Hagan Takes Runner-Up At SCAG PRO Superstar Shootout

This past weekend’s SCAG PRO Superstar Shootout Presented by Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage (JHG) in Bradenton, Florida, was nothing short of thrilling for drag racing fans. Amidst roaring engines and adrenaline-pumping action, the Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) Nitro teams made their mark on the track, with Matt Hagan taking the runner-up position in the Funny Car category.

In the Top Fuel category, Leah Pruett took the wheel of the JHG Top Fuel Dragster for her only race this year and delivered a solid performance throughout the event. Despite facing tough competition, Pruett secured the No. 8 qualifying position and advanced to the semifinals on Saturday. Her impressive run in the quarterfinals displayed her skill and determination, clocking a 3.741 ET @ 328.38 MPH. However, she narrowly missed out on the finals after a closely contested matchup with Doug Kalitta.

Meanwhile, in the Funny Car division, Matt Hagan piloted the JHG Dodge Charger SRT HELLCAT Funny Car with finesse and determination. Hagan’s journey to the finals was marked by consistent performance and strategic driving, ultimately earning him a spot in the final round against Austin Prock.

Unfortunately, Hagan went 3.872 ET @ 329.75 MPH and lost to Prock’s 3.845 ET at 332.43 MPH run. Although Hagan fell short of victory in the finals, his achievement in reaching this stage of the competition was commendable.

“It was really neat making it to the final with all of the JHG guys here and having them on the car,” Hagan stated. “It’s been a busy week with all of the testing before the race weekend started. I’m so thankful for my crew and how hard they all work. We had a good test session. We had a boomer earlier in the week that was unexpected. It was a parts failure, but we’re pushing these things to the limit. I think the PRO Superstar Shootout was a great event. I was really proud of how smooth it went. All in all, we really couldn’t have asked for much more. The NHRA does a good job, but I think there’s always room for improvement. I’m sure we’ll get a participation t-shirt for coming in second, but at the end of the day, we’ll take what we can get.”

Looking ahead, the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series is set to kick off its season at the NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville Raceway. Excitement is already building as Tony Stewart prepares to make his Top Fuel debut, joining forces with Hagan and the TSR Nitro teams.

As the countdown begins to the next thrilling chapter in drag racing, fans can’t wait to see what the future holds for the talented drivers and crews of Tony Stewart Racing. Stay tuned for more adrenaline-fueled action on the track!

SCAG PRO Superstar Shootout Presented by JHG Image Gallery:

This slideshow requires JavaScript.