Mopar
Dodge//SRT Drivers Pruett, Hagan Head to Las Vegas After Texas Wins, Look to Extend NHRA Top Fuel, Funny Car Points Leads
Auburn Hills, MI – Dodge//SRT racers Leah Pruett and Matt Hagan are on a roll right now in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series 
following impressive Top Fuel and Funny Car victories at the recent Texas NHRA Fallnationals race. The pair will look for some “Sin City” luck this weekend (Oct. 27-29) at the NHRA Nevada Nationals in Las Vegas, the penultimate event in the 21-race NHRA national drag racing tour, as the Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) teammates currently lead the Top Fuel and Funny Car points standings with their Sublime Direct Connection Dodge//SRT nitro machines.
Pruett holds a four-point lead in the Top Fuel points with her TSR Direct Connection Dodge//SRT dragster, while running mate Hagan jumped to the No. 1 spot in Funny Car by 36 markers in his TSR Direct Connection Dodge//SRT Hellcat as they seek to repeat their Texas “double-up.”
Hagan also looks for his third consecutive NHRA race win this weekend following victories at St. Louis and Texas, while Pruett is seeking a third-straight final round appearance and second consecutive win. In addition, Hagan goes after his 50th NHRA career win and second straight Las Vegas triumph, having won the Funny Car category at the Four-Wide Nationals event in Vegas in April.
Pruett, Hagan Double Up with Victories at Texas NHRA Fallnationals, TSR Dodge//SRT Drivers Take Points Leads
ENNIS, TX – Team owner Tony Stewart described his NHRA Nitro team’s performance as a great “double up” as drivers Leah Pruett and 
Matt Hagan drove their Dodge//SRT machines to the winner’s circle in the Texas NHRA Fallnationals at the Texas Motorplex.
It marked the first “double” victory for Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) since the team was established in 2022 as Pruett took top honors in the Top Fuel category and Hagan captured the win in the Funny Car division.
With two races remaining at Las Vegas and Pomona, California, in the “Countdown to the Championship,” both Pruett and Hagan have vaulted to their respective class points leads. Pruett holds a four-point margin over Doug Kalitta, while Hagan leads by 36 markers over Bob Tasca III.
Both drivers and their crews put in sensational performances on race day with Pruett clocking consistent runs of 3.678, 3.697, 3.681 and 3.684, while Hagan posted passes of 3.895, 3.868, 3.875 and 3.883.
Pawuk, Johnson Drive Dodge Challenger Drag Cars to Factory Stock, Factory X Victories at NHRA Midwest Nationals
MADISON, IL – It was a large Dodge//SRT celebration in the victory lane Sunday at the NHRA Midwest Nationals with wins in Funny Car, 
Factory Stock Showdown and Factory X at World Wide Technology Raceway for a trio of racers competing in Dodge drag cars.
In addition to Matt Hagan’s Funny Car victory in his TSR Dodge//SRT Hellcat, veterans Mark Pawuk and Allen Johnson drove their Dodge Challenger machines to the winner’s circle with impressive performances in the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown and Factory X classes, respectively.
Both drivers dominated the competition Sunday with Pawuk capturing his first Factory Stock Showdown event with low elapsed time and top speed in the FSS category and Johnson breaking the 200 mile per hour barrier for the first time in the Factory X class.
Pawuk, a six-time NHRA Pro Stock national event winner, opened the weekend by posting a 7.712 pass for his fourth career No. 1 qualifying position in Factory Stock Showdown and continued that performance in the five rounds of eliminations with wins over Conner Statler, Del Holbrook, Aaron Stanfield and Stephen Bell.
TSR Dodge//SRT Driver Hagan Banks Big Win at NHRA
Midwest Nationals, Teammate Pruett Races to Runner-up Finish
MADISON, IL – In the race shop this week in Brownsburg, Ind., the Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) Nitro teams made a decision to become 
more aggressive in the final four races in the NHRA Camping World drag racing series. That theory proved successful this weekend at the NHRA Midwest Nationals, with Dodge//SRT racers Matt Hagan and Leah Pruett racing to an event win and runner-up finish, respectively.
