{"id":54925,"date":"2021-08-31T12:00:16","date_gmt":"2021-08-31T16:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.dodgegarage.com\/news-api\/?p=54925"},"modified":"2024-03-25T11:21:05","modified_gmt":"2024-03-25T15:21:05","slug":"dodge-family-of-racers-take-to-the-staging-lanes-for-the-dodge-srt-nhra-u-s-nationals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.api.dodgegarage.com\/news\/racing\/2021\/08\/dodge-family-of-racers-take-to-the-staging-lanes-for-the-dodge-srt-nhra-u-s-nationals.html","title":{"rendered":"Dodge Family of Racers Take to the Staging Lanes for the Dodge\/\/SRT®<\/sup> NHRA U.S. Nationals"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Camping World Series is gearing up\nfor its cornerstone event, the 67th edition of the Dodge\/\/SRT\u00ae<\/sup> U.S. Nationals,\nwith drag racers from across the country and various parts of the world getting\nready to hit the staging lanes at Lucas Oil Raceway near Indianapolis, Indiana,\nSeptember 1-5. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Dodge<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

At the season start, Dodge and SRT (Street and Racing Technology)\nperformance brands announced an expansion of their support for the series with\nthe addition of the oldest and most prestigious of drag-racing events to their\nportfolio of event title sponsorships with a multiyear deal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“As the new title sponsor of the 67th NHRA U.S. Nationals, Dodge\/\/SRT\nis showing off its passion for performance to America’s motorsports\nenthusiasts,” said Tim Kuniskis, Dodge Brand Chief Executive Officer –\nStellantis. “The Dodge\/\/SRT NHRA U.S. Nationals is drag racing’s marquee\nevent. In these cars, these drivers and these fans, you’ll find the heart of\nthe Dodge brand and our Brotherhood of Muscle. Dodge’s performance history is\nclosely tied to this sport and you’ll find a long list of successful Dodge race\ncars that have competed here over the years. Our teams are ready to write another\nwinning chapter in this event’s storied history.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While attending the event affectionately known as the \u201cBig Go\u201d is an\nassured bucket-list item for any passionate motorsports enthusiast, competing\nat the Dodge\/\/SRT NHRA U.S. Nationals remains a priority item for serious drag\nracers in any category. Standing proudly upon its tallest pedestal with a Wally\ntrophy in hand remains a coveted addition to every drag racer\u2019s list of career\naccomplishments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Matt<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt’s the biggest race of our season and the thing about Indy is you want to win it,\u201d said three-time and defending NHRA Funny Car world champion Matt Hagan, who powered his Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) Mopar\u00ae<\/sub> Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye Funny Car from No. 1 qualifier position to the winner\u2019s circle at Indianapolis in 2016. \u201cI\u2019ve been blessed to win it, but there are a lot of great drivers that haven\u2019t won it. But you always want another one. I\u2019m greedy. You want to go out there and battle and put another (Wally trophy) on the shelf.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Matt<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

As Hagan gets set to compete in his 14th Dodge\/\/SRT NHRA U.S. Nationals,\nhe\u2019ll take the red, black and chrome \u201cDemon-possessed\u201d Dodge Charger SRT\nHellcat Redeye to the staging lanes for the final regular season event as the\ncurrent Funny Car points leader and the tour\u2019s most recent winner. With wins in\ntwo of the last five events —  the Lucas Oil Nationals in Brainerd,\nMinnesota, and the Dodge\/\/SRT Mile High Nationals in Denver, Colorado — Hagan\nhas put himself in prime position for the \u201cCountdown to the Championship\u201d playoff\nseries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Matt<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m feeling super confident in our guys,\u201d added Hagan. \u201cThey\u2019re busting\ntheir butts and turning the car around in 30 minutes. (Car chief) Alex Conaway,\n(Assistant Crew Chief) Mike Knudsen and (Crew Chief) Dickie Venables are doing\na great job with our Mopar Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye. I\u2019m trying to do\nmy job starting and leaving on time and I think it\u2019s starting to click and it\nwill come together. It\u2019s going to be amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After a one-year hiatus, the NHRA returns to using the unique\npoints-and-a-half format for this final race of the regular season, providing\ndrivers one last chance to jostle for positions before the points are reset and\nthe field tightened heading into the playoffs, which begin the following week\nat the Mopar Express Lane Nationals Presented by Pennzoil near Reading,\nPennsylvania.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Ron<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

DSR teammate Ron Capps is also in the mix of the championship hunt, sitting in fifth place with a win last month in Pomona, California, and less than a round from the points lead. His focus is firmly on the task at hand — the 27-year Funny Car veteran has never won the coveted Wally trophy at the \u201cBig Go.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Ron<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Capps came close in 2017, driving his DSR NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger SRT\nHellcat to a runner-up finish. While he captured an event win on the\nIndianapolis track last summer for the Dodge Indy Nationals, one of three\nevents held at the track due to an adapted pandemic schedule, he is intent on\nchasing that elusive Dodge\/\/SRT U.S. Nationals win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Cruz<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The third member of the Dodge Funny Car stable of drivers looking to get in\nfour rounds of racing with his Snap-on Tools Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat on Labor\nDay weekend is three-time winner Cruz Pedregon. The Cruz Pedregon Racing team\nhas been coming on strong this season with consistent performances that have\nearned a win (Norwalk), a runner-up finish and an eighth-place spot in the\ncurrent Funny Car season point standings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Leah<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

