{"id":88002,"date":"2025-05-16T07:03:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-16T11:03:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dodgegarage.com\/news-api\/?p=88002"},"modified":"2025-05-15T12:10:50","modified_gmt":"2025-05-15T16:10:50","slug":"return-to-the-strip-tony-stewart-racing-reloads-for-route-66-nationals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.api.dodgegarage.com\/news\/racing\/2025\/05\/return-to-the-strip-tony-stewart-racing-reloads-for-route-66-nationals.html","title":{"rendered":"Return to the Strip: Tony Stewart Racing Reloads for Route 66 Nationals"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Mayhem took a breather – but the Dodge-backed warriors are back.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After a much-needed two-week break following the chaos of the American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals in Concord, North Carolina, the NHRA is firing back up at full throttle. This time, all eyes shift to Joliet, Illinois, for the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK<\/strong>, and the Dodge\/\/SRT\u00ae<\/sup>-backed Tony Stewart Racing<\/strong> (TSR) team is coming in locked, loaded and laser-focused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A Two-Week Reset. A Whole New Mindset.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The pause between events has been anything but idle for TSR\u2019s championship-caliber duo – Funny Car phenom Matt Hagan<\/strong> and Top Fuel newcomer Tony Stewart<\/strong>. The layoff provided the team valuable time to analyze, tweak and reinforce. Now, with engines prepped and adrenaline levels maxed, the Dodge Direct Connection machines are roaring back to reclaim their edge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cSometimes that break is the calm before a storm,\u201d says Hagan. \u201cWe\u2019ve reset, regrouped, and we\u2019re ready to go out there and light it up for Dodge, for TSR, and for the fans.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Hagan Hunts Joliet Glory<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
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For Hagan, the Route 66 Nationals present a familiar battleground. The TSR Dodge\/\/SRT Hellcat Funny Car<\/strong> has been dialed in this season with multiple strong performances – including several wins and top qualifier positions. Hagan\u2019s aggressive style and tactical instincts make him a constant threat when the tree drops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With championship implications intensifying, this mid-season stretch becomes critical, and Hagan knows it.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\u201cRoute 66 is one of those tracks where you can set a tone for the second half of the year,\u201d Hagan explains. \u201cWe want to bring the hammer down now – and carry that momentum all the way to the U.S. Nationals and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Tony Stewart: Calm Under Fire in Top Fuel<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
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Meanwhile, Tony Stewart<\/strong> continues to build on his Top Fuel campaign with the kind of resolve only a multi-discipline motorsports champion can bring. While still in his rookie NHRA season, Stewart has already earned the respect of the pits – and a loyal following of fans who admire his grit and fast adaptation to drag racing\u2019s most volatile class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Backed by Dodge and piloting the TSR Direct Connection Top Fuel Dragster<\/strong>, Stewart has been steadily narrowing the margin between new guy and serious contender.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\u201cWe\u2019re not here just to make noise – we\u2019re here to win,\u201d says Stewart. \u201cEvery pass down the strip is a lesson, and Route 66 is the next chapter in our journey. I\u2019ve got a killer team behind me and the baddest brand in motorsports on my side. Let\u2019s go to work.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Where to Follow the Action<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Stay plugged into the full-throttle excitement all weekend long:<\/p>\n\n\n\n