Leah Pruett is a professional drag racer who drives an NHRA Top Fuel dragster for Don Schumacher Racing. When she’s not blasting in a straight line at speeds that can exceed 330 mph, she likes to unwind at about 10-12 mph behind her Supra SL 550. We caught up with Leah shortly after she took delivery of her custom-designed Supra to find out about her passion for wake surfing and being on the water.
You drive race cars at extreme speeds for a living. What attracts you to a sport like wakesurfing?
I can’t snowboard or ride my motocross bike because of fear of injury. With wake surfing, if I fall at 11 mph it doesn’t ruin my career.
You just bought a new boat. You must like wake surfing for more than just that.
Oh yes. Wake surfing has allowed me to feel the board and the wave. It has helped me become more in tune with my body, and therefore more in tune with my race car.
Tell us more about your new Supra SL 550.
I spend half of my time in Arizona and half of my time in Indiana. I was introduced to Supra on a recent trip and fell in love with the boats. I partnered with Pro Wake in Indiana to custom build a boat. I brought it back with me to Arizona, where I live about two miles from the launch ramp at Lake Havasu.
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How does it compare to your race car?
The common denominator is the driver’s seat. The Supra’s dash provides me that same sense of control and ease of use. Just like in my car’s cockpit, everything has to come natural in order for me to do my job.
How often are you going surfing?
When I am not racing, I will be on the water every chance I get.
