The scenic mountains of Tennessee provided a dramatic backdrop for the 2025 Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway, where Tony Stewart Racing experienced both triumph and trouble across their two-car operation. While motorsports legend Tony Stewart reached new heights in Top Fuel, teammate Matt Hagan’s Funny Car campaign hit unexpected turbulence in the foothills of Tennessee.
Tony Stewart kept marching toward NHRA excellence at Bristol over the weekend, where the current Top Fuel points leader achieved multiple career milestones that eluded him throughout his first season in Top Fuel racing. Saturday proved to be a day Stewart will remember forever as he swept every major headline at Thunder Valley. Tony and the TSR team announced their presence with authority on Saturday by claiming their first-ever No. 1 qualifying position in Top Fuel with a blistering 3.755-second pass at 325.77 mph. The run demonstrated the continued evolution of the Dodge//Direct Connection Top Fuel dragster. It showcased the growing confidence between Stewart and his veteran crew chiefs, Neil Strausbaugh and Mike Domagala.
“This is just a testament to this team,” said Stewart. “We’re continuing to make progress to get this car quicker and more consistent, and it’s showing. It’s great to get our first low qualifier and win the Mission Challenge. It’s great to have something to race for on Saturday.”
Stewart’s dominance extended beyond qualifying into the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, where he delivered perhaps his most significant performance of the weekend. Facing the previously unbeatable Doug Kalitta in the specialty race final, Stewart posted a commanding 3.803-second pass at 324.05 mph to defeat the Kalitta Motorsports veteran and end their perfect six-race winning streak in the 2025 season.
The victory marked Stewart’s first-ever Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge win and reinforced his ability to perform under pressure. The result also provided crucial momentum heading into Sunday’s elimination rounds, where Stewart entered as the top seed for the first time in his NHRA career.
Sunday’s elimination rounds began with an easy round one win over Cameron Ferre. Round two was even easier as Stewart received a bye run into round three due to qualifying number one. However, the path to Bristol glory would prove more challenging than anticipated.
Stewart’s journey ended in heartbreaking fashion during the semifinals, where he faced veteran Steve Torrence in what many considered the race of the day. In a side-by-side thriller showcasing the razor-thin margins that define Top Fuel racing, Stewart had a .002 margin at the tree with a .078 to Torrence’s .080, but Torrence got by Stewart on the top end by a mere 0.0025 seconds with a 3.857 to Stewart’s 3.861.
The loss ended Stewart’s remarkable streak of five consecutive final-round appearances. This run established him as one of the sport’s most consistent performers through the first half of the 2025 season. Despite not making the final round, Stewart maintained his points lead, a testament to his overall season performance.
While Stewart made headlines in Top Fuel, veteran Funny Car competitor Matt Hagan faced a more difficult weekend in his Johnson’s Horsepower Garage Dodge Charger. The four-time Funny Car champion entered Bristol carrying momentum from his consistent performances this year, currently sitting fourth in the championship standings despite a handful of challenges during the 2025 campaign.
Hagan secured the 14th qualifying position with a 4.060-second pass at 319.75 mph, setting up a challenging first-round matchup against Ron Capps, a seven-time Bristol winner and another of the sport’s most accomplished Funny Car pilots.
Sunday’s first round delivered one of the weekend’s most compelling drag races when Hagan faced Capps in a battle of multi-time world champions. The two veterans staged what race officials described as “a proper drag race,” with Capps getting to the finish line first just 5 feet and .0105 seconds ahead in a thrilling side-by-side finish. The narrow defeat ended Hagan’s weekend earlier than hoped but demonstrated the competitive balance in a Funny Car field where fractions of seconds separate victory from elimination.
The Bristol weekend represented the promise and challenges Tony Stewart Racing faces as they continue building their two-car operation. Stewart’s achievements – his first No. 1 qualifier, first Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge victory, and continued points leadership – demonstrate the rapid progression of a team that has quickly established itself among Top Fuel’s elite.
For Hagan, the early exit served as a reminder of the depth in the Funny Car field, where even seasoned champions must execute flawlessly to advance. While respectable, his fourth-place position in the championship standings reflects the challenges of competing in perhaps the most competitive era in Funny Car history.
The Johnson’s Horsepower Garage partnership provided both drivers with striking liveries that stood out in the Bristol pit area, continuing the sponsor’s tradition of bringing automotive passion and flair to NHRA competition. The company’s growing involvement in drag racing aligns perfectly with its celebration of automotive culture and performance.
The weekend also featured compelling action in the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown, where reigning world champion Mark Pawuk overcame his historical struggles at Bristol Dragway to capture his first victory of the 2025 season. Racing from the No. 2 qualifying position in his Empaco Dodge Challenger, Pawuk defeated Jim Betz in the final round after Betz red-lighted at the starting line. The victory moved Pawuk into the Flexjet points lead and marked his fourth career win in the class at a track where he had struggled since beginning his racing career in the 1980s. “I started racing here in the ’80s. I’ve always struggled at this racetrack,” Pawuk reflected after his breakthrough performance. The Factory Stock class showcased excellent manufacturer diversity throughout eliminations, with three Dodges, three Fords and two Chevrolets advancing to the second round, highlighting the competitive balance that has made the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown program increasingly popular among fans and competitors alike.
As the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series reaches the midpoint of its 20-race season, Tony Stewart Racing departs Bristol with reasons for celebration and motivation. Stewart’s weekend continues to position him as a legitimate championship contender. At the same time, Hagan’s early exit fuels the veteran’s pursuit of extending his 11-season winning streak and climbing higher in this season’s overall standings.
Bristol Dragway once again proved why it remains one of NHRA’s crown jewel events, delivering drama, milestone moments and the kind of close competition that defines professional drag racing. For Tony Stewart Racing, the weekend provided another chapter in their evolving story – one highlighted by Stewart’s breakthrough achievements and the team’s continued development across both Top Fuel and Funny Car divisions as they pursue NHRA excellence on multiple fronts.
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