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Hagan Enjoys ‘Magical Weekend,’ Takes Dodge Power Brokers Mile-High Nationals Victory in Final Bandimere Speedway NHRA Event

MORRISON, CO – Matt Hagan drove his Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) Dodge//SRT Direct Connection Hellcat Funny Car to the final win light in the 43-year history of the Dodge Power Brokers NHRA Mile-High Nationals at famed Bandimere Speedway on Sunday.

Hagan, the No. 1 qualifier in the Dodge Power Brokers Mile-High Nationals for the third consecutive year at “Thunder Mountain,” defeated Alexis DeJoria in the final round with a 4.135-second run at 304.25 miles per hour, to DeJoria’s 4.217 effort. The victory was Hagan’s fourth in the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series and his 47th career NHRA national event win.

Earlier in the event the Virginia racer defeated Chris King, and after a bye run took down reigning NHRA Funny Car World Champion Ron Capps to advance to the final race against DeJoria.

Hagan completed a weekend “Grand Slam” by also taking the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge for the Funny Car Class on Saturday with a win over Bob Tasca.

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Hagan Scores 50th Career Pole in Dodge//SRT Direct Connection Funny Car at Dodge Power Brokers NHRA Mile-High Nationals

MORRISON, CO – Matt Hagan, the current NHRA Camping World Funny Car point leader, captured his 50th career No. 1 qualifying position Saturday in his Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) Dodge//SRT Direct Connection Hellcat Funny Car at the final Dodge Power Brokers NHRA Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway.

Hagan, the three-time NHRA Funny Car World Champion from Christiansburg, Virginia, drove his nitro-burning machine to a 3.895-second pass at 324.59 miles per hour in recording his fourth Mile-High Nationals pole position, just six thousands off the track record Hagan also took top qualifying honors in 2010, 2021 and 2022.

This weekend’s race is the final NHRA national event at the popular Colorado racing facility, as the racetrack will conclude operation at the end of the 2023 racing season. Hagan is hoping to add another Mile-High Nationals trophy to his collection after taking the 2021 Funny Car crown at Bandimere.

Hagan also won the Mission Food #2Fast2Tasty Funny Car Challenge title Saturday over Bob Tasca.

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Defending Top Fuel Event Champion Pruett, 2021 Funny Car Winner Hagan Return to the “Mountain” in Final Dodge Power Brokers NHRA Mile-High Nationals

Auburn Hills, MI – Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) drivers Leah Pruett and Matt Hagan list the legendary Bandimere Speedway as one of their favorite drag racing venues on the 22-race NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series and both racers have fond memories on the “Mountain.”

Pruett, the defending Dodge Power Brokers NHRA Mile-High Nationals Top Fuel champion, and Hagan, the three-time NHRA Funny Car World Champion, feel sentimental as they head to the Denver area for the final edition of the NHRA national event after 43 years of competition and 35 with Dodge and Mopar partnership.

Now in its 65th year as a drag racing facility, the Bandimere family announced that 2023 will be the final season for the track’s straight-line activities. A Stellantis brand has sponsored the Mile-High Nationals since 1989, with the 2023 edition marking 35 years of partnership with the NHRA and the Bandimere family. Dodge — America’s performance brand — and the Mopar brand have long histories at the famed track nestled in the Rocky Mountains.

Pruett and Hagan want nothing more than to add to that history by putting their Dodge Direct Connection machines in the final Dodge Power Brokers Mile-High National winner’s circle.

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Dodge Brand Gears up to Celebrate Historic Finale at Dodge Power Brokers NHRA Mile-High Nationals

Auburn Hills, MI – The longest-running active event or race sponsorship in all of motorsports is coming to an end, and Dodge — America’s performance brand —  is planning to bring the thunder to the Rocky Mountains one last time at the final Dodge Power Brokers NHRA Mile-High Nationals, scheduled for July 14-16, 2023, at famed Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, Colorado.

A Stellantis brand has sposored the Mile-High Nationals since 1989, with the 2023 edition marking 35 years of partnership with the NHRA and the Bandimere family, owners of Bandimere Speedway for 65 years. This year will mark the final NHRA national event at Bandimere Speedway, as the track will close at the conclusion of the 2023 racing season.

The Dodge and Mopar brands have created memories and milestones at the drag strip also known as “Thunder Mountain,” with passionate support from Denver-area racing fans who have turned out to fill the grandstands without fail each year. Dodge will help make the final event a memorable one by displaying the brand’s new 1,025-horsepower 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170, the quickest, most powerful muscle car in the world.