After losing races by inches at the Reading and Charlotte events the past two weeks, TSR Dodge//SRT drivers Hagan and Pruett made their presence known for the coveted points championships with sensational performances in the hot temperatures and a tricky track surface at the World Wide Technology Raceway drag strip near St. Louis.
For Hagan and his Dickie Venables-led crew, the NHRA Midwest Nationals was an important round in the six-race “Countdown to the Championship” with the driver of the TSR American Rebel Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car knowing a victory Sunday would put him back in the chase for his fourth NHRA World title.
After qualifying fifth in the 16-car field, Hagan drove his 11,000-horspower Dodge//SRT Hellcat past Alexis DeJoria, John Force and Bob Tasca III in early rounds before facing reigning World Champion Ron Capps in the final. Hagan posted the best reaction time of the day (0.029) to leave the starting line ahead of Capps and was never headed with a winning 3.991 run to Capps’ 4.025.
Hagan, Pruett Advance in NHRA Carolina Nationals to Semifinals, Both Set in Top 4 in NHRA “Countdown” Championship Points
CONCORD, NC – Drag racing is the fastest motorsport in the world with 335 miles per hour speeds. But it is also one of the closest in 
motorsports with victories by inches.
For the second consecutive week in the NHRA Camping World drag racing series, Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) drivers Matt Hagan and Leah Pruett looked to be on the path to victory lane Sunday in the NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMax Dragway. But, for the second consecutive week, both racers were on the wrong end of the battles by inches.
Hagan, who posted a track record Friday in qualifying with a 3.825, drove his Johnson Horsepower Garage Dodge//SRT Hellcat to sensational times throughout the weekend including a 3.828, 3.841 and 3.868 in the opening round victory against John Smith. He defeated Tim Wilkerson in the second round before taking on Bob Tasca III in the semifinal.
In that matchup, Hagan cut a tremendous 0.054 starting line light and held the advantage in the first 800 feet before losing by inches (0.006 seconds) at the finish line with a 3.953 to Tasca’s 3.935. Despite the loss, Hagan advanced to the No. 3 position in the NHRA Championship “Countdown” Funny Car points standings with the next event set for Sept. 29-Oct. 1 in NHRA Midwest Nationals in Madison, Ill.
TSR Dodge//SRT Racers Pruett, Hagan Miss by Inches at Rain-Delayed Pep Boys NHRA Nationals
READING, PA – The adage, ‘It’s a game of inches,” couldn’t have been more appropriate for Dodge//SRT racers Leah Pruett and Matt Hagan 
Sunday in the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway.
The Tony Stewart Racing pair turned in impressive elapsed times in eliminations in the Top Fuel and Funny Car divisions, but both Pruett and Hagan were nipped at the finish line after strong runs in the rain-delayed first “Countdown to the Championship” event in the NHRA Camping World drag racing series. The finals were concluded on Monday morning.
Despite recording her quickest run of the 2023 NHRA national series at 3.677 seconds in the TSR Mobil 1/Dodge//SRT dragster, Pruett lost by inches to Doug Kalitta in the Top Fuel semi-finals. Pruett remains in the top-five in the current NHRA Top Fuel points standings with the tour traveling to the NHRA Carolina Nationals this weekend (Sept. 22-24).
Hagan, Pruett Advance to Second Round Monday at Indianapolis; Dodge//SRT Direct Connection Drivers Set in “Countdown” 2nd & 4th
BROWNSBURG, IN – The tricky track conditions at the Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals made it difficult for the Top Fuel and 
Funny Car drivers and crews Monday in the 69th edition of the “Big Go” at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
Battling the higher temperatures and humid air, the Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) drivers, Leah Pruett and Matt Hagan, had impressive first round victories Monday in the Top Fuel and Funny Car eliminations, but both Dodge//SRT Direct Connection racers lost traction in the second-round action.
