Cruz Pedregon Powers to Victory at Maple Grove

Cruz Pedregon reminded the drag racing world that persistence pays off. Behind the wheel of his Snap-On Tools 105th Anniversary Dodge Charger SRT HELLCAT Funny Car, the two-time NHRA Funny Car world champion stormed through the field at the 40th Annual NHRA Nationals presented by Nitro Fish in Reading, Pennsylvania.

It wasn’t just any win. This was Pedregon’s first trip to the winner’s circle since the 2022 season finale and his third career victory at Maple Grove Raceway. It capped off a long road of rebuilding his team, experimenting with new crew members, and regaining confidence after a challenging two-year stretch.

“This is very special, very special,” Pedregon said in the pits afterward. “You know, you start to doubt yourself — as an owner, as a driver — and I’ve done that a lot the last couple of years. I thought, ‘Maybe this is it.’ But we took the hard road. I hired young guys who weren’t already on other teams. It was like a draft. We went through the growing pains, but now I’ve got a good group. They’re still learning, but they’re hungry and now here we are.”

The Road to the Finals –

Pedregon’s march to victory wasn’t a cakewalk. He had to take down some of the sport’s biggest names. First up was Bob Tasca III, followed by championship points leader Austin Prock. In the semifinals, he faced off against Paul Lee before lining up against Blake Alexander in an all-Dodge Funny Car final.

At the stripe, Pedregon’s Charger HELLCAT held strong, and the veteran claimed a long-awaited win, pushing himself all the way to sixth in the Funny Car standings.

“We can do that again — just be mistake-free, be aggressive and stay the course,” Pedregon added. “This is the kind of performance you dream about heading into the Countdown.”

All-Dodge Showdown in Funny Car – 

The Funny Car finals were a Mopar showcase. Both Alexander and Pedregon drove Dodge Charger SRT HELLCATs through the field, highlighting the brand’s deep roots in NHRA competition.

For Dodge fans, it was a perfect outcome: two Charger-bodied Funny Cars gunning for the win at one of drag racing’s most historic venues. Pedregon’s victory gave Dodge a crucial boost as the Countdown to the Championship kicked off.

Stewart Battles, Survives Wild Incident – 

While Pedregon was celebrating, Tony Stewart was battling adversity in the Top Fuel ranks. The TSR Dodge//SRT Direct Connection Top Fuel Dragster driver qualified No. 11 and fought his way into Round 2. He knocked off Tony Schumacher in the opening round with a strong 3.808-second pass at 329.58 mph.

In Round 2, Stewart squared off against championship leader Doug Kalitta. That’s when chaos struck. Kalitta suffered a front wheel failure, veered across the track, and clipped Stewart’s dragster. Both cars were damaged, but both drivers walked away unharmed after evaluation from NHRA’s medical staff.

“This was definitely not the weekend we were looking for,” Stewart said. “We didn’t want to qualify No. 11 by any means, but during the money run, we had a set of tires that shook for some reason. We got through first round against Tony Schumacher and lined up against one of the best with Doug (Kalitta) in the second round. I wish I could tell you what happened (during the accident), but what I saw on the video is the only thing I can go off of. It looked like his front wheel failed, and he came across into my lane. I’m just glad he’s alright. I was worried about him, and he was worried about me.”

Despite the setback, Stewart left Maple Grove just 18 points behind Kalitta in the Top Fuel standings.

Hagan Struggles but Keeps Perspective – 

Matt Hagan, piloting the TSR Direct Connection Dodge//SRT HELLCAT Funny Car, had a rough outing. He qualified ninth and was bounced out in Round 1 by Blake Alexander. A dropped cylinder and engine explosion forced him out early, leaving him frustrated but thankful to be safe.

“It was a really tough weekend for TSR,” Hagan said. “I’m really glad Tony was okay because it was a nasty lick that he took. We love doing this and going fast, but it’s always good to see your buddy crawl out of the car and see that he’s okay. I got reminded of how dangerous it is when we exploded as well. The tethers came up, and I couldn’t see out to drive the race car. I didn’t know where I was at on the track or where my opponent was. That is a bad feeling. I’m glad today’s outcome was what it was and that everyone is okay.”

Hagan remains fifth in the Funny Car standings, 55 points back from leader Austin Prock. His focus now shifts to Charlotte, where his team will test and regroup.

Looking Ahead – 

Next up, the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series heads to zMAX Dragway in Charlotte, North Carolina, for the NHRA 4-Wide Carolina Nationals, Sept. 19-21. With just five races left in the season, every round matters, and the Countdown drama is heating up fast.