How Wide? 4-Wide! TSR Conquers 4-Wide Nationals Charlotte

It has only been a week since we were in Pennsylvania at the Reading Nationals watching Tony Stewart’s Top Fuel dragster flip onto its side following a collision with Doug Kalitta’s machine in the semifinals, and Matt Hagan struggling to find consistency in the Funny Car ranks. Tony Stewart Racing arrived at Charlotte’s zMAX Dragway with something to prove. The Reading weekend had been a stark reminder of both the dangers and unpredictability of NHRA competition, with Stewart walking away uninjured but forced to switch to his backup dragster for Charlotte. At the same time, Hagan continued working through setup challenges that had plagued the team in recent events.

The inaugural four-wide Countdown to the Championship race at zMAX Dragway delivered everything NHRA fans could have hoped for and more. Stewart, Hagan and the TSR Team showcased their championship mettle in front of packed grandstands, with both drivers demonstrating why they remain forces to be reckoned with as the 2025 playoffs heat up.

Matt Hagan entered the weekend with confidence and determination, bolstered by his crew’s extensive preparation work. The four-time Funny Car world champion made an immediate statement, securing his second No. 1 qualifier position of the 2025 season with a commanding 3.891-second pass at 329.67 mph in his Direct Connection/Dodge//SRT^® Hellcat on Friday night.

“We have gone through some adversity the last few weeks, and the guys are getting blisters on their feet from working so hard on the racecar,” Hagan explained. “They had 15 hours at the track on Thursday and then the whole weekend too. We have been trying to figure out what was going on. It was a good weekend overall with the No. 1 qualifier and seven for seven strong runs down the track. We have a good racecar now after our troubles last week. We have to keep grinding, and we have more parts on order.”

The Virginia native’s qualifying run held up through Saturday’s sessions, giving Tony Stewart Racing’s Funny Car program much-needed stability after recent struggles with engine explosions. This marked Hagan’s 54th career No. 1 qualifier and his second time at the top of the qualifying order this season.

Hagan’s qualifying performance was particularly notable given the challenging four-wide format and the pressure of the Countdown. Hagan was particularly pleased with the team’s consistency, having successfully completed passes in all four qualifying sessions across every lane at the facility.

Tony Stewart’s weekend began with adversity. The regular-season Top Fuel champion was forced to shut off his dragster after the burnout during Friday’s first qualifying session due to a noise Stewart and his crew chief, Neal Strausbaugh, heard as they were backing the car up after the burnout.

Despite the early setback, Stewart’s crew rallied to secure the No. 9 qualifying position with a 3.760 pass at 329.67 mph from Friday’s second session. This put him in a challenging opening-round alongside top qualifier Brittany Force, Shawn Reed and an empty lane, making it a 3-wide pass.

When eliminations began Sunday, Stewart delivered when it mattered most. In the first round, he won his quad with a solid 3.766-second pass at 326.79 mph, defeating Shawn Reed’s 3.787, while Force also advanced with a 3.758.

The semifinals presented an even greater challenge, with Stewart facing Justin Ashley, Shawn Langdon and Brittany Force in what would prove to be one of the weekend’s most competitive quads. Despite running a respectable 3.784 at 328.62 mph, Stewart fell victim to a triple holeshot, with Ashley taking the win and Langdon earning second place to advance to the finals.

While Tony Stewart Racing didn’t capture victories in the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge during Saturday’s specialty competition, both drivers gained valuable data and track time. The challenge, which features semifinalists from the previous race competing in a separate event during the final qualifying session, has become a vital tune-up opportunity for teams while offering bonus championship points.

Hagan’s participation in the challenge provided additional confidence heading into Sunday’s eliminations, while Stewart’s team used the session to further dial in their backup dragster setup.

Opening Sunday’s eliminations from the top spot, Hagan faced a loaded quad that included J.R. Todd, Jack Beckman and John Smith. There is no margin for error lining up next to this group of cars! The veteran proved his mettle in the first round, running 3.949 seconds at 327.74 mph to defeat Todd (4.302), Smith (6.664), and advance alongside Beckman, who posted a 3.939. In the semifinals, Hagan continued his strong performance with a 3.963 at 327.19 mph, defeating Beckman, Spencer Hyde and Chad Green to earn his spot in the finals.

The final round featured a star-studded lineup, with Hagan facing off against points leader Austin Prock, Chad Green and Daniel Wilkerson. Despite a competitive 3.952-second pass at 324.12 mph, Hagan finished second to Prock’s winning 3.912 at 332.43 mph, with Wilkerson third and Green fourth.

The runner-up finish marked a significant points gain for Hagan, who advanced from fifth to second in the Funny Car championship standings. His performance also demonstrated the consistency that has made Tony Stewart Racing a championship contender in Funny Car and Top Fuel since the 2025 NHRA season began.

The weekend showcased the strength of Dodge/Direct Connection in NHRA competition, with an SRT Hellcat-bodied Funny Car competing at the front of the field. Hagan’s Direct Connection Dodge//SRT program led the charge.

The Dodge contingent’s performance at Charlotte reinforced the brand’s position as a significant force in both Top Fuel and Funny Car competition, with Tony Stewart Racing serving as the flagship operation for the manufacturer’s NHRA efforts.

With his runner-up finish, Hagan moved into second place in the Funny Car championship standings, trailing leader Austin Prock by 79 points with four races remaining in the Countdown. Stewart’s semifinal appearance helped maintain his position in the Top Fuel title fight, though he remains fourth in the standings, 67 points behind leader Doug Kalitta.

The historic four-wide playoff format proved successful, delivering intense competition and spectacular racing that showcased why Charlotte’s zMAX Dragway remains one of NHRA’s most beloved venues. For Tony Stewart Racing, the weekend provided both validation of their championship credentials and motivation to continue pushing toward their ultimate goal: bringing home NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series World Championships in both Top Fuel and Funny Car.

As the series heads toward the season’s final stretch, both Stewart and Hagan have positioned themselves as serious championship contenders, with their Charlotte performance serving as proof that Tony Stewart Racing remains one of the sport’s elite operations. The combination of Stewart’s breakthrough season and Hagan’s veteran consistency has created a formidable one-two punch that could well deliver the organization’s first NHRA world championships.