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Tony Stewart Racing unveiled a new red and blue look for its Direct Connection Dodge//SRT machines for drivers Tony Stewart and Matt Hagan ahead of the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season opener in Gainesville.

Stewart, the NASCAR legend, will drive the TSR Direct Connection Dodge//SRT Top Fuel dragster, and Hagan, the four-time NHRA world champion, will be at the wheel of TSR Direct Connection Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car, as they seek to begin the NHRA campaign with wins at Gainesville Raceway, following preseason testing in their drag cars.

“Dodge is so proud to have Tony Stewart and Matt Hagan once again pilot our Direct Connection Dodge//SRT drag cars in NHRA competition,” said Matt McAlear, Dodge CEO. “Dodge holds a tremendous legacy in NHRA competition that reaches back for decades, and having two racing legends driving our Nitro cars is the perfect fit. Tony Stewart Racing brings Direct Connection Dodge//SRT performance to thousands of race fans, and our Dodge fans will be cheering them on to the winner’s circle throughout the year.”

Now competing in his fourth different racing discipline (NASCAR, IndyCar, USAC and NHRA), Stewart debuted in the Top Fuel division last year, as the man known as “Smoke” filled in behind the wheel of the TSR Dodge//SRT dragster with his wife, Leah Pruett, staying on the sidelines to prepare for