Tony Stewart speaking during a press conference ahead of the NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, Florida (Photo Credit: Donald Jenney | The Podium Finish)
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Tony Stewart Racing and Dodge/SRT have extended their NHRA partnership, continuing their Top Fuel and Funny Car programs in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.
Under the multi-year agreement, Tony Stewart Racing will field a Dodge Power Brokers-backed Top Fuel dragster and a Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car. Dodge/SRT, along with Mopar and Direct Connection, will continue providing factory-backed support and performance technology to enhance the team’s competitiveness.
“It’s huge for us and our organization. Obviously, we have to have great partners to do what we do in motorsports,” Tony Stewart said. “Honestly, when we talked about starting our team with NHRA and TSR, Dodge was the first group that came and was excited and eager to be a part of it. We weren’t even convinced at that point that we were going to be able to pull off what we were trying to pull off.”
Tony Stewart is ramping up for his fourth season in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. (Photo Credit: Donald Jenney | The Podium Finish)
Since joining NHRA in 2022, Tony Stewart Racing has found success on the track. Matt Hagan, a four-time Funny Car champion, has earned multiple wins under the TSR banner, while Leah Pruett has contributed to the team’s Top Fuel accomplishments. The partnership has strengthened Dodge’s presence in NHRA, incorporating Direct Connection performance parts and engineering support.
The four-time NHRA Funny Car champion Hagan discussed his commitment to continuing his legacy with Tony Stewart Racing and expressed enthusiasm for the ongoing partnership with Dodge//SRT.
“I’m so pumped up with Dodge//SRT extending its partnership with Tony Stewart Racing, It’s awesome to have the sustainability with such great sponsors like Dodge, Mopar and Direct Connection. I am very excited about what our future holds with Dodge. This is my 18th season driving a Dodge//SRT Funny Car, and it’s great to have them supporting what we do. My family has been a Dodge dealer for 50 years, so it makes a nice circle. We can race on Sunday and sell on Monday.”
Stewart most recently is coming off the recipient of the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series rookie of the year honors. Stewart advanced to a pair of final rounds, four semifinals, a berth in the Countdown to the Championship, and a ninth-place finish in Top Fuel points. Stewart has many accolades in his racing ventures, such as the three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, 1997 NTT INDYCAR Series champion, and 2021 SRX Series champion, to name a few. Stewart began his racing career in open wheel in the USAC Series.
Leah Pruett, a driver with 18 series victories, will return to Top Fuel drag racing in the 2025 season, though her comeback will be delayed until later in the year. She took a break after welcoming their first child, Dominic James Stewart, last November.
Pruett was excited about the return of Dodge’s partnership with the team for 2025, emphasizing its benefits for the Tony Stewart Racing camp.
“Our partnership with Dodge includes many aspects — our enthusiasm to continue on-track success for the Dodge brand with our team and loyal fans. But it is also a pathway for Direct Connection to continue to connect with their customers through a strong partnership,” said Pruett.
With the renewed partnership, Dodge/SRT reinforces its commitment to drag racing, continuing to back Tony Stewart Racing as it pursues victories and championships. As Stewart transitions into the driver’s seat of the team’s Top Fuel entry for 2024, the team looks to build on its momentum in NHRA’s premier categories.
The highly anticipated partnership is set to continue this weekend during the 56th annual Gatornationals at the iconic Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, Florida. This event marks the official opening of the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, which began on March 6.
Editor’s Notes
Donald Jenney contributed to this article onsite from Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, Florida.
