Big Win At The Big Go

In a masterful display of championship racing, Tony Stewart etched his name into NHRA history at the 71st Annual NHRA U.S. Nationals, capturing the 2025 Regular Season Championship in dramatic fashion. Stewart and his crew unleashed a calculated assault on the Top Fuel field, culminating in a 39-point victory over Shawn Langdon (Stewart: 1,138 and Langdon: 1,099), with Stewart clinching the title during Monday’s elimination rounds when his Round 2 victory coincided with key rivals falling by the wayside.

The Regular Season Championship represents Stewart’s first major NHRA title. The Championship affirms Tony Stewart Racing’s rapid ascension to championship contention. At the same time, teammate Matt Hagan’s consistent season-long performance secured the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty championship, positioning both drivers as serious threats heading into the six-race Countdown to the Championship.

Tony Stewart’s weekend began with characteristic determination in his TSR Dodge//SRT^® Direct Connection Top Fuel Dragster. Stewart earned the No. 10 provisional qualifying position in Q1 on Friday with a 3.744 ET at 328.78 mph. The Indiana native’s qualifying runs showed some of the inconsistency that has plagued many teams this season. Stewart faced several issues in later sessions that stopped him from improving on his Friday Qualifying run.

Matt Hagan’s qualifying performance in the TSR Direct Connection Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car demonstrated why he remains one of the sport’s elite drivers. Hagan earned the No. 4 provisional qualifying position in Q1 on Friday with a 3.893 ET at 330.88 mph, showcasing the speed that has kept him in the fight throughout the 2025 season. Despite four more rounds of qualifying attempts to improve throughout the weekend, Hagan’s Friday run remained his best effort. Ultimately securing the No. 5 qualifying position for Monday’s eliminations.

The depth of competition at Indianapolis was evident throughout qualifying, with nine cars in the 3.90s in Funny Car. Hagan’s consistent performance kept him in the hunt while many competitors struggled with track conditions that proved challenging throughout the weekend.

While individual race victories often capture headlines, championship consistency pays dividends over the long haul. Matt Hagan’s strategic approach to the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge throughout 2025 culminated in season-long success at Indianapolis. Hagan earned the 2025 overall #2Fast2Tasty championship, demonstrating the team’s ability to perform under pressure in bonus events.

During the weekend’s Challenge competition, Hagan ran 3.965 ET at 330.07 mph, losing to Austin Prock’s 3.910 ET at 333.66 mph. While the loss was disappointing, the bonus points earned will prove valuable as the Countdown to the Championship unfolds.

Monday’s eliminations delivered the drama that has made the U.S. Nationals NHRA’s crown jewel event. Tony Stewart’s path to the finals was nothing short of masterful, as he systematically dismantled a field of elite competitors while clinching the Regular Season Championship.

Stewart’s Round 1 victory came with a 3.716 ET at 334.65 mph, defeating Steve Torrence (3.741 ET at 331.20 mph), setting the tone for a dominant day. The Round 2 victory over Kyle Wurtzel was particularly significant, as Stewart moved past Shawn Langdon and into the points lead with a 3.802 to Wurtzel’s losing 4.454, mathematically securing the Regular Season Championship.

In the Semifinals, Stewart ran 3.837 ET at 325.85 mph, defeating Jasmine Salinas (10.754 ET at 73.87 mph), advancing to his second consecutive U.S. Nationals final.

The final round proved heartbreaking for Stewart, as he ran 3.815 ET at 321.88 mph, losing to Justin Ashley (3.839 ET at 326.16 mph). Despite having a quicker elapsed time, Stewart was 0.027 seconds behind Ashley before he left the tree, and that meant Ashley took home the Wally.

Matt Hagan’s elimination day began with promise but ended in disappointment. In Round 1, Hagan ran 3.887 ET at 334.73 mph, defeating Cruz Pedregon (3.912 ET at 309.34 mph) and demonstrating the speed that carried him through qualifying. However, in Round 2, Hagan ran 5.936 ET at 146.80 mph after sending his rear tires into orbit before the 330′ beams, losing to Alexis DeJoria (3.935 ET at 331.85 mph).

The weekend showcased the strength of the Dodge/Direct Connection program. Hagan holds the track record at Indianapolis in both time and speed (3.799 seconds, 338.77 mph), which he set on Friday, September 1, 2017. This achievement demonstrates the long-term competitiveness of Matt Hagan and Dodge/Direct Connection at the highest levels of drag racing.

Tony Stewart Racing’s preparation and execution throughout the weekend reflected the organizational depth that has made them championship contenders. The team’s ability to tune Stewart’s dragster for consistent performance while managing Hagan’s Funny Car program simultaneously speaks to the quality of their technical staff and resources.

As the regular season concludes, Tony Stewart’s Regular Season Championship and solid 2nd place finish this weekend provide crucial momentum heading into the six-race Countdown to the Championship.

Hagan has advanced to the Countdown to the Championship for the 13th consecutive year, underscoring his remarkable consistency and championship pedigree. His experience in pressure situations will be invaluable as the series heads to Maple Grove Raceway for the Countdown opener, September 11th-14th.

Stewart’s reflections on the weekend captured the highs and lows of chasing a 2025 NHRA Championship: “Looking back at Saturday, I would not have predicted that we would get to the U.S. Nationals final round. Winning the Top Fuel Regular Season Championship is massive for us in my eyes. I think there are things this weekend that we hit on for the ‘Countdown.’ We realized what we were missing on the last few races. I feel that we are in as good of a spot as we can be for the next six races.”

With the regular season concluded and the Countdown format resetting points, both Stewart and Hagan enter the playoffs with legitimate championship hopes. Stewart’s Regular Season Championship provides a solid psychological advantage, while Hagan’s consistency and #2Fast2Tasty success offer bonus points that could prove decisive at the end of the season.

The U.S. Nationals weekend exemplified everything that makes NHRA drag racing compelling: mechanical drama, championship implications, and the razor-thin margins that separate glory from heartbreak. Tony Stewart Racing’s performance across both categories positions them as serious threats for championships in both Top Fuel and Funny Car.

As the series prepares for Maple Grove and the start of the Countdown to the Championship, the foundation laid at Indianapolis will serve both Dodge/Direct Connection drivers well. Stewart’s regular-season title and Hagan’s playoff experience create a formidable combination that should keep Tony Stewart Racing at the forefront of championship conversations throughout the fall.

The Big Go delivered once again, providing drama, excitement, and a points reset starting at the next event that will resonate throughout the remainder of the 2025 season. For Tony Stewart Racing, the weekend represented both achievement and motivation – championship glory tempered by the knowledge that the biggest prizes still lie ahead.