Hagan, the current track record holder in the TSR Direct Connection Dodge//SRT Hellcat, defeated Alex Laughlin in Monday’s opening round with a strong 3.914 to Laughlin’s 6.157 as the track surface became more difficult with additional heat in the afternoon. Hagan, the four-time 2023 NHRA national event winner, and his second-round opponent, Ron Capps, saw their cars lose traction early in their runs. But Capps clicked the win light first with a 4.582 to Hagan’s 5.146.
Hagan Takes Runner-up in Pep Boys Funny Car All-Star Callout Sunday in Dodge//SRT Direct Connection Funny Car at Indianapolis
BROWNSBURG, IN – Matt Hagan, the current track record holder at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, and his 11,000-horsepower Tony 
Stewart Racing (TSR) Dodge//SRT Direct Connection Hellcat Funny Car were a model of consistency in six runs this weekend in preparations for Monday’s final eliminations in the 69th Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals.
Hagan, the three-time NHRA Camping World Funny Car Champion who ranks second in the current points, advanced to the final round of the special Pep Boys Funny Car All-Star Callout event Sunday before taking the runner-up position with a 3.979 to Robert Hight’s 3.955.
But it was Hagan’s six consistent runs from Friday to Sunday which showed that his TSR crew, led by Dickie Venables, is ready for Monday’s eliminations in the hot and humid weather conditions. Matt’s qualifying rounds included a best of 3.912, 3.928, 3,967, 3.979, 3.982 and 4.040 in the heat of the day on Saturday.
The 3.912 lap gave Hagan the No. 4 qualifying position entering Monday’s 16-car finals as he will compete against Alex Laughlin in the first round. The 69th Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals will be televised on the FOX Network beginning at 2 p.m. EDT.
69th Annual Dodge Power Brokers NHRA US Nationals – Drag Racing’s ‘Big Go’ – Brings Prestige, Money and Tradition
Auburn Hills, MI – Every drag racer and team mark their “bucket list” for victories in their career. And at the top of that list is the Dodge 
Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals, scheduled to take place on Aug. 30 – Sept. 4 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
The U.S. Nationals, known for decades as the “Big Go,” is the “Granddaddy” of the straight-line sport as the biggest, longest running, richest and most prestigious event. Dating back to 1955, the greatest names in drag racing have converged on the U.S. Nationals with legends like “Big Daddy” Don Garlits taking “Wally” trophies in the classic event.
“You look at the NHRA national event schedule before each season and mark the most important races to win,” said Matt Hagan, three-time NHRA Camping World Funny Car champion. “And you always list Indy as No. 1. Of course, racing for Dodge, Direct Connection and Tony Stewart Racing, the Dodge Power Brokers U.S. Nationals should be at the top of our list. Winning Indy is our ultimate NHRA victory.”
Jay Leno Gives Mopar® Career Automotive Program (CAP) Student, Grace Beeler, a Thrilling Ride in his New Demon at Woodward Dream Cruise
DETROIT, MI – Legendary comedian and TV host Jay Leno made a lasting impression on a young college student Saturday when he drove 
his all-new Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 “Last Call” special-edition machine with Grace Beeler in the historic Woodward Dream Cruise.
Leno, a longtime Dodge/Mopar enthusiast, came to the Motor City to receive his 1,025-horsepower, 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 street car and introduce his new “Jay + Direct Connection Car Care Collection” product line in a special presentation with Dodge Brand CEO Tim Kuniskis. Kunsikis presented the keys to his Octane Red maroon Demon 170 to Leno, the first customer to receive delivery of Dodge’s final special edition muscle vehicle as part of the brand’s “Last Call” lineup.
“I’m a huge fan of Dodge….. to me it’s a great American road car,” said Leno, who drove his new Octane Red Demon 170 next to Kuniskis’ Pitch Black Demon 170 up Woodward Avenue to Birmingham Saturday.
