TSR Nitro Teams Gear Up For The Big Go In Indy

When you talk about NHRA drag racing, nothing looms larger than the U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park – better known as “The Big Go.” It’s the sport’s crown jewel, and Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) is rolling into Indy with both of its nitro teams – Tony Stewart in Top Fuel and Matt Hagan in Funny Car – fully loaded and ready to make a statement.

This year’s event is more than just another race. It’s the regular season finale, the last chance to lock in points before the Countdown to the Championship begins. And with round wins worth 1.5 times more at Indy, there’s no margin for error.

Stewart Chasing His First Indy Wally – 

Tony Stewart has raced at Indianapolis in just about everything with wheels – from IndyCar to NASCAR – and now he’s back at IRP in Top Fuel, chasing his first U.S. Nationals victory. The Indiana native sits second in the Top Fuel standings, just 45 points behind leader Shawn Langdon.

“It’d be great to win the regular season championship,” Stewart said. “We’ve been really consistent this year until the last couple races, but we’ve been in a way better position than we were at this time last year. I’m proud of our team and proud of everyone’s effort. There’s no better way to reward the entire team than with a bonus from winning the regular season championship, so I’m excited about that.”

Fans also had a direct say in Stewart’s weekend look. His Dodge//SRT Direct Connection dragster will carry a fan-voted paint scheme, something Stewart is excited about. “I always think it’s cool when we can get the fans involved, especially by helping to pick our paint schemes for the U.S. Nationals,” he said. “Knowing that they were a part of picking our schemes makes them feel like a bigger part of our team, so that’s the exciting part. The best part is I haven’t even seen it yet, so I don’t know which one they picked, but I can’t wait to see it this week.”

Hagan Chasing Another Indy Title – 

For Funny Car veteran Matt Hagan, Indy is familiar territory. The four-time champion already owns a U.S. Nationals win, and he holds both the elapsed-time and speed records at the track. He enters this weekend sitting third in the standings with plenty of momentum, thanks in part to his success in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge.

“Coming into Indy with all those #2Fast2Tasty points and knowing they’ll get added to our total when they reset is really big,” Hagan explained. “We’ve seen championships come down to two points, so every point matters. The competition is so tough, so everything matters. We’re excited about heading to Indy. We have a new crew chief (Mike Knudsen), and I think he’s done extremely well. I’m excited for what the future brings.”

Like Stewart, Hagan’s Dodge Direct Connection HELLCAT Funny Car will wear a fan-selected paint scheme. “I think it’s really neat that we were able to engage the fans by them picking out the paint scheme we will run,” Hagan said. “Dodge is always on the cutting edge of great designs. We have a patriotic design this year with the Red, White, and Blue. The only thing that would make the paint schemes for the U.S. Nationals more special is if we can pull them into the winner’s circle and show it off on TV for four rounds on Monday.”

The Big Go Atmosphere – 

What makes Indy so special? It’s not just the points and prestige – it’s the energy. The U.S. Nationals are a true drag racing festival, complete with autograph sessions, fan events, and even the fun “Baby Walker Nationals” where racers’ kids get in on the action. Both Stewart and Hagan will be signing autographs throughout the weekend, including special Dodge sessions and meet-and-greets at the Tony Stewart Store trailer.

For TSR, Indy is more than another stop – it’s a chance to showcase their Direct Connection-backed Dodges on the sport’s biggest stage, connect with the fans, and set the tone for the playoffs.

As Hagan summed it up: “The only thing that would make the paint schemes more special is if we can pull them into the winner’s circle.”

And Stewart? He knows the stakes: “There’s no better way to reward the team than with a win at Indy.”

The Big Go is here – and TSR is ready.