Hagan and Pruett: Domination in Carolina Nationals, Eyeing NHRA Countdown Crown

Matt Hagan, a four-time 2023 NHRA Camping World Funny Car event winner, put in another strong performance this weekend with his Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) Johnson Horsepower Garage Dodge//SRT Hellcat with runs of 3.825, 3.828, 3.841 and 3.868 at the NHRA Carolina Nationals

Drag racing is the fastest motorsport in the world with 335-mph speeds, but it is also one of the closest with victories by inches.

For the second consecutive week in the NHRA Camping World drag racing series, Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) drivers Matt Hagan and Leah Pruett looked to be on the path to victory lane Sunday in the NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMax Dragway. But, for the second consecutive week, both racers were on the wrong end of the battles by inches.

Hagan, who posted a track record Friday in qualifying with a 3.825, drove his Johnson Horsepower Garage Dodge//SRT Hellcat to sensational times throughout the weekend, including a 3.828, 3.841 and 3.868 in the opening round victory against John Smith. He defeated Tim Wilkerson in the second round before taking on Bob Tasca III in the semifinal.

In that matchup, Hagan cut a tremendous 0.054 starting line light and held the advantage in the first 800 feet before losing by inches (0.006 seconds) at the finish line with a 3.953 to Tasca’s 3.935. Despite the loss, Hagan advanced to the No. 3 position in the NHRA Championship Countdown Funny Car points standings with the next event set for Sept. 29-Oct. 1 in NHRA Midwest Nationals in Madison, Illinois.

“The Countdown is tough, and everyone is bringing all that they have all the time,” said Hagan. “In the last two races, we haven’t even lost by a hundredth of a second, it’s been a thousandth of a second. That’s tight drag racing, but we have to be on the other side of it. We are running against a lot of good cars, so there are no gimme’s. We’re still there and we’re better than what we’re showing. We have four races left to go out and fight and dig. We’ll be just fine.”

Pruett, driving the TSR Rinnai/Dodge//SRT Top Fuel dragster, put in a strong performance in eliminations with her second straight semifinals finish, taking out Top Fuel points contenders Justin Ashley and Antron Brown with runs of 3.708 and 3.829, respectively, in hot track conditions.

In the semifinals, Pruett had to face eventual race winner Doug Kalitta, who nipped Leah last week in the semis at Maple Grove, Pennsylvania. This contest was another thriller with Kalitta winning with a 3.745 to Pruett’s 3.778. With her semifinals finish, Pruett moved to fourth in the current NHRA Countdown Top Fuel points standings.

“This was a performance-enhanced weekend overall for the Rinnai/Dodge//SRT team with a stellar completion rate on Sunday,” said Pruett. “We went for low (elapsed time) on Saturday in qualifying after the rain and it didn’t stick (in the charts). What did stick was the rate of adjustments Neal (Strausbaugh – crew chief) and Mike (Domagala – co-crew chief) made given last-minute lane swap situations. Appropriating our power to the racetrack in stages has been key. Eliminating Justin Ashley first round was pivotal. Everyone is always focused on points. There is nothing like being, staying and moving up when it counts. My guys have been stellar throughout, and I am excited to excel at St. Louis.”

The NHRA Midwest Nationals event schedule includes one nitro qualifying session on Friday, Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. CDT and two nitro qualifying rounds on Saturday, Sept. 30 at 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. CDT. The final eliminations will get underway on Sunday, Oct. 1 at 11 a.m. CDT.

The Fox Sports 1 telecasts for the NHRA Midwest Nationals will take place Friday, Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. EDT with qualifying round 1 and qualifying round 2 on Sunday, Oct. 1 at 2 p.m. EDT. The final eliminations will be televised on Fox Sports 1 on Sunday, Oct. 1 at 3 p.m. EDT.