Dodge\/\/SRT\u00ae and the Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) team announced today a new multi-year extension in its long-standing partnership to field entries in the two nitro-burning divisions \u2013 Top Fuel and Funny Car \u2013 in the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Mission Drag Racing Series. The announcement was made during a press conference at the season-opening NHRA Gatornationals race in Gainesville, Florida.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWorking with an elite, championship-caliber team like Tony Stewart Racing brings Dodge and Direct Connection to the forefront at each of the NHRA\u2019s 20 national events, especially with legendary drivers like Tony Stewart and Matt Hagan behind the wheel of our Dodge\/\/SRT Direct Connection Top Fuel dragster and Funny Car, respectively,\u201d said Matt McAlear, Dodge CEO. \u201cDodge\u2019s celebrated legacy in NHRA competition dates back more than 60 years and, as a result of this new multi-year partnership, our brand and our fans are looking forward to celebrating in the winner\u2019s circle with Tony, Matt, Leah and the entire TSR organization for years to come.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Dodge brand began its partnership with TSR in 2022, and the Indiana-based squad has recorded 16 NHRA national event wins, as well as the 2023 NHRA Mission World Funny Car Championship by driver Matt Hagan in the TSR Direct Connection Dodge\/\/SRT Hellcat. Hagan, a 52-time NHRA national event winner and four-time NHRA World Champion, has scored 13 victories in his three years with the TSR organization, while 2022-2023 TSR teammate Leah Pruett has won three NHRA trophies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last year, Stewart, a former champion in NASCAR, IndyCar and USAC, took over the driving chores from Pruett, his wife, in the TSR Direct Connection Dodge\/\/SRT Top Fuel car, as she stepped away from the driver\u2019s seat to start a family with team owner and husband Stewart. Their son, Dominic, was born on Nov. 18, 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stewart, the NASCAR Hall of Fame racer with 49 Cup Series wins, was named NHRA Rookie of the Year in his first season at the wheel of the TSR Direct Connection Dodge\/\/SRT Top Fuel dragster and placed ninth in the final NHRA Mission Top Fuel point standings. The driver known as \u201cSmoke\u201d finished runner-up in two events in 2024, and he also scored the North Central Division Top Alcohol Dragster class championship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The TSR two-car Direct Connection Dodge\/\/SRT operation has been one of the NHRA\u2019s top professional organizations since entering the sport in 2022 and continues to be a front runner throughout the 20-race NHRA national tour. Stewart has been one of the most popular competitors in the NHRA with long lines at the TSR pit area for Stewart\u2019s autographs and photos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTo have racing partners like Dodge\/\/SRT, Mopar\u00ae and Direct Connection has been a great asset for our TSR team, as well as the entire drag-racing sport,\u201d said Stewart. \u201cIt\u2019s important to have strong OEM support in all forms of motorsports, and we are so excited to continue our involvement with the Dodge brand and Direct Connection on our Top Fuel dragster and Funny Car. I\u2019m very appreciative of their support and looking forward to a great future with them in the winner\u2019s circle.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hagan, one of just four Funny Car drivers (John Force, Don Prudhomme and Kenny Bernstein are the others) to capture four NHRA Mission World Funny Car Championships, enters his 18th season at the wheel of a Dodge\/\/SRT Funny Car. In addition to his four titles, Hagan also has been a history maker on the drag strip on four occasions during his career, including becoming the first Funny Car driver to break the four-second barrier (3.995-second run in 2011) and 3.80 seconds (3.799 in 2015) and to reach 330 mph (2015) and 335 mph (2016) at 1,000 feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m so pumped up with Dodge\/\/SRT extending its partnership with Tony Stewart Racing,\u201d said Hagan. \u201cIt\u2019s 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI have won 52 NHRA Funny Car nationals at the controls of a Dodge\/\/SRT machine and won four World Championship with them. The parts, pieces and support Dodge\/\/SRT and Direct Connection give us are truly amazing. We\u2019ve been able to build a championship team, and I am honored to be a part of that with Dodge.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pruett, whose Dodge and Mopar relationship dates to 2016, continues to be actively involved in the TSR organization with sponsorships, coaching and team strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI have held Dodge, Mopar and Direct Connection close to my heart for many years, and Tony and I are thrilled to extend the TSR and Dodge\/\/SRT partnership,\u201d said Pruett. \u201cOur partnership with Dodge includes many aspects \u2014 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The TSR Direct Connection Dodge\/\/SRT nitro cars begin the 2025 NHRA Mission Drag Racing Series this weekend (March 7-9) with the 56th annual NHRA Gatornationals and the Top Fuel Callout events, as Stewart drives the TSR Direct Connection Dodge\/\/SRT Top Fueler and Hagan steers the TSR Direct Connection Dodge\/\/SRT Hellcat Funny Car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dodge Motorsports Livery Shootout Begins at the NHRA Gatornationals<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Dodge has announced an exciting fan engagement with the new Dodge Motorsports Livery Shootout, allowing drag-racing enthusiasts to pick from three car schemes to help choose the graphics Stewart and Hagan will campaign on their TSR Direct Connection Dodge\/\/SRT machines at the U.S. Nationals on Aug. 27 \u2013 Sept. 1 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n