Stewart and Hagan Charge to Finals at NHRA Four-Wide Nationals

Tony Stewart Racing Nitro (TSR Nitro) drivers Tony Stewart and Matt Hagan kept the momentum rolling by taking their Dodge//SRT machines to the final rounds at this past weekend’s American Rebel Light NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte, North Carolina. Both drivers now sit second in points heading into the next race.

Stewart’s Top Fuel Run Stays Hot – 

Coming off his first-ever Top Fuel win two weeks ago in Las Vegas, Tony Stewart kept the fire lit. Driving the TSR Direct Connection Dodge//SRT dragster, Stewart made it to his third straight final round, after qualifying eighth. He knocked out top qualifier Doug Kalitta in the opening round with a strong “holeshot” advantage and a 3.779-second run. Stewart then laid down a 3.760-second pass to punch his ticket to the finals.

In the last round, Stewart battled against Shawn Langdon, Justin Ashley, and Antron Brown. He ran a quick 3.792-second pass but ended up finishing third. Even with that, the NASCAR legend turned Top Fuel racer now jumps up to second place in the NHRA Mission Foods Top Fuel standings.

“It’s hard to be upset when you’re making finals three races in a row,” said Stewart. “We’ve still got a lot to work on, but it’s a great position to be in. We’re second in points now, and honestly, I didn’t think we’d be here this early in the season. I’m proud of the whole TSR team, Dodge, and American Rebel Light for everything they’ve done.”

Hagan Strong Again in Funny Car – 

Meanwhile, Matt Hagan, piloting his TSR Dodge//SRT HEMI®-powered Funny Car, also reached the final four. The four-time Funny Car world champ was defending his 2023 Charlotte Four-Wide Nationals win and showed why he’s always a threat. Like Stewart, Hagan qualified eighth but came out swinging, winning his first round against Paul Lee, Dave Richards, and Bobby Bode with a stout 3.939-second run.

In round two, Hagan clocked a 3.962 to beat Alexis DeJoria, Chad Green, and Richards. The final round saw Hagan face off against Austin Prock, Ron Capps, and DeJoria. Hagan threw down another 3.939, but it wasn’t enough to catch Prock’s 3.870 or Capps’ 3.920, landing Hagan in third.

With back-to-back final round appearances, Hagan now moves up to second in the NHRA Mission Funny Car points standings, setting him up strong for the rest of the season.

“We made good, clean runs all weekend, and that’s something to be proud of,” said Hagan. “Our new Crew Chiefs, Mike Knudsen and Phil Shuler, are getting better every race, and I feel confident about where we’re headed. Next stop is Chicago, and that’s a track we’ve done really well at, so I’m excited.”

Zetterström Impresses in Top Fuel Return – 

Swedish racer Ida Zetterström also made her return to NHRA Top Fuel racing this weekend with her JCM Racing/Dodge//SRT dragster. She ran strong all weekend, staying in the 3.70-second range, and just missed advancing to the semifinals with a quick 3.753-second pass.

What’s Next: Chicago Route 66 Nationals – 

Next up, the NHRA tour heads to the Route 66 NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Illinois, May 16-18. Nitro qualifying starts Friday, and final eliminations kick off Sunday morning. Fox Sports 1 (FS1) will air the finals coverage at 2:00 p.m. Eastern time on May 18.