TSR Nitro Teams Faced Challenges at NHRA Thunder Valley Nats

The NHRA Super Grip Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway presented challenging track conditions this past weekend, keeping the nitro teams on their toes. Heat, humidity, and a slippery surface due to an “oil down” on race day made it a tough environment for all participants. Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) Nitro’s crews worked hard to adapt, but the tricky conditions tested their mettle.

Matt Hagan’s Consistent Performance –

Matt Hagan, the reigning NHRA Mission World Funny Car Champion, showed remarkable consistency throughout the three-day event. Driving the TSR Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage Dodge//SRT HELLCAT, Hagan posted solid qualifying times of 4.125, 4.136, 4.140, and 4.134 on the delicate track. On Sunday morning, in cooler conditions, he delivered an impressive 3.951-second run to defeat Chad Green.

In the second round, Hagan’s quick reaction time of 0.041 seconds helped him outpace Bob Tasca III, securing a 4.126 run against Tasca’s 7.292. However, in the semifinals, Hagan faced top qualifier Austin Prock after a previous competitor’s mechanical failure left the track oiled for 300 feet in the left lane. Despite posting a solid 4.096, Hagan couldn’t match Prock’s 3.982.

Reflecting on the weekend, Hagan said, “It was a tricky weekend with a tricky racetrack. To see Dickie (Venables – Crew Chief) navigate it the way he did, I was pretty impressed. Obviously, lane choice was a big thing out there. We didn’t have it in the semifinals. There was a car in a different class that had an oil-down before we ran in the left lane, so that was really tough. NHRA did a great job getting the lane ready to go, but we had to pull everything back with the engine and hope for the best. They (Austin Prock) ran strong beside us. Overall, I feel we had a pretty good weekend with a tricky track. We’ll get ready for Richmond and look to put our Dodge//SRT HELLCAT back in the winner’s circle.”

Despite the semifinals defeat, Hagan remains fourth in the current NHRA Mission Funny Car points standings as the circuit heads to the Virginia Nationals in Dinwiddie, Virginia, on June 22-23.

Tony Stewart’s Tough Weekend –

Team owner Tony Stewart had a challenging weekend with his TSR Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage Dodge//SRT Top Fuel vehicle. Various traction issues plagued the team, but Stewart managed a solid 3.829 qualifying effort on Friday, placing him in the top half of the 16-car starting field.

However, during the first-round eliminations on Sunday, despite a quick reaction time, Stewart’s car lost traction, and he failed to advance against Doug Foley. Reflecting on the difficulties, Stewart said, “Moral of the story, it was just a frustrating weekend, honestly. Track conditions were tough. We are getting into the summer months, where we are going to have hot and challenging racetracks. I felt really good leaving Epping (N.H.) last weekend and was excited about coming here. We never really got the Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage Dodge//SRT car in a happy place, where we felt like we could start pressing and moving the needle with our dragster.

“We are struggling to find what this car wants right now. It is frustrating for all of us, especially Neal (Strausbaugh – Crew Chief), Mike (Domagala – Co-Crew Chief), and Ryan (McGilvry – Car Chief). It’s tough for the whole team, myself included. We have to put it behind us. We can only focus on Richmond in a couple of weeks, then Norwalk and the Western swing. We will keep our heads to the ground and grinding away at it.”

Looking Ahead –

The TSR team looks forward to bouncing back at the NHRA Virginia Nationals. The qualifying sessions will be unique, with all three rounds set for Saturday (June 22) at 12:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., and 6:00 p.m. EDT. Sunday’s final eliminations will take place at 12:00 p.m. EDT, with Fox Sports 1 televising the eliminations at 5:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday (June 23). Both Hagan and Stewart are determined to overcome recent challenges and aim for victory in the upcoming races.