DSR Top Fuel driver Leah Pruett piloted her Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye dragster to a runner-up finish in her first career final elimination round at the world\u2019s most famous drag race last year. While focused on turning that into a win this year, Pruett has a specific idea of what the ultimate prize is for her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Leah<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI always conceptualize winning Indy as a \u2018snowglobe.’ We all see what it\nlooks like from the outside, yet want to be inside,\u201d said Pruett. \u201cWe\u2019ve heard\nstories of how magical it is inside that globe from those that have visited by\nway of a win, and see the prestige that goes with it. Some call this place the\nwinners circle but for this Dodge team it is our globe. The more years I race\nIndy, the less I become infatuated with having a name tied to the prestigious\nrace win and more obsessed with our journey, memories and character building\nthrough the challenges of obtaining such a goal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Leah<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Pruett will take on the added challenge at the \u201cBig Go\u201d of again competing\nin both the Top Fuel category and Constant Aviation Factory Stock Showdown\n(FSS), the eight-race series showcasing Detroit\u2019s finest drag-racing ready,\nfactory-built vehicles. That presents Pruett with the opportunity to double-up\non trophy hardware and add her own iconic moment to the legendary event aboard\nher 2021 Dodge Challenger Mopar Drag Pak, but she knows that the ride is what\nmakes that destination even sweeter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Leah<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy perspective may be somewhat unconventional but it is because I was\nfortunate enough to experience the Indy \u2018snowglobe\u2019 of prestige when the Mopar\nDrag Pak (FSS) team won the U.S. Nationals in 2018. Some of my highest-ranked\nmemories are of that win because it was tough and ultimately the pinnacle of\nraces to accomplish a win.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mark<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Pruett will be joined by teammates Mark Pawuk and David Davies as DSR campaigns three Mopar Drag Pak entries at this year\u2019s event to battle among a large 30+ car qualifying field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur ability to rise and gain momentum when needed is what excites me about\nthe upcoming Dodge\/\/SRT U.S. Nationals,\u201d added Pruett. \u201cThe continued support\nof Dodge across all levels of the NHRA speaks volumes and we plan to make the\nloudest roar at their biggest race. A Top Fuel and Factory Stock Showdown win\non the same day, although elusive, is not impossible. The momentum with the new\nMopar Drag Pak has been promising, as seen by our recent results of back to\nback finals, current point standings and the relentlessness of the team to keep\nthe Mopar flag flying strong and high.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the new generation Mopar Drag Pak is showcased in FSS, the racing heritage of Mopar and Dodge will be on display as the ever-popular Dodge HEMI\u00ae<\/sup> Challenge returns to the U.S. Nationals for its 20th anniversary. The longest running continuous specialty race in NHRA history features heads-up, wheel standing, side-by-side racing of vintage HEMI-powered 1968 Dodge Dart and Plymouth Barracuda \u201cpackage cars\u201d that have dominated the NHRA Super Stock (SS\/AH) class for over five decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fans who can\u2019t make it to the Lucas Oil Raceway to watch all the action can tune in online via NHRA.TV and its subscription-based, video-on-demand coverage of live racing action throughout the weekend. Television coverage of Top Fuel and Funny Car qualifying will air on FS1 on Friday, Sept. 3, 7-9 p.m. (ET), and Sunday, Sept. 5, 9-10 a.m. Elimination rounds at the 67th edition of the Dodge\/\/SRT U.S. Nationals will air on FS1 on Sunday, Sept. 5, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., and then will move to the FOX television network 1-4 p.m. for live final round action. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Camping World Series is gearing up for its cornerstone event, the 67th edition of the Dodge\/\/SRT\u00ae U.S. Nationals, with drag racers from across the country and various parts of the world getting ready to hit the staging lanes at Lucas Oil Raceway near Indianapolis, Indiana, September 1-5. At the season start, Dodge and SRT (Street and Racing Technology) performance brands announced an expansion of their support for the series with the addition of the oldest and most prestigious of drag-racing events to their portfolio […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":54929,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[575],"tags":[528,849,615],"class_list":["post-54925","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-racing","tag-drag-racing","tag-dsr","tag-nhra"],"acf":[],"custom_fields":{"post_thumbnail_image":"https:\/\/test.api.dodgegarage.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Matt-Hagan-Indianapolis_Feature.jpg","icon_selection":"article","external_link":"","featured_article":[],"upload_background_image":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.api.dodgegarage.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54925"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.api.dodgegarage.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.api.dodgegarage.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.api.dodgegarage.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/27"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.api.dodgegarage.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=54925"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/test.api.dodgegarage.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54925\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":59031,"href":"https:\/\/test.api.dodgegarage.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54925\/revisions\/59031"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.api.dodgegarage.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/54929"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.api.dodgegarage.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=54925"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.api.dodgegarage.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=54925"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.api.dodgegarage.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=54925"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}