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Dodge//SRT and the Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) team announced today a new multi-year extension in its long-standing partnership to field entries in the two nitro-burning divisions — Top Fuel and Funny Car — in the NHRA Mission Drag Racing Series. The announcement was made during a press conference at the season-opening Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals race in Gainesville, Florida.

“Working with an elite, championship-caliber team like Tony Stewart Racing brings Dodge and Direct Connection to the forefront at each of the NHRA’s 20 national events, especially with legendary drivers like Tony Stewart and Matt Hagan behind the wheel of our Dodge//SRT Direct Connection Top Fuel dragster and Funny Car, respectively,” said Matt McAlear, Dodge CEO. “Dodge’s celebrated legacy in NHRA competition dates back more than 60 years and, as a result of this new multi-year partnership, our brand and our fans are looking forward to celebrating in the winner’s circle with Tony, Matt, Leah and the entire TSR organization for years to come.”

The Dodge brand began its partnership with TSR in 2022, and the Indiana-based squad has recorded 16 NHRA national event wins, as well as the 2023 NHRA Mission World Funny Car Championship by driver Matt Hagan in the TSR Direct Connection Dodge//SRT Hellcat. Hagan, a 52-time NHRA national event winner and four-time NHRA World Champion, has scored 13 victories in his three years with the TSR organization, while 2022-2023 TSR teammate Leah Pruett has won three NHRA trophies.

Last year, Stewart, a former champion in NASCAR, IndyCar and USAC, took over the driving chores from Pruett, his wife, in the TSR Direct Connection Dodge//SRT Top Fuel car, as she stepped away from the driver’s seat to start a family with team owner and husband Stewart. Their son, Dominic, was born on Nov. 18, 2024.

Stewart, the NASCAR Hall of Fame racer with 49 Cup Series wins, was named NHRA Rookie of the Year in his first season at the wheel of the TSR Direct Connection Dodge//SRT Top Fuel dragster and placed ninth in the final NHRA Mission Top Fuel point standings. The driver known as “Smoke” finished runner-up in two events in 2024, and he also scored the North Central Division Top Alcohol Dragster class championship.

The TSR two-car Direct Connection Dodge//SRT operation has been one of the NHRA’s top professional organizations since entering the sport in 2022 and continues to be a front runner throughout the 20-race NHRA national tour. Stewart has been one of the most popular competitors in the NHRA with long lines at the TSR pit area for Stewart’s autographs and photos.

“To have racing partners like Dodge//SRT, Mopar and Direct Connection has been a great asset for our TSR team, as well as the entire drag-racing sport,” said Stewart. “It’s important to have strong OEM support in all forms of motorsports, and we are so excited to continue our involvement with the Dodge brand and Direct Connection on our Top Fuel dragster and Funny Car. I’m very appreciative of their support and looking forward to a great future with them in the winner’s circle.”

Hagan, one of just four Funny Car drivers (John Force, Don Prudhomme and Kenny Bernstein are the others) to capture four NHRA Mission World Funny Car Championships, enters his 18th season at the wheel of a Dodge//SRT Funny Car. In addition to his four titles, Hagan also has been a history maker on the drag strip on four occasions during his career, including becoming the first Funny Car driver to break the four-second barrier (3.995-second run in 2011) and 3.80 seconds (3.799 in 2015) and to reach 330 mph (2015) and 335 mph (2016) at 1,000 feet. ��

“I’m so pumped up with Dodge//SRT extending its partnership with Tony Stewart Racing,” said Hagan. “It’s awesome to have the sustainability with such great sponsors like Dodge, Mopar and Direct Connection. I am very excited about what our future holds with Dodge. This is my 18th season driving a Dodge//SRT Funny Car, and it’s great to have them supporting what we do. My family has been a Dodge dealer for 50 years, so it makes a nice circle. We can race on Sunday and sell on Monday.

“I have won 52 91���� Funny Car nationals at the controls of a Dodge//SRT machine and won four World Championship with them. The parts, pieces and support Dodge//SRT and Direct Connection give us are truly amazing. We’ve been able to build a championship team, and I am honored to be a part of that with Dodge.”

Pruett, whose Dodge and Mopar relationship dates to 2016, continues to be actively involved in the TSR organization with sponsorships, coaching and team strategies.

“I have held Dodge, Mopar, and Direct Connection close to my heart for many years, and Tony and I are thrilled to extend the TSR and Dodge//SRT partnership,” said Pruett. “Our partnership with Dodge includes many aspects — our enthusiasm to continue on-track success for the Dodge brand with our team and loyal fans. But it is also a pathway for Direct Connection to continue to connect with their customers through a strong partnership.”

The TSR Direct Connection Dodge//SRT nitro cars begin the 2025 NHRA Mission Drag Racing Series this weekend (March 7-9) with the 56th annual NHRA Gatornationals and the Top Fuel Callout events, as Stewart drives the TSR Direct Connection Dodge//SRT Top Fueler and Hagan steers the TSR Direct Connection Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car.

Dodge Motorsports Livery Shootout Begins at the NHRA Gatornationals

Dodge has announced an exciting fan engagement with the new Dodge Motorsports Livery Shootout, allowing drag-racing enthusiasts to pick from three car schemes to help choose the graphics Stewart and Hagan will campaign on their TSR Direct Connection Dodge//SRT machines at the U.S. Nationals on Aug. 27 – Sept. 1 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.

Beginning at the NHRA Gatornationals, the Dodge Motorsport Livery Shootout will feature three separate car graphic options for Stewart’s Top Fuel dragster and Hagan’s Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car. Drag-racing fans can vote on their favorite livery at Dodgegarage.com and on the Dodge Motorsports Instagram channel. In addition, fans at NHRA national events can vote at the Dodge Motorsports activation display located on the NHRA Manufacturers Midway.

Voting for the special Dodge Motorsports Livery Shootout will wrap up on Monday, June 2.
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