Event Recap for the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals – STEWART WINS!

Tony Stewart & Matt Hagan

Top Fuel | Funny Car
NHRA Four-Wide Nationals
April 11-13 | Las Vegas

Event Recap

Tony Stewart, driver of the Rayce Rudeen Foundation Dodge//SRT Top Fuel Dragster:
• Earned No. 6 provisional qualifying position in Q1 on Friday (4.775 ET at 157.85 mph)
• Earned No. 3 provisional qualifying position in Q2 on Friday (3.904 ET at 319.45 mph)
• Earned two bonus points for second-quickest run of the session
• Earned No. 4 provisional qualifying position in Q3 on Saturday (3.821 ET at 321.96 mph). Q3 was also part of the NHRA’s Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, where Stewart faced Josh Hart, Doug Kalitta and Shawn Langdon. Stewart defeated Langdon’s 3.952 ET, 286.98 mph run and Hart’s 4.293 ET, 205.13 mph run. Kalitta also advanced with a 3.808 ET, 318.24 mph run.
• Secured No. 5 qualifying position based off of Saturday’s Q3 run. In Q4 on Saturday, Stewart ran a 6.604 ET at 102.26 mph. Q4 also served as the NHRA’s Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge Finals, where Stewart faced Brittany Force, Doug Kalitta and Clay Millican. Stewart finished fourth to Kalitta’s 3.730 ET, 331.04 mph run, Force’s 3.754 ET, 333.16 mph run and Millican’s 3.915 ET, 299.26 mph run.
• Advanced to the Finals on Sunday:
• Round 1: 3.864 ET at 321.19 mph, defeated Steve Chrisman (4.097 ET at 279.79 mph) and Rob Passey (4.722 ET at 185.38 mph). Steve Torrence also advanced to Round 2 (3.846 ET at 328.94 mph).
• Round 2: 3.943 ET at 303.50 mph, defeated Steve Torrence (3.928 ET at 294.82 mph) and Doug Kalitta (7.089 ET at 105.31 mph). Justin Ashley also advanced to the Finals (4.090 ET at 269.94 mph).
• Final: 3.870 ET at 317.42 mph, defeated Antron Brown in second (3.912 ET at 302.35 mph), Justin Ashley in third (3.965 ET at 304.25 mph) and Jasmine Salinas in fourth (4.237 ET at 196.67 mph).
• Currently second in the championship standings, 16 points behind Top Fuel leader Shawn Langdon

Matt Hagan, driver of the TSR Direct Connection Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car:
• Earned No. 12 provisional qualifying position in Q1 on Friday (4.376 ET at 213.43 mph)
• Earned No. 10 provisional qualifying position in Q2 on Friday (4.071 ET at 315.19 mph)
• Fell to No. 11 provisional qualifying position based off of Friday’s Q2 run. In Q3 on Saturday, Hagan ran a 4.127 ET at 275.45 mph. Q3 was also part of the NHRA’s Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, where Hagan faced Jack Beckman, Bobby Bode and Chad Green. Hagan defeated Bode’s 4.938 ET, 163.43 mph run and Beckman’s 5.609 ET, 126.71 mph run. Green also advanced with a 4.196 ET, 272.06 mph run.
• Secured No. 12 qualifying position based off of Friday’s Q2 run. In Q4 on Saturday, Hagan ran a 4.210 ET at 245.76 mph. Q4 also served as the NHRA’s Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge Finals, where Hagan faced Chad Green, Spencer Hyde and Cruz Pedregon. Hagan finished third to Hyde’s 3.968 ET, 318.54 mph run and Pedregon’s 4.002 ET, 325.37 mph run. Green finished fourth with a 4.559 ET, 207.66 mph run.
• Advanced to the Finals on Sunday:
• Round 1: 4.142 ET at 264.39 mph, defeated Bobby Bode (4.557 ET at 234.57 mph) and Jack Beckman (5.332 ET at 136.19 mph). J.R. Todd also advanced to Round 2 (4.382 ET at 261.27 mph).
• Round 2: 4.126 ET at 304.05 mph, defeated Daniel Wilkerson (4.249 ET at 287.29 mph) and J.R. Todd (4.490 ET at 199.88 mph). Paul Lee also advanced to the Finals (4.140 ET at 289.76 mph).
• Final: 7.965 ET at 87.66 mph, lost to Austin Prock in first (4.009 ET at 316.01 mph), Paul Lee in second (4.042 ET at 311.77 mph) and Dave Richards in third (4.320 ET at 227.80 mph).
• Currently fourth in the championship standings, 44 points behind Funny Car leader Paul Lee