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Pruett Takes First 2023 NHRA National Event Win at Norwalk, Drives Dodge Direct Connection Top Fuel Dragster to Victory

NORWALK, OH – The hot and humid conditions always prove to be tricky at an NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series national event, but Leah Pruett and her Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) Dodge Direct Connection team were the masters of that environment Sunday by capturing the Top Fuel division win in the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio.

Pruett drove her TSR Direct Connection dragster past current NHRA Top Fuel point leader Justin Ashley in the final round with a 3.761-second pass at 326.79 miles per hour to score her first 2023 NHRA win and jump into the top-three in the Top Fuel current standings entering the next event on July 14-16 at the Dodge Power Brokers NHRA Mile-High Nationals in Morrison, Colorado. Pruett is the defending champion at her primary sponsor’s upcoming event.

The Arizona driver opened the Ohio racing weekend by qualifying her Top Fueler in the No. 1 position for the second straight event and advanced past Kyle Wurtzel in the first round. She then defeated Mike Salinas in round two and young Austin Prock in the semifinals. Ashley had lane choice in the final against Pruett, but he smoked the tires at half-track as Pruett drove to the win light.

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Pruett, Hagan Finish NHRA Bristol/Epping Doubleheader Early After Tough Weather Conditions with Rain Delays in Both Events 

BRISTOL, TN – The TSR Nitro squad recorded the No. 1 Top Fuel qualifying position for the first time in the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series at Bristol Dragway when Leah Pruett topped the 16-driver starting lineup with her TSR Rush Truck Services/Dodge//SRT dragster for Sunday’s NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.

The NHRA weekend at Bristol was unique as it served as a doubleheader event with the rained-out Epping, NH, eliminations being contested as well as the Thunder Valley Nationals. The Bristol eliminations were also delayed Sunday due to rain.

Pruett, ranked in the top-four in the NHRA Top Fuel points entering the Bristol event, advanced to the second round in the Epping eliminations with the weekend’s best run of 3.745 at 322.42 miles per hour. Leah defeated Doug Kalitta in the opening before losing to Mike Salinas in round two with a 3.894 to Salinas’s 3.848.

In the Bristol elimination rounds, Pruett lost a close race in the first round to Spencer Massey with a 3.824 to Massey’s 3.781. Despite the Bristol loss, Leah remains in the top-five in the Top Fuel standings entering the next event, Summit Racing Equipment Nationals, at Norwalk, OH.

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In Tricky Conditions at Gerber Route 66 Nationals Sunday

JOLIET, IL – It was a tough three weeks for the Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) team with the rebuilding of Matt Hagan’s Direct Connection Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car after the Charlotte incident into the catch netting.

Having the first eight feet of the Funny Car chassis replaced at a local Brownsburg, Indiana repair shop, Hagan, the winner of three 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series national events, tested well before this weekend’s NHRA Gerber Route 66 Nationals and the Dickie Venables-led crew was prepared for the return to the Illinois drag strip south of Chicago.

Unfortunately, after qualifying fourth in the 16-car field, Hagan’s Funny Car lost traction in the first round of eliminations Sunday in tricky track conditions.

Despite the first-round loss, Hagan maintains the top position in the current NHRA Funny Car point standings as the tour moves to the NHRA New England Nationals in Epping, New Hampshire, on June 2-4.

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Busy Route 66 NHRA Nationals Preparation Drives Hagan’s TSR Dodge Crew After Qualifying Challenges at NHRA Charlotte Event

BROWNSBURG, IN – Stopping a 330 mile per hour, nitro-breathing monster can be a handful. Just ask three-time NHRA Camping World Funny Car champion Matt Hagan.

Hagan, the hottest driver entering the NHRA Circle K Four-Wide Nationals at Charlotte, had won three of the first four 2023 NHRA national events with his Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) Direct Connection Dodge//SRT Hellcat and was seeking a fourth “Wally” trophy two weeks ago at zMAX Dragway.

The opening round of qualifying, with four nitro-burning machines, was set on Friday afternoon and Hagan’s 1000-foot pass was a good one. But there was a problem with the car at the finish line at 326 miles per hour.

The two parachutes attached to the rear of Hagan’s Dodge//SRT Hellcat didn’t deploy. A small part in the release of the chutes failed and, while he was hard on the car’s brakes, Matt had to drive his Dodge Funny Car into the sand trap at the end of the track and then the safety netting stationed for stopping any racing vehicles.

Hagan walked away from the incident, but his Dodge//SRT Hellcat was damaged. The carbon fiber body was destroyed, and the car’s chassis was bent. This required the TSR crew to pull out the team’s backup Dodge for the remainder of the weekend’s racing events.

