NASCAR great Tony Stewart has recently made headlines for a philanthropic contribution that extends his legacy far beyond the racetrack. His generous $2.25 million donation is spearheading the creation of a new specialized healthcare setup, an effort his wife, NHRA star Leah Pruett, recently brought into the spotlight.
Pruett took to Instagram to share a rare glimpse inside the new pediatric intermediate care unit (IMCU), a hospital unit for kids needing more care than a regular ward but less intensive support than a full Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). The facility is expected to serve an additional 2,100 children each year.
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Novant Health and Stewart and his wife, Pruett, celebrated a new IMCU for children in Charlotte.
Watch Pruett’s Instagram stories:
For Tony Stewart, the decision behind his donation is rooted in gratitude and connection to the community that supported him during his racing career. Speaking to Queen City News about the contribution, the NASCAR Hall of Famer said:
“I think for us it just was a great opportunity, and especially for me, as much as I spent here in my racing career, and what it’s meant to my life, and what it’s going to do for our future. To be able to give back to this community is really important to us,” Stewart said.
Tony Stewart, who retired from NASCAR in 2016, spent nearly two decades in the sport. He was known for his versatile talent, also winning in IndyCar and drag racing, cementing his status as a legendary, versatile motorsports figure.
Tony Stewart will race against his wife in 2026 NHRA season
Former NASCAR team owner Stewart is still racing at the age of 54, as he will take the wheel of the Elite Motorsports Top Fuel dragster for the 2026 Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series season.
While his wife, Pruett, who is a two-time NHRA world champion, will resume her role at Tony Stewart Racing in the NHRA next year after stepping away for the 2024 and 2025 seasons due to family reasons. Now both will race against each other even though their teams have a marketing alliance.
The 2026 season will mark Stewart’s third Top Fuel season. His first two seasons were strong, as he won Rookie of the Year in 2024. However, he had a breakout 2025 season where he won his first Top Fuel race in Las Vegas, later took a second win, and ended up clinching the prestigious 2025 regular season championship.
Edited by Yash Soni
