With a Team Win at the Gators, TSR Heads to Phoenix for More!

Chandler, AZ – The NHRA Arizona Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park is the second event on the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series’ 21-race calendar in 2023. Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) brings its two full-time entries – one in Top Fuel for 10-time Top Fuel winner Leah Pruett and one in Funny Car for three-time Funny Car champion Matt Hagan. Hagan delivered TSR’s first victory of the season in the prior event at Gainesville (Fla.) Raceway, driving his Dodge Direct Connection SRT Hellcat Funny Car to his 44th career victory in the 54th NHRA Gatornationals.

Direct Connection is the primary partner of Pruett and Hagan this weekend in Phoenix. With muscle car enthusiasts looking for “ready to run” parts, Direct Connection serves as the source for high-performance parts and technical expertise straight from the factory. The Top Fuel Dragster and Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car are featured in Sublime green. Sublime was first introduced during the 1970 model year. The Dodge Charger and Challenger, in current form, are coming to an end after this year. Dodge is bringing back the iconic color for consumers to bring nostalgia to the highways and purchase their own commemorative last call vehicle.

The Arizona Nationals will mark Pruett’s 195th career Top Fuel start and her 10th at Phoenix. She’s had more success at Phoenix than any other venue, with three final rounds, one No. 1 start and two wins. Pruett’s first career victory came at Phoenix in 2016 when her 3.775 ET, 323.12 mph run defeated Brittany Force’s 3.774 ET, 321.35 mph run. The second victory occurred in 2017 when Pruett’s 3.705 ET, 328.22 mph run defeated Brittany Force’s 3.704 ET, 330.39 mph run. Pruett earned No. 1 qualifier in 2017 with a run of 3.672 seconds at 327.90 mph.

Pruett’s career-best speed of 334.15 mph came at Phoenix in 2018.  In no event has Pruett won more rounds than she has at Phoenix, where she has posted a 14-7 record in nine starts.

The Arizona Nationals will mark Hagan’s 317th career Funny Car start and his 14th at Phoenix. He’s recorded three career wins at Phoenix in 2015, 2017 and 2019. In 2015, he defeated Del Worsham with a 3.975 ET at 324.83 mph (compared to Worsham’s 4.010 ET, 318.17 mph run). In 2017, Hagan’s 3.873 ET at 330.88 mph defeated Ron Capps (3.883 ET at 330.88 mph). In 2019, Hagan defeated J.R. Todd with a 3.890 ET at 325.06 mph run (Todd’s car broke on burnout, so he didn’t record a time). He has competed in the final round at Phoenix five times in his last nine starts (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022). Hagan has three No. 1 qualifiers at Phoenix, which came in 2015 (3.978 ET at 320.28 mph), 2020 (3.859 ET at 331.61 mph) and 2022 (3.823 ET at 333.41 mph).

Hagan is the track record holder for time at Phoenix at 3.823-seconds, a mark he established last year (February 26, 2022) while qualifying No. 1.

By advancing to the Semifinals at the Gatornationals, both Pruett and Hagan qualified to participate in the new Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge. The challenge brings competitive racing to the qualifying schedule at 12 regular-season events during the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series campaign, pitting semifinalists from the previous race against each other in a pair of rematches, with the two winners then matching up in the final qualifying session. Pruett earned a rematch against Mike Salinas and Hagan will face-off against Alexis DeJoria in Round 1. There is a bonus purse and bonus points for the Countdown to the Championship on the line.

Pruett and Hagan will participate in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty autograph session on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. The session will take place at the Mission Foods Display.

The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series is set to make its final appearance at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park. 2023 marks the 38th annual event held at the legendary track in Chandler and the track is approaching a sell-out status for the historic weekend.

Leah Pruett, Driver of the Dodge Direct Connection Top Fuel Dragster

After advancing to the Semifinals at Gainesville, what momentum does that give you heading West to Phoenix?

“Every lap matters, whether it’s the beginning or middle of the season. We are always building our database to be able to adjust not only to conditions, but strategy within the conditions to navigate our way to not only a complete run, but competitive run. That is the tangible momentum, while the spirit of moral builds momentum because the Gatornationals gave us a glimpse that our hard work in the off-season was in the correct direction.”

In no event have you won more rounds than you have at Phoenix, where you’ve posted a 14-7 record in nine starts. What makes the track so successful for you?