“We are always prepared for anything with the primary car,” said Dickie Venables, Crew Chief for Hagan’s Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car, whose team is ready with a rebuilt car for the upcoming NHRA National event at Joliet, IL, on May 19-21. “It was very unfortunate what happened at Charlotte with Matt and the car going into the netting. But we had the backup car ready to go for the next round of qualifying. It had been a few years since that had happened to us back in Gainesville, but we went on to win that race. So, the backup is always ready.”

And Venables’ squad was prepared for a busy week following the Charlotte event as the team rebuilt the Dodge//SRT Hellcat for the next event on May 19-21 in Joliet, IL.

“The car was a mess with sand everywhere and the chassis being bent,” said Venables. “It took us half a day for the cleanup of the car, and we then drove the chassis down the street for the repairs. Joe Fitzpatrick and Dan Murphy at Precision Built Race Cars were ready for us after a Saturday night phone call regarding the bent chassis. It’s just down the street from the TSR shop and they began repairing the car immediately.”

With the chassis in rebuild mode, Venables and crew continued their regular preparation work including cylinder heads, clutch and engine building for the next event.

“Luckily, we didn’t have any damage with the engine and clutch,” said Venables, the veteran crew chief who has led Hagan to multiple World Championships. “Joe and Dan’s group basically cut off the first eight feet of the chassis and rebuilt the frame right by where Matt’s feet are in the car.

“Everything is coming together very well. It was a tough weekend at Charlotte, but we have a very experienced crew, and they can handle these misfortunes very well. We have prepared all the parts for the new chassis, and I’ve confident the car will be strong at Joilet.”

Hagan also is confident in his team’s preparation for Joliet despite the Charlotte incident.

“I’ll take our guys against the other Funny Car teams in preparation after a mishap,” said Hagan, the current NHRA Camping World Funny Car point leader. “Dickie and his boys are the best at coming back from adversity. We have been through a lot over the years, and I trust their experience giving me a strong car. Charlotte was a tough weekend, but I’m anxious for the Route 66 event. We’ll be ready when qualifying opens on Friday.”

Hagan currently holds a 58-point lead in the NHRA Camping World Funny Car standings entering the May 19-21 Gerber Collision and Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance.

“It’s been several years (since 2019) since we have raced at Joliet,” said Venables. “But we have some excellent research from our past events at the track, and I think the rebuilt chassis will perform very well at that place. We will study the conditions for that track and be ready to roll this Friday when qualifying opens.”

Action begins this Friday, May 19, at Route 66 Raceway with Nitro qualifying set for 6 p.m. CDT. Saturday’s qualifying will take place at 2:35 p.m. CDT and 6 p.m CDT with final eliminations scheduled for 11 a.m. CDT on Sunday, May 21. Television coverage of the Route 66 Raceway eliminations will be televised at 10 p.m. EDT on Fox Sports 1.

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Pruett Takes TSR Rush Truck Services/Dodge SRT Top Fueler to Runner-Up in Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at Charlotte

CONCORD, NC – Leah Pruett of Lake Havasu, AZ, drove her Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) Rush Truck Services/Dodge SRT Top Fuel dragster to the runner-up spot Sunday in the Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals final eliminations at the zMAX Dragway, the fourth round of the 21-race NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. Sunday’s eliminations were hampered by several rain stoppages which delayed the action throughout the day.

Pruett, who qualified with a season-best of 3.678 and third in the 16-car Top Fuel field, kept her stellar consistency record intact in the fourth straight event this season with impressive round times of 3.702, 3.753 and 3.708 in the final round. In the four-car final, Austin Prock was the winner with a 3.684 followed by Leah’s 3.708 and 329.99 miles per hour pass.

The runner-up performance, along with two semi-final showings this year, has vaulted Pruett into third in the current NHRA Top Fuel point standings as the tour heads to Route 66 Raceway in Elwood, IL, on May 19-21 for the Gerber Collision and Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals.

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Hagan Back in Victory Lane for Third Time in 2023 NHRA Season With Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Win in Four-Wide Nationals

LAS VEGAS – Matt Hagan continued his impressive 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing series performance Sunday at the Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the Four-Wide Nationals with his third Funny Car win in four events in the Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) Haas Automotive Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat.

Hagan, the three-time NHRA World Champion, qualified third in the 16-car field and advanced to the final round with solid, consistent runs of 3.997 and 3.968 seconds to set up a third finals appearance in the opening four races in 2023.

Competing against John Force, Tim Wilkerson and Chad Green in the final, Hagan posted a winning time of 3.943 at 326.79 m.p.h. for his 46th career Funny Car victory and extended his Funny Car points lead to 105 entering the next NHRA national event at Charlotte, NC., on April 28-30.

Hagan’s Funny Car victory was his second straight at the Strip after winning last October in the Nevada Nationals and his fifth Las Vegas triumph of his career. This is Hagan’s seventh win with Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) dating back to the 2022 Gatornationals.

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