Tony Stewart Racing Extend its Partnership with Dodge

Photo credit: Dodge

The Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) Nitro organization and the Dodge brand have extended their relationship, with the plan to run two nitro-burning cars in the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Mission Drag Racing Series, Top Fuel, and Funny Car races.

“The Dodge brand is excited to extend our partnership with an elite, winning organization like Tony Stewart Racing,” said Matt McAlear, Dodge brand CEO – Stellantis. “Dodge owns a historic legacy in NHRA competition, and racing icon and legend Tony Stewart, four-time NHRA world champion Matt Hagan and 18-time NHRA event winner Leah Pruett are the perfect ambassadors to represent our brand and our Direct Connection performance parts line. Along with our Dodge Brotherhood of Muscle, I look forward to continuing to cheer on Tony, Matt, Leah and the entire TSR organization.”

Matt Hagan, a driver for Direct Connection Dodge/SRT Hellcat, has earned 15 NHRA national event victories since the Dodge brand and TSR started collaborating in 2022. Hagan also took home the NHRA Mission World Funny Car Championship in 2023. In 2024, Stewart announced that he will replace his wife Leah Pruett, who stepped down from the driver’s position this year to start a family with her husband, the team owner, in the TSR Direct Connection Dodge/SRT Top Fuel vehicle.

“Having strong OEM support is crucial in all forms of motorsports,” said Stewart. “To have Dodge re-sign with TSR is great. We are all excited about where the program has been up until this point, and we are all excited about where it’s going. It’s been a big change on the dragster side with Leah (Pruett) driving in the past, as far as the specs we had to change in the offseason. It’s been more of a challenge for the crew chiefs, but Dodge has been very supportive from the time we had the first discussion about creating TSR Nitro. I’m very appreciative of their support and looking forward to an awesome future with them.”

Hagan (12) and Pruett (3) have combined for 15 victories at NHRA national races since Dodge partnered with TSR in 2022; Hagan earned six of these victories while taking home the 2023 Funny Car title. Pruett finished third in the 2023 Top Fuel standings after winning two races in the TSR Direct Connection Dodge/SRT dragster.

A former winner of the USAC, IndyCar, and NASCAR championships, Stewart shocked the motorsports world in 2023 when he decided to pursue drag racing as a fourth racing discipline. He presently participates in NHRA Top Fuel racing full-time at the highest level. Stewart has been inducted into the Hall of Fame of NASCAR. Stewart finished second in the Top Alcohol Dragster class national points in 2023 during his rookie season driving the TSR Direct Connection Dodge/SRT dragster. The well-known racer has since continued to gain experience as he looks to win his first Top Fuel race.

“It’s really awesome to hear Dodge is extending their relationship with TSR,” said Hagan. “I have had such a long career with Dodge. I’ve been able to carry the Dodge banner for close to 16 years and I’ve been able to win four championships and 51 races with the brand. The parts and pieces and support they give us is amazing and allows us to be the best on the racetrack. It’s great to have such a long partnership. We’ve been able to build a championship team and I am honored to be a part of that. Dodge has a great relationship with TSR and Tony (Stewart). It’s been awesome watching him grow.”

Stewart’s two-car operation has been among the best professional operations in the NHRA since entering the sport in 2022 with the Dodge brand. It has maintained its lead throughout the 20-race NHRA national tour. One of the most popular competitors in the NHRA this year, Stewart has long lines in the TSR pit area for his autographs and photos. In the racing community, he goes by “Smoke”.

Hagan, the reigning NHRA Mission World Funny Car Champion, has spent 16 seasons as a Dodge brand ambassador since 2009. Hagan has made drag racing history with four historic records. He broke the 4-second record in 2011 (3.995) and the 3.80-second record (3.799) in 2015 as the first driver of a Funny Car. At 1,000 feet, he has also achieved 330 mph in 2015 and 335 mph in 2016.  

In four NHRA World Funny Car championships, the Virginian racer has triumphed, all driving Dodge vehicles with Mopar HEMI® engines. He now shares the record with Don “the Snake” Prudhomme and Kenny Bernstein for the most Funny Car wins in NHRA competition. Hagan has won 51 NHRA national event victories, good for fourth place all-time in Funny Car wins.

“This extension represents many aspects of our partnership — not only our enthusiasm to continue on-track success for the Dodge brand with our team and loyal fans, but also as a pathway for Direct Connection to continue to connect with their customers through an established partnership,” said Pruett. “I hold Dodge and Direct Connection close to my heart and I am thrilled to continue our partnership.” 

In 2016, Pruett began working for Mopar and Dodge. He continues to actively engage with TSR structure and team strategies, as well as race attendance. The TSR Direct Connection Dodge/SRT vehicles are now rated fourth in the class rankings after racing in eight 2024 NHRA Mission events this year. Stewart is seventh in the Top Fuel standings and Hagan has won two Funny Car races. 

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