TSR Nitro Teams Eye Strong Showing at NHRA Winternationals

The Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals are set to bring the heat this weekend at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip, and the Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) Nitro teams are fired up for the challenge. With Tony Stewart piloting his Rinnai-backed Top Fuel dragster and Matt Hagan wheeling his Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage (JHG) Dodge//SRT Funny Car, both drivers are eager to make their mark at the historic event.

Coming into Pomona, Stewart sits sixth in the Top Fuel standings, 112 points behind leader Shawn Langdon. Meanwhile, Hagan holds the seventh spot in Funny Car, trailing points leader Paul Lee by 27 markers. With strong performances needed, both drivers are looking to capitalize on the weekend’s competitive format, which includes the NHRA All-Star Top Fuel Callout and the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge.

Stewart’s Top Fuel Campaign Gaining Momentum – 

Stewart, now in his sophomore season in Top Fuel, has steadily improved, and he’s determined to put on a show at Pomona. The NHRA Winternationals will be his 23rd career Top Fuel start and his second at this event. Last year, he secured a 13th-place qualifying position but faced an early exit in eliminations.

“Rinnai has been a great partner of ours both in my NASCAR days and now in NHRA,” said Stewart. “The NHRA program works for Rinnai because they’re able to do a lot of business-to-business (BTB) at the racetrack in a neutral setting. We’re able to have meetings with customers in the hospitality tent and then show them a great time at the racetrack, letting them experience what 11,000-plus horsepower feels like. It’s a great partnership, and we’re proud to represent them.”

Adding to the excitement, Stewart will take part in the rescheduled NHRA All-Star Top Fuel Callout on Friday, an event that rewards strategic callouts and on-track performance. He was originally called out by Steve Torrence before rain postponed the race at Gainesville.

“The Callout is a cool event because it’s different from our usual race structure,” Stewart added. “There’s bonus money and bragging rights on the line, and we’re ready to go after it.”

Hagan’s Pomona Dominance Sets the Tone – 

For Hagan, the NHRA Winternationals is familiar territory. The four-time Funny Car champion has won this event four times (2015, 2017, 2018, 2023) and is determined to add another victory to his resume.

“I love coming to Pomona,” Hagan said. “This track has been good to us over the years. We’ve been to the finals here six times in the last 11 Winternationals, and the goal is to get back there again this weekend.”

Hagan’s Dodge//SRT Funny Car, carrying the JHG colors, has been a force at Pomona, with seven career wins and four No. 1 qualifiers. His most recent victory in 2023 saw him take down Ron Capps in the final round with a 3.967-second run at 328.06 mph.

“We’ve been making consistent gains, and that’s the key in this class,” said Hagan. “The Funny Car field is stacked, so every round counts. We’ve got the power, the setup, and the motivation to get it done.”

The Road Ahead – 

With qualifying set for Friday and Saturday, followed by eliminations on Sunday, the TSR Nitro teams will have ample opportunity to make a statement. Both Stewart and Hagan are hungry for success, and Pomona presents the perfect battleground to showcase their championship-caliber performances.

NHRA Lucas Oil Winternationals TV Schedule (FS1) – 

• Friday, March 28 – NHRA All-Star Top Fuel Callout
  6:30 p.m. PDT / 9:30 p.m. EDT
• Saturday, March 29 – NHRA Qualifying Show
  5:00 p.m. PDT / 8:00 p.m. EDT
• Sunday, March 30 – NHRA Qualifying Recap
  9:00 a.m. PDT / 12:00 p.m. EDT
• Sunday, March 30 – NHRA Finals (Eliminations Coverage)
  3:30 p.m. PDT / 6:30 p.m. EDT

Fans can catch all the NHRA Winternationals action live on NHRA.TV, with television coverage on FS1 throughout the weekend. With fierce competition ahead, expect TSR to bring the heat and put on a thrilling show at one of NHRA’s most iconic venues.