“I usually say that it’s magical for me and don’t have an answer, however now that time has passed and I’ve had success with different teams and crew chiefs in different stages of the lifespan of the various teams, I think it comes down to track time. As a driver, I’ve seen that tree a lot and I am not only familiar with it, but love the sun scope of how it falls and I feel at home. Performance for the cars I’ve raced have excelled because we had the most data from that track as we typically test there every preseason before that event. It was the place we knew the most and worked at going extremely fast at the most and the results showed.”

By advancing to the Semifinals at the Gatornationals, you qualified to participate in the new Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge, where you earned a rematch against Mike Salinas. How valuable will the bonus purse and bonus points be towards the Countdown to the Championship?

“We don’t throw the phrase around the pit with our Dodge Sublime green dragster ‘let’s go get that money’ for nothing. These extra points will be nice and possibly pay off when it comes down to positions for the countdown. I want to see my guys be able to get rewarded for their dedication and hard work and this is just a little help in that direction. Also, racing on Saturday is way cool. I love the whole concept. However, qualifying efforts are still priority so there will be extra strategy mixed with audibles put in place.”

With 2023 marking the final appearance for the NHRA at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, what is your favorite memory from the track?

“I have so many great memories at Phoenix. From trick or treating between pits at 10-years-old dressed up as a 70s girl, to testing Jack Beckman’s Funny Car on a Monday in 2008. They had just won the day before and they had to test. That was the same day I met Boogs (Chris Afflerbach), who now works on my car. I got to film a Hoonigan video at testing one year, which now has over 5 million views. I’ve advanced to many final rounds there. But, my most favorite memory was being rushed in the lanes for the final round against Brittany in 2016. I didn’t know I was racing her until getting suited because we were not having the smoothest day. I’m sitting in the back seat of the van, had just gotten fully geared-up and struck a 1-2-3 jab at the back of the headrest of the 2010 falling-apart Astro Van that we had for a tow vehicle. Punching is part of my pregame because I love boxing. Well, I jabbed so hard that a spring or support for the headrest broke and it hurt my right hand, but I didn’t care because I knew I was David up against Goliath for this final round and wanted this win more than I had ever wanted anything. It was at this moment that fist pumps became my thing. And the results showed. The win is still all-time for me. Seeing that final win light and trying to comprehend that we really did it. But when it comes to moments, it’s the pre-final round ritual and what it stands for that lives on.”

Matt Hagan, Driver of the Dodge Direct Connection Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car

After delivering TSR their first Wally of the season at the Gatornationals, what confidence does that give you heading into Phoenix knowing you already checked the win box?

“We have a lot of confidence heading into Phoenix after winning in Gainesville. However, every race is so different and the conditions are so different. It’s hard to get on a winning streak. It seems like you’ll win a race, go some rounds and then win some more. It’s always challenging and competitive. I do feel really good about the calls Dickie (Venables – crew chief) is making. The car is driving great and responding well, so I feel like we can take that into Phoenix with a great baseline to work off of. Hopefully we’re able to qualify well and lay down some numbers.”

You secured the No. 1 qualifying position at last year’s Arizona Nationals with TSR and you’ve gone to the Finals in five of your last nine starts at Phoenix. What makes the track so successful for you?

“We used to test at Phoenix a lot, so that that’s given us a lot of data to reference. It’s also pretty cool there this time of year, which the car responds well to. The track maintenance is also really good and you can apply a lot of power to it. Dickie likes to run in drier conditions like that.”

By advancing to the Semifinals at the Gatornationals, you qualified to participate in the new Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge, where you’ll face off against Alexis DeJoria. How valuable will the bonus purse and bonus points be towards the Countdown to the Championship?

“Being able to do this #2Fast2Tasty Challenge is huge. It’s big for our guys because it’s extra money in their pocket if we can make it happen. My crew was already talking about it last week during the race. Once we made it to the semifinals at Gainesville, they knew they had a shot at that money. Everyone is driven and excited and we want to put on a great show for the fans. It’s really neat to be able to put on a race for the fans on both Saturday and Sunday now.”

With 2023 marking the final appearance for the NHRA at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, what is your favorite memory from the track?

“It saddens my heart to think we won’t be back to Phoenix. I really enjoy the whole area, plus the Radford Racing School is out there. I’ve always enjoyed Phoenix, so it’s tough it’ll be our last season racing at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park. Let’s put our names in the history books and go win the last one in our Dodge Direct Connection Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car.”