Stewart Takes NHRA Top Fuel Regular Season Crown

The 71st Annual NHRA U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis lived up to its reputation as the “Big Go,” with nail-biting runs, record-breaking speeds, and major championship implications. For Tony Stewart Racing (TSR), the weekend delivered both triumph and frustration, but in the end, Stewart himself walked away with the Top Fuel Regular Season Championship. At the same time, Matt Hagan reinforced his Funny Car contender status heading into the Countdown.

Stewart’s Run to the Regular Season Title – 

Tony Stewart, piloting the TSR Dodge//SRT Direct Connection Top Fuel Dragster, showed consistency and grit across qualifying and eliminations. Though he settled into the No. 10 position after his opening 3.744-second pass on Friday, Stewart’s crew kept him in the game as the weekend unfolded. Despite a few off-runs in later qualifying sessions, the Indiana native carried that Friday lap into eliminations on Monday, where the magic really happened.

Stewart opened eliminations with a blistering 3.716-second pass at 334.65 mph to defeat Steve Torrence. From there, he powered past Kyle Wurtzel and Jasmine Salinas to reach the Finals against Justin Ashley. Stewart threw down a strong 3.815-second lap, but Ashley’s razor-sharp reaction time made the difference. Stewart fell short of the event trophy but secured something just as valuable: the Regular Season Championship.

By the end of the day, Stewart led Shawn Langdon by 39 points, clinching the title and a $150,000 bonus check. For a driver in just his second full season of Top Fuel competition, it’s a statement that the former NASCAR and IndyCar champion has found his groove in the nitro ranks.

Reflecting on the achievement, Stewart admitted the road wasn’t always smooth:

“I was not happy on Saturday after the second run, but it got way better after that. It’s all about the crew chiefs and what we were missing. Once they found it and put it all back, the car was responding like it was earlier in the year when we were clicking rounds off. Winning the Top Fuel Regular Season Championship is massive for us in my eyes. I’m extremely proud of what we did for 14 weeks to win the regular season championship.”

Hagan’s Funny Car Fight – 

Matt Hagan, in the TSR Direct Connection Dodge//SRT HELLCAT Funny Car, came into Indy with momentum and left with another strong showing. After landing fourth in provisional qualifying on Friday, he put together a mix of solid and tricky passes through the weekend. His standout moment came during the PlayNHRA All-Star Callout, where he knocked off J.R. Todd with a stout 3.931-second run. Although Austin Prock ended Hagan’s callout hopes in the semifinal, the Virginia driver still secured a No. 5 qualifying spot for race day.

On Monday, Hagan came out swinging, defeating Cruz Pedregon with a lightning-quick 3.887-second blast at 334.73 mph. His day ended earlier than he hoped, though, after Alexis DeJoria took him out in Round 2. Still, Hagan left Indy third in the standings and carrying some valuable points thanks to winning the 2025 #2Fast2Tasty Funny Car Championship.

Hagan summed up the week with a mix of pride and determination:

“It was a long week at Indy, and we were testing here last week, too. We gave it a valiant effort this week. I’m super proud of Tony, Leah, and the guys (for winning) the Top Fuel Regular Season Championship. They picked up $150,000 for the title. Our Funny Car team got the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Season Funny Car Championship too on Sunday. It’s been a while since I won Indy (2016), and it is going to be another year now. The regular season is over, and we’ll reset everything for the next six races. I know we’ll be ready to go at Reading.”

Notes of Interest – 

• Stewart advanced to the U.S. Nationals Final for the first time in his Top Fuel career, improving on his semifinal finish in 2024.

• Stewart became the Regular Season Champion thanks to Shawn Langdon’s Round 1 exit and Doug Kalitta’s Round 2 loss. His victory over Wurtzel sealed the deal.

• Hagan has now advanced to the Countdown to the Championship for the 13th straight year, underscoring his status as one of the sport’s most consistent Funny Car drivers.

• Both TSR drivers brought home additional bragging rights for Dodge and Direct Connection, keeping the Mopar brand at the forefront of the biggest race of the year.

Looking Ahead – 

The NHRA now shifts into the Countdown to the Championship, with six playoff-style races deciding the champions. The opener takes place at Maple Grove Raceway in Mohnton, Pennsylvania, from September 11 to 14. With points reset and momentum building, Stewart enters as the man to beat in Top Fuel, while Hagan remains a clear threat in Funny Car.

For TSR and its Dodge-backed teams, Indy proved once again that they’re contenders on both sides of the pit area. The story now turns to whether Stewart can add a Top Fuel championship to his already legendary motorsports résumé—and whether Hagan can bring another Funny Car crown back to Mopar Nation.