TSR Nitro Teams Ready To Rock At Dodge NHRA Nevada Nationals

Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) is gearing up for a high-stakes weekend at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway as the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series heads into the fifth race of the Countdown to the Championship — the 25th Annual Dodge NHRA Nevada Nationals powered by Direct Connection. The event, running from October 30 through November 2, marks the second to last stop of the 2025 NHRA season, and both Tony Stewart and Matt Hagan are firmly in the hunt for championship hardware.

Stewart And Hagan Bring Dodge Power To Vegas –

For the second straight season, both TSR drivers find themselves in the thick of the championship fight. Tony Stewart, piloting his Rush Truck Centers Dodge//SRT Top Fuel Dragster, enters Las Vegas sixth in the standings — 236 points behind current leader Doug Kalitta. Meanwhile, Matt Hagan sits second in the Funny Car chase, just 112 points back from Austin Prock.

The Nevada Nationals hold extra meaning for both drivers and their longtime partner, Dodge, which returns as title sponsor of the event alongside Direct Connection. The weekend also carries plenty of energy as it falls right before SEMA week, meaning Las Vegas will once again be the epicenter of all things horsepower.

“I love it,” Stewart said. “I think it’s awesome that Dodge is sponsoring the NHRA Nevada Nationals. It’s important to the brand and it’s important to keep the Dodge name out in front of everyone, especially in the drag racing space of motorsports. They’ve always been a kingpin and been pivotal in drag racing, so it’s important to have them here.”

Hagan echoed the same excitement. “Being able to win in Vegas is always big, especially in the Countdown,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of success there. We’re halfway to Denver there with the altitude and air, so it’s sometimes tough to make power, but we always seem to do a good job with that in our Dodge//SRT Hellcat.”

Familiar Turf For TSR Drivers – 

The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway has been good to both Stewart and Hagan. Earlier this year at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, Stewart earned his first-ever NHRA Top Fuel victory, driving his Dodge-powered dragster to the winner’s circle with a 3.870-second pass at 317.42 mph. It was a breakthrough moment for the NASCAR Hall of Famer turned drag racer.

For Hagan, Las Vegas has almost been a second home. The four-time Funny Car world champion has four career wins at the Nevada Nationals (2017, 2019, 2020, and 2022) and has appeared in 11 final rounds there — more than at any other track on the NHRA tour. His combination of consistent reaction times and powerful tuning from crew chief Dickie Venables makes him one of the most feared drivers whenever the series rolls into Vegas.

Stewart Flying The Rush Truck Centers Colors –

This weekend marks the first full-event primary scheme of the season for Rush Truck Centers, as Stewart’s dragster will proudly wear the company’s familiar black and yellow livery. Rush Truck Centers, celebrating 60 years of service in the commercial truck industry, continues to support TSR’s NHRA efforts both on and off the track.

“Rusty Rush and everyone at Rush Truck Centers have been awesome and they are family to me,” Stewart said. “We’ve had a great relationship ever since I started SHR and he’s always been a part of TSR with us as well. Having him there this weekend and his brand on the car is kind of like having your brother hang out with you at the race. I’m excited to have them on-board.”

Hagan’s HELLCAT Brings The Heat –

On the Funny Car side, Hagan’s Dodge//SRT HELLCAT will carry the eye-catching American Rebel Beer colors in orange, black, and white. Founded in 2024, American Rebel Beer has quickly become a patriotic lifestyle brand tied closely to the country’s motorsports culture — an ideal fit for Hagan’s hard-charging personality.

“Testing on Monday is a little up in the air right now due to parts and how many times we’ve blown up this year,” Hagan joked. “If we do test, you always learn something no matter what. We’ll also have the SEMA show coming up after the NHRA Nevada Nationals, so it’s a great chance to see everyone. It will be a long week in Vegas, and I’m looking forward to it. Let’s go win a race.”

Mopar CAP And Fan Events –

As part of the event, Mopar CAP (Career Automotive Program) will continue its partnership with TSR on Friday, marking the sixth of seven events this year. The program helps train future Stellantis service technicians through collaborations with more than 100 colleges and trade schools across North America.

Fans attending the event will also get the chance to meet the stars of TSR. Stewart, Hagan, and Leah Pruett will host autograph sessions on Friday (12:15-12:45 p.m. PDT) and Saturday (10:45-11:15 a.m. PDT) at the Dodge display in the pits. To celebrate Halloween, the NHRA will also host trick-or-treating in the pit area on Friday between sessions, adding a fun family element to the weekend’s racing atmosphere.

The Countdown Continues – 

With just two races remaining in the NHRA season, the Nevada Nationals will play a crucial role in determining who hoists the championship trophies at Pomona. Stewart, still in his sophomore Top Fuel season, has proven to be a quick learner with one win, three finals, and several low E.T. runs under his belt. For Hagan, a fifth Funny Car title is within reach — but it’ll take another strong performance in Vegas to keep the pressure on Prock heading into the finale.

TV Schedule (All Times Eastern) –

Fans can catch all the action from the 25th Annual Dodge NHRA Nevada Nationals powered by Direct Connection on FS1 and NHRA.TV.

Live on NHRA.TV:

• Friday, Oct. 31: Nitro Qualifying – 4:30 p.m. & 7 p.m.

• Saturday, Nov. 1: Nitro Qualifying – 3 p.m. & 5:30 p.m.

• Sunday, Nov. 2: Eliminations – 2 p.m. through Finals at 7:30 p.m.

On FS1:

• Sunday, Nov. 2: Qualifying Recap Show – 3 p.m.

• Sunday, Nov. 2: Finals Broadcast – 5 p.m.