TSR Ready For Action At NHRA Gatornationals Season Opener
Stewart Looks To Improve On His Rookie of the Year Performance Last Year
As the 2025 NHRA Mission Drag Racing season kicks off this weekend, Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) is ready to light up Gainesville Raceway at the highly anticipated Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals. Taking place March 7-9, this season opener will showcase TSR’s striking Red-and-Blue Direct Connection Dodge//SRT nitro-burning beasts piloted by none other than Tony Stewart and Matt Hagan.
Stewart, the NASCAR legend-turned-NHRA Top Fuel driver, returns behind the wheel of the TSR Direct Connection Dodge//SRT Top Fuel dragster. After an impressive rookie season where he earned two runner-up finishes and was named NHRA’s Pro Rookie Driver of the Year, Stewart is ready to take his performance to the next level.
“This year’s Gatornationals definitely takes some of the stress of being a rookie driver out of the equation,” Stewart said. “Last year, I had to learn a Top Fuel car and go up against the best in the class. The competition is tough, so having a year under my belt lets me go into Gainesville a little more relaxed than my rookie season. We’ve been working on the car’s setups, and I’m hoping we get the needle moving in the right direction and get this car into the winner’s circle.”
Joining him in the TSR camp is four-time NHRA Funny Car World Champion Matt Hagan, driving the TSR Direct Connection Dodge//SRT HELLCAT Funny Car. Hagan’s team made some key changes during the offseason, bringing in veteran Mike Knudsen as Crew Chief and Phil Shuler as Co-Crew Chief. After strong pre-season testing in Bradenton, Florida, Hagan is excited about the potential of his 11,000-horsepower machine.
“Having a new Crew Chief is kind of exciting,” Hagan said. “With Dickie Venables, we made a lot of memories and won many races and championships. I’ve spent 15 years with Mike Knudsen and watched him work his way up. I would love nothing more than to win a championship with him. Things are looking bright for the future, and I told him we have a chance to start a legacy and build on what I’ve accomplished so far in the sport. I’m excited to get to Gainesville and show what we’ve got.”
The NHRA Gatornationals schedule includes Nitro qualifying rounds on Friday, March 7, at 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. EST and Saturday, March 8, at 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. EST. Final eliminations start on Sunday, March 9, at 10:30 a.m. EST. Fans can catch the action on Fox Sports 1, with qualifying coverage airing Saturday at 8 p.m. EST and final eliminations on Sunday at 7 p.m. EST.
