For more than 70 years, the NHRA has been at the forefront of championing women in motorsports.

On Sept. 17, the sanctioning body continued that mission by introducing a groundbreaking policy—the first of its kind in motor racing—designed to support female racers who are starting a family.

The newly introduced policy, championed by Top Fuel star Leah Pruett and a coalition of women racers from the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, is an amendment to the current overarching driver replacement policy and marks another significant step forward.

Pruett, who had a career-best third-place finish in the 2023 points standings, sat out the 2024 NHRA season to start a family with her husband, NASCAR legend and NHRA team owner and Top Fuel driver Tony Stewart. She is expecting their first child in November.

Initially, NHRA proposed that female racers would earn points for the season even if they only participated in a single race.  However, the coalition, spearheaded by Pruett, advocated for a more balanced approach. They proposed a system where points from both the pregnant racer and their replacement driver would be compared, with the higher total being counted toward the season championship.

Below is the outline for the new policy:

Participating While Pregnant

Participants who wish to participate in drag racing while pregnant must request a Pregnancy in Drag Racing information packet from the Racing Administration department. The participant’s OB/GYN provider must review and complete all forms provided in the information packet and return them to NHRA for review and approval by NHRA and its chief medical officer. Participation in drag racing while pregnant is completely voluntary and subject to the processes and policies described in the Pregnancy in Drag Racing information packet.

Stopping Participation

If, after having participated in one (1) or more races after the start of a season, a participant who is pregnant (or undergoing fertility treatment in advance of pregnancy) wishes to stop participating as a result of her pregnancy (or fertility treatment), the following rules will apply:

1. Upon submission and NHRA’s acceptance of a pregnancy verification letter signed by the participant’s OB/GYN provider, the pregnant driver may be replaced by a replacement driver.

2. The replacement driver must have proper credentials and meet event entry criteria.

3. For purposes of the series championship:

a. if the replacement driver earns fewer overall series points than the driver who stopped participating as a result of her pregnancy (or fertility treatment), all series points earned by the replacement driver will be credited to the driver who stopped participating as a result of her pregnancy (or fertility treatment); and

b. if the replacement driver earns more overall series points than the driver who stopped participating as a result of her pregnancy (or fertility treatment), all series points earned by the replacement driver will be credited to the replacement driver.

4. For purposes of calculating the points earned by each driver for this policy, NHRA will count only those points earned by each driver in connection with Mission Foods Drag Racing Series events (including qualifying bonus points, but not including points earned in specialty races such as the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge). Points credited to a driver as a result of points adjustments for the Countdown to the Championship will not count for purposes of this policy.

5. In the event the replacement driver and the driver who stopped participating as a result of her pregnancy (or fertility treatment) earn the same amount of points, the driver with the most rounds won during the regular season will be credited all series points.

6. Any event prize monies will be paid to the payee as designated on the original entry form.

Returning to Participation If, at the start of a season, a participant chooses to refrain from participating in drag racing, or is not authorized to participate in drag racing, in each case as a result of a recent pregnancy, then the following rules will apply:

Returning to Participation
If, at the start of a season, a participant chooses to refrain from participating in drag racing, or is not authorized to participate in drag racing, in each case as a result of a recent pregnancy, then the following rules will apply:

1. If the original participant (i.e., formerly pregnant participant and medically cleared to participate) competes in one (1) or more national events prior to the first event of the Countdown to the Championship, all points earned by the replacement driver will be credited to the original participant.

2. If the original participant (i.e., formerly pregnant participant and medically cleared to participate) does not compete in one (1) or more national events prior to the first event of the Countdown to the Championship, then all points earned by the replacement driver will be credited to the replacement driver.

NHRA’s replacement driver policy – prior to the sanctioning body’s revision on Sept. 17. – was highlighted this season when Jack Beckman, the 2012 NHRA nitro Funny Car world champion, was tabbed to replace legendary John Force, while Force continues to recover from a TBI (traumatic brain injury) suffered in a June 23 crash in Richmond, Va.

By NHRA rules at the time, when a driver is unable to compete, the race team may employ a substitute who can earn points for the original driver in a maximum of eight tour events. This means when Beckman rolled to the starting line for qualifying at the 42nd annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minn., Aug. 16, he began pursuing a 17th championship title for Force.

Following his runner-up finish at the first race of the six-race Countdown to the Championship – the Pep Nationals in Reading, Pa., Sept. 15 – Beckman moved Force up to third in the points standings.

Force is 99 points behind the leader and fellow John Force Racing driver Austin Prock.