Tony Stewart Racing Entries Will Wear Patriotic Schemes This Weekend!
Mobil 1 & Smithfield Foods Are Main Sponsors For Virginia NHRA Nationals...
This weekend, the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Camping World Drag Racing Series will be back in action at Virginia Motorsports Park outside of Richmond, for the 2022 Virginia NHRA Nationals. It marks the seventh event on the calendar, out of the twenty-two events scheduled. It marks the return to Virginia Motorsports Park after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) comes into this weekend’s race, with both of its entries dawning new looks. Pruett’s Top Fuel dragster will carry the colors of Mobil 1, the world’s leading synthetic motor oil brand. Meanwhile, Hagan’s Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car will feature Smithfield as its main sponsor. Smithfield is one of the world’s largest pork producers and processors that has been headquartered in Smithfield, Virginia, since 1936.
Pruett’s Mobil 1 livery and Hagan’s Smithfield paint scheme incorporate a patriotic theme in support of Military Appreciation Month, which is celebrated every May. Two of TSR’s crew members, Thomas Brown and Chris Shuron, are both veterans. Brown, a clutch assistant who handles tire preparation on Pruett’s Top Fuel dragster, served in the Marines where he was a lance corporal. Shuron, who oversees body and tire preparation on Hagan’s Funny Car, was a sergeant and squad leader in the Army.
The Virginia NHRA Nationals will mark Pruett’s 178th career Top Fuel start and her third at Virginia. For Hagan, the Virginia NHRA Nationals will be his milestone 300th career Funny Car start and his fourth at Virginia.
Virginia also represents a home race for Hagan. The 41-time event winner is a native of Christiansburg, Virginia, located 190 miles west of the track. And his sponsor for the race, Smithfield, is located 72 miles to the east.
Hagan comes into Virginia leading the Funny Car championship standings with a 22-point advantage over Robert Hight. Hagan’s record is 16-4 through the first six events in 2022, giving him an 80% win ratio to represent the best start of his career.
Live Viewing Schedule…
Friday, May 13 (Nitro Qualifying, streamed live on NHRA.TV)
- Nitro qualifying session (Q1): 8:10 p.m. EDT
Saturday, May 14 (Nitro Qualifying, streamed live on NHRA.TV)
- Nitro qualifying session (Q2): 1:30 p.m. EDT
- Nitro qualifying session (Q3): 4:30 p.m. EDT
Sunday, May 15 (Nitro Eliminations, streamed live on NHRA.TV)
- Round 1: 12 p.m. EDT
- Round 2: 2:10 p.m. EDT
- Semi-Finals: 3:45 p.m. EDT
- Finals: 5:15 p.m. EDT
TV coverage on FS1
- Saturday, May 14: Qualifying show, recapping all of Friday’s action (10:30 p.m. EDT)
- Sunday, May 15: Qualifying show, recapping all of Saturday’s action (12:30 p.m. EDT)
- Sunday, May 15: Finals show (6:30 p.m. EDT)
Source: TSR Nitro