Notes of Interest

• Stewart earned his first NHRA Top Fuel victory at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in his 24th career start. He advanced from fifth to second in the Top Fuel championship point standings.
• Stewart has won an event on all of the tracks at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway property – the drag strip (the 2025 NHRA Four-Wide Nationals and the 2023 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series in Top Alcohol Dragster), the dirt track (his first USAC Silver Crown event on October 18, 1997), Las Vegas Motor Speedway (captured his 1997 IndyCar championship and earned the 2012 NASCAR Cup Series event win), the Las Vegas Bullring pavement short-track (won in a USAC midget in 2002 and also won in a sprint car in the same night) and the Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (won the 2010 Las Vegas Sprint Car Nationals).
• The NHRA Four-Wide Nationals are celebrating their 25th anniversary at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, commemorated by a special silver Wally.
• The NHRA Four-Wide Nationals marks the second time Hagan and Stewart have each advanced to the Finals in their respective nitro categories at the same event. They previously appeared in the Finals at last year’s NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Las Vegas. In 2023, Hagan and Stewart doubled-up on wins at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals with Hagan in Funny Car and Stewart in the Top Alcohol Dragster.
• The NHRA Four-Wide Nationals marked Hagan’s 92nd career final and Stewart’s fourth final-round appearance.
• Despite losing in Finals of the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, both Stewart and Hagan had the quickest RT (reaction time) of their respective quads (Stewart – 0.36 RT, Hagan .081 RT)
• Hagan and Stewart both finished first in their respective quads during Round 1 and Round 2 of eliminations, with Stewart winning on a holeshot in both rounds.
• Hagan and Stewart both qualified to participate in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge at the next event, the American Rebel Light NHRA Four-Wide Nationals outside Charlotte, North Carolina.
• Stewart represented the Rayce Rudeen Foundation on his Dodge//SRT Top Fuel Dragster. The Rayce Rudeen Foundation is a non-profit organization that works with organizations and programs to encourage a healthy and productive life that is free of addiction. The designated 501(c)(3) is named in honor of Rayce Rudeen, who at age 26 passed away from an accidental Fentanyl overdose. Since its inception, the Rayce Rudeen Foundation has advocated for creating a supportive community in which everyone can access prevention, treatment, recovery and family-support services, all free from stigma. By collaborating with local universities, researchers, organizations, businesses and community coalitions, the Rayce Rudeen Foundation is leading communities toward a united and compassionate response to addiction by identifying gaps in care and building educational tools.

Tony Stewart, Driver of the Rayce Rudeen Foundation Dodge//SRT Top Fuel Dragster

“I haven’t been around the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series very long, but I realized it takes a lot to win one of these Top Fuel races. In my career, I’ve never had to wait over a year to win a race. We always figured it out pretty quickly and we won. I had two ‘holeshot’ wins in the first two rounds today and my worst reaction time was in the final, but the TSR Rayce Rudeen Foundation crew gave me a great car in the final. Neal Strausbaugh (crew chief) and Mike Domagala (co-crew chief) and the whole crew won that final round for us today. We needed this win. It’s been so stressful for everyone since Leah (Pruett – Stewart’s wife) nearly won the World Top Fuel Championship in 2023 when it came down to the final round of the whole season. We had a lot of changes for the team because my body weight is different. Car tubing is different, and it just takes time. It was frustrating as we just couldn’t get on a path to make consistent gains last year. Two years ago, I won my first NHRA national event in the Top Alcohol Dragster here at Las Vegas with McPhillips Racing, and now I win my first Top Fuel national event at the Strip. It’s pretty damn cool. I’ve been a motorsports fan my whole life, and I think we made racing history today with the Top Fuel win. I’m not sure if there has ever been a driver to win a NASCAR Cup race, an IndyCar race, the USAC Triple Crown championship and an NHRA Pro event (Top Fuel). To do it with our team and our family was very emotional. When Leah brought Dom (their newborn son) up on stage in victory lane, my heart stopped. I got so emotional there. That is a feeling I have never had in my life before. The Four Wide setup is the equalizer for me. I’m used to racing with many cars around me. It’s tough for the guys who are not used to four cars racing at once. We can’t get to Charlotte fast enough with the next four-wide setup. I love the format. I think we had a great shot to win this race outright today. We won all three rounds. The track and heat conditions were an equalizer too. The conditions were very tricky. It made it a tuner’s game and our guys were the difference. I can now say I have won pro events on all four tracks at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and it is very satisfying as a racing driver.”

Matt Hagan, Driver of the TSR Direct Connection Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car

“We had a good weekend going into the final with both Tony (Stewart) and I advancing. We had a rod bolt break at the hit of the throttle in the final round. Unfortunately, it took some cylinders out and threw some rods out of the motor. The car didn’t go anywhere. When it is a part breakage, it is a little easier to swallow. The part failed and cost us the opportunity to win the race. It’s tough because we were up for the final with a good chance to win. We are still right in the hunt for the points lead now going to Charlotte for another four-wide race. The crew is doing a great job and we’ll get a win soon. I was earning my money all weekend with this tricky track surface and the heat. We were all over the track at the top end through the weekend. It was going left and then right, and it was spinning the tires. It was a tough deal for the driver and the crew. That does make it fun in a Funny Car. You have to be up on the steering wheel. I felt like I was Tony Stewart in a dirt car here. I’m super proud of Tony and his whole crew with the win. They have had some tough times recently and they got the final at Pomona and now a win here. Happy for the Rayce Rudeen Foundation, Dodge, Direct Connection, Rinnai, Rush Truck Services and all of the TSR sponsors. I know Tony is relieved to get his first Top Fuel win.”

Next Up

The next event on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series schedule is the American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals April 25-27 at zMAX Dragway in Concord, North Carolina.

 
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Contact Ashley Wilson
Tony Stewart Racing
(303) 594-8147 or [email protected]