodge Charger R/T with the most standard horsepower of any muscle car
• 550-horsepower Dodge Charger Scat Pack, powered by the 3.0L twin-turbo SIXPACK high-output (H.O.) engine — the most powerful Hurricane engine in production
• Quickest and most powerful AWD muscle car in the all-electric 670-horsepower Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack

Every Charger comes standard with all-wheel drive and offers two-door coupe or four-door sedan configurations — because with performance comes choice.

The Dodge lineup is also fueled by the most powerful gas SUV ever, the 710-horsepower Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat, powered by the legendary supercharged HEMI® V8 engine. The Durango SRT Hellcat Jailbreak breaks free from convention with the three-row SUV, unlocking more than 14 million potential customization combinations. The Dodge Durango R/T 392 delivers the most horsepower per dollar for a gas SUV, and the 360-horsepower 5.7-liter Durango GT HEMI AWD remains the most affordable AWD V8 in the industry.

The purchase of a SIXPACK-powered Charger Scat Pack, Charger Daytona Scat Pack or Durango SRT Hellcat model includes one day of performance driving instruction at Radford Racing School, the official Dodge//SRT high-performance driving school.

About Mopar
Mopar is the global name for Stellantis genuine parts and authentic accessories.

A simple combination of the words MOtor and PARts, Mopar offers exceptional service, parts and customer care. Born in 1937 as the name of a line of antifreeze products, Mopar has evolved over more than 88 years to represent both complete vehicle care and authentic performance for owners and enthusiasts worldwide.

Mopar made its mark in the 1960s during the muscle-car era with performance parts to enhance speed and handling for both on-road and racing use. Later, Mopar expanded to include technical service and customer support, and today integrates service, parts and customer-care operations in order to enhance customer and dealer support worldwide.

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