At the Muckleshoot Casino Resort NHRA Northwest Nationals, Matt Hagan roared back into victory lane. His Direct Connection Dodge Charger SRT® Hellcat Funny Car nailed the final round with a 3.904-second pass at 331.94 mph, earning Hagan his first win of the 2025 season – and his 53rd career Funny Car victory – with Crew Chief Mike “Stretch” Knudsen and co-chief Phil Shuler leading the tune-up.
“I want to say thank you to Tony Stewart for believing in Mike…” Hagan noted in victory lane, thanking Stewart for entrusting Knudsen with the team – a show of confidence now paying off.
That milestone win puts Hagan third in the Funny Car standings and sets the stage for a Sonoma showdown – where he’s reached the final three times (2012, 2019, 2021) but never claimed a Wally.
“We’ve been knocking on the door in Sonoma for over a decade… now we’re showing up with a car that just proved it can go all the way.”
Tony Stewart hit traction issues and exited in Round One at Seattle, but the Direct Connection Top Fuel dragster’s team keeps climbing – Stewart remains ninth in points and is learning fast.
“It wasn’t the result we wanted, but we’re learning every pass,” Stewart said. “Sonoma’s always been good to me. Winning there in a dragster? That would be wild.”
As a three-time NASCAR Cup winner at Sonoma (2001, 2005, 2016), Stewart arrives with confidence and a unique shot at dual-track legacy.
The Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals presented by PowerEdge wraps up the Western Swing ahead of the Countdown. Hot track temps, evolving grip and tactical setups will separate contenders from pretenders.
The Launch Pad fan zone returns – featuring shaded viewing, interactive driver fan sessions and exclusive nitro impact.
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