TSR Nitro Teams Rev Up For NHRA Route 66 Nationals

Joliet, Illinois, braces itself for a weekend of adrenaline-fueled action as Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) Nitro gears up for the Gerber Collision & Glass NHRA Route 66 Nationals presented by PEAK Performance. Scheduled from May 17th to 19th, this event promises high-speed thrills and fierce competition as top drivers Tony Stewart and Matt Hagan take on the dragstrip.

Tony Stewart, renowned for his NASCAR prowess, is set to make waves in the Top Fuel category, marking his sixth career start in the discipline. Despite being a newcomer to the Chicago dragstrip, Stewart’s track record speaks volumes, particularly as the all-time winningest NASCAR Cup Series driver at Chicagoland Speedway. Expressing his excitement, Stewart shares, “It’s honestly a lot of fun for me to be racing in a totally different discipline…I enjoy the opportunity to do something different and try to rewrite the record books.”

On the other hand, Matt Hagan, the four-time and reigning Funny Car champion, arrives at the Route 66 Raceway riding the wave of his recent victory at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals. Hagan’s triumph marked his 50th career victory, cementing his status among drag racing’s elite. Reflecting on his win and the upcoming challenge, Hagan remarks, “We’re moving in the right direction…I feel really confident rolling into Chicago having won there a few times. It’s a great facility.”

Dodge enthusiasts will have much to cheer for as Hagan proudly adorns his Dodge//SRT HELLCAT Funny Car with Direct Connection colors, showcasing the brand’s commitment to muscle and horsepower. “Michigan is a place we consider home…Dodge is always known for muscle and horsepower and there’s nothing better than a nitro-fueled car to bring that to light,” Hagan states, acknowledging Dodge’s pivotal role in his racing journey.

As excitement mounts for the Gerber Collision & Glass NHRA Route 66 Nationals, fans can catch all the action both on-site and on TV. The event schedule includes adrenaline-pumping activities such as Nitro Qualifying and the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, streaming live on NHRA.TV. TV coverage on FS1 ensures that fans won’t miss a moment of the action, with highlights including Qualifying shows and Finals rounds.

Event Schedule – 

Friday, May 17 (Nitro Qualifying, streamed live on NHRA.TV)
• Nitro qualifying session (Q1): 3:30 p.m. CDT/4:30 p.m. EDT
• Nitro qualifying session (Q2): 6 p.m. CDT/7 p.m. EDT

Saturday, May 18 (Nitro Qualifying & Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, streamed live on NHRA.TV)
• Top Fuel qualifying session (Q3): 12:30 p.m. CDT/1:30 p.m. EDT
• Mission #2Fast2Tasty Top Fuel Challenge – Round 1: 12:55 p.m. CDT/1:55 p.m. EDT
• Funny Car qualifying session (Q3): 1:05 p.m. CDT/2:05 p.m. EDT
• Mission #2Fast2Tasty Funny Car Challenge – Round 1: 1:30 p.m. CDT/2:30 p.m. EDT
• Top Fuel qualifying session (Q4): 3:30 p.m. CDT/4:30 p.m. EDT
• Mission #2Fast2Tasty Top Fuel Challenge – Finals: 3:55 p.m. CDT/4:55 p.m. EDT
• Funny Car qualifying session (Q4): 4 p.m. CDT/5 p.m. EDT
• Mission #2Fast2Tasty Funny Car Challenge – Finals: 4:25 p.m. CDT/5:25 p.m. EDT

Sunday, May 19 (Nitro Eliminations, streamed live on NHRA.TV)
• Round 1: 11 a.m. CDT/12 p.m. EDT
• Round 2: 1 p.m. CDT/2 p.m. EDT
• Semi-Finals: 2:35 p.m. CDT/3:35 p.m. EDT
• Finals: 4:15 p.m. CDT/5:15 p.m. EDT

TV coverage on FS1
• Friday, May 17: Qualifying show (7:30 p.m. EDT)
• Sunday, May 19: Qualifying show, recapping all of Saturday’s action (1 p.m. EDT)
• Sunday, May 19: Finals Round 1 (4 p.m. EDT)
• Sunday, May 19: Finals show (10 p.m. EDT)