Recap for the Texas NHRA FallNationals – PRUETT AND HAGAN WIN!

Leah Pruett & Matt Hagan

Top Fuel | Funny Car
Texas NHRA FallNationals
Oct. 13-15 | Dallas

Event Recap

Leah Pruett, driver of the Mobil 1 Top Fuel Dragster:
• Earned No. 18 provisional qualifying position in Q1 on Friday (4.731 ET at 154.57 mph)
• Earned No. 11 provisional qualifying position in Q2 on Friday (3.694 ET at 331.66 mph)
• Fell to No. 12 provisional qualifying position based off Friday’s Q2 run. In Q3 on Saturday, Pruett ran a 4.827 ET at 148.93 mph.
• Secured No. 7 qualifying position in Q4 on Saturday (3.665 ET at 333.63)
• Advanced to Finals on Sunday:
• Round 1: 3.678 ET at 333.90 mph, defeated Shawn Langdon (9.241 ET at 94.23 mph)
• Round 2: 3.697 ET at 331.52 mph, defeated Doug Kalitta (4.319 ET at 174.45 mph)
• Semifinals: 3.681 ET at 329.82 mph, defeated Clay Millican (5.325 ET at 122.55 mph)
• Finals: 3.684 ET at 330.47 mph, defeated Steve Torrence (3.662 ET at 333.09 mph)
• Currently leading the Top Fuel championship standings, 4 points ahead of Doug Kalitta

Matt Hagan, driver of the American Rebel Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car:
• Earned No. 6 provisional qualifying position in Q1 on Friday (4.731 ET at 321.70 mph)
• Earned No. 2 provisional qualifying position in Q2 on Friday (3.848 ET at 319.24 mph)
• Scored two bonus points for second-quickest run of the session
• Maintained No. 2 qualifying position based off Friday’s Q2 run. In Q3 on Saturday, Hagan ran a 3.959 ET at 267.48 mph.
• Secured No. 5 qualifying position based off Friday’s Q2 run. In Q4 on Saturday, Hagan ran a 3.850 ET at 329.16 mph.
• Advanced to Finals on Sunday:
• Round 1: 3.895 ET at 318.88 mph, defeated Paul Lee (5.014 ET at 148.91 mph)
• Round 2: 3.868 ET at 331.30 mph, defeated Alex Laughlin (4.344 ET at 255.77 mph)
● Semifinals: 3.875 ET at 328.85 mph, defeated Tim Wilkerson (3.897 ET at 328.95 mph)
● Finals: 3.883 ET at 332.25 mph, defeated John Force (6.818 ET at 94.02 mph)
• Currently leading the Funny Car championship standings, 36 points ahead of Bob Tasca III

Notes of Interest

• Pruett and Hagan earned the first double-up victory for Tony Stewart Racing in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series.
• Hagan earned his fourth win at Texas Motorplex and his sixth win of the 2023 season. It marked the 49th win of his career. It gave Hagan the Funny Car points lead with two races remaining this season.
• Pruett earned her second win of the 2023 season. It marked her first victory at Texas Motorplex in the Top Fuel category and the 12th win in her Top Fuel career. It gave Pruett the Top Fuel points lead.
• Hagan has advanced to the Final round each of the last five years at the Texas Motorplex near Dallas. He has appeared in more final rounds in the Texas NHRA FallNationals than in any other event in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series (eight times in 15 appearances).
• Pruett has advanced to the Semifinals in every Countdown race this season.

Leah Pruett, Driver of the Mobil 1 Top Fuel Dragster

“When they say there is nothing like it to say both teams, the Dodge American Rebel Funny Car team and my team celebrate at the starting line, was so exciting. Both teams work so well together. This surpasses my very first Top Fuel win. The emotion I have for it and the accomplishment of both Matt (Hagan) and I winning today and what it means to Tony Stewart Racing and where we are in the Countdown. This is going to be on my top memory list forever. The last time I wore a cowboy hat was here in 2018 at the Stampede of Speed when I won the semifinal round in the Factory Stock Showdown to take the championship with the Dodge Drag Pak, then I won the final round and got to raise two ‘Wallys.’ We know where we stand right now with the points lead. Neal Strausbaugh (crew chief) has been absolutely incredible this year. Just in his second season as lead crew chief. He has really risen to the occasion when it matters. We were way over tuned in qualifying and just too eager with the power. We had to de-tune the car for that final qualifying run. We had the quickest run that this team has ever had and that set us up for race day. Then we got to fine tune it on race day. I was intimidated by this left lane. It is very difficult to see the (starting line) bulbs. Matt told me it’s not about getting up on the wheel for the Final. Just be focused. Then he won and I was excited. I knew I left well and I know I’m going to racing Steve (Torrence) the rest of the year. Now I’m really excited with the double win for TSR.”

Matt Hagan, Driver of the American Rebel Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car

“What a wonderful day today. It was everything we could have hope for. Some heavy hitters went out early and we were able to capitalize on this weekend. I don’t think we ran the best out there. We had some issues like the fuel pump falling off the car because the top end was so bumpy. We went through three fuel pumps. We ran out of tires too. We stole some stuff from Leah’s (Pruett) team, and we have a great group and everyone worked together today. It feels like a family at TSR. Tony has tried to instill that this group of guys and they are really a part of something special. We have established a legacy in the sport with the races and championship we have won. We know we are trying to get TSR its first championship and we know it is possible. Today speaks volumes when you go back-to-back in Funny Car. And to win six races in a season is incredible. It’s so hard win one race in Funny Car. This class is dog eat dog. Robert (Hight) won eight races last year and that is remarkable. My goal this year was to win six to eight races. We always say you have to win two races in the Countdown to have a shot at the championship. And it’s still super close now. Losing that race to Robert (Hight) at Maple Grove really hurt because it was so close (0.001). We have to be on the front side of the races and Dickie (Venables – crew chief) and the guys have been doing that the last two races. What an amazing weekend for TSR. I’m super proud of Leah. Winning on a holeshot in the final too. When you do that, you feel amazing as a driver contributing to the team. I can’t say enough about Tony Stewart. He is a great driver, team owner and person. It’s easy to get caught up in the races, wins, championships that you have to step back and enjoy the moment too. All glory goes to God. You wake up in the morning and ask to have a great day. And we had a great day. You can’t ask anymore than that. We really truly rose to the occasion today.”

Next Up:
The next event on the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series schedule is the NHRA Nevada Nationals Oct. 27-29 at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. It is the fifth event in the Countdown to the Championship and the second-to-last race of the season.

-TSR-

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