Stewart and Hagan Ready for Countdown at Pep Boys NHRA Nationals

Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) is heading into the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway, set for September 12-15, with high expectations as Tony Stewart and Matt Hagan prepare to kick off their championship campaigns in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship. This weekend marks the 15th race of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series’ 20-race season, and the start of the six-race Countdown, where the top 10 drivers in each professional category will compete for the championship.

Tony Stewart in Top Fuel – 

In his rookie season in the Top Fuel category, Tony Stewart is set for his first Countdown appearance, sitting seventh in the standings, 77 points behind leader Doug Kalitta. Although this is Stewart’s first attempt at the NHRA postseason, he has found success at Maple Grove Raceway in the past, winning twice in the Top Alcohol Dragster (TAD) class in 2023, including a victory at last year’s Pep Boys NHRA Nationals.

“I wish it gave me more confidence, but unfortunately, the alcohol class is just a different class than Top Fuel,” Stewart said of his previous success at Maple Grove. “We just need to keep building off the momentum from the last two events. I feel like we’re in the best position we’ve been in this season, so it’s perfect timing starting the Countdown.”

Stewart’s dragster will be sporting the colors of Rinnai America Corporation, known for their tankless water heaters and gas appliances, as the team looks to carry its recent momentum into the opening round of the Countdown. “It really gives a morale boost to the team more than anything,” Stewart added. “It’s that time in the season where you can’t have any kind of mistakes, so having the team morale high and knowing we have a good race car is a valuable tool for all of us going into the Countdown.”

Matt Hagan in Funny Car –

On the Funny Car side, Matt Hagan, a four-time Funny Car champion, is no stranger to the Countdown, making his 13th appearance. He enters the weekend third in the standings, 46 points behind leader Austin Prock, and is confident in his team’s ability to make a strong championship push. Hagan has a strong track record at Maple Grove Raceway, where he earned a victory in 2014, and his car, driven by Tommy Johnson, Jr. during his COVID-related absence, won in 2021.

“Reading is always special because it is always fast. It kicks off the Countdown to the Championship,” Hagan said. “We have some work to do as a team and I have some work to do as a driver. Austin Prock is on a different planet right now… It’s a tall order, but it’s obtainable. Anything can happen, and that’s why we race on Sunday.”

Hagan’s Dodge//SRT HELLCAT Funny Car will carry the colors of Operation Healing Forces (OHF), a foundation that supports the reintegration and rehabilitation of Special Operations Forces veterans, and Shelor Motor Mile, a family-owned dealership run by Hagan’s father. “It makes me proud to be able to carry their colors and I hope we can put them in the winner’s circle for the first time,” Hagan said of OHF.

Both drivers will be eager to deliver strong performances as they embark on their respective title runs. Nitro qualifying begins Friday, September 13, at 3:30 p.m. EDT. Fans can follow the action live on NHRA TV throughout the weekend and catch TV coverage on FS1 and FOX during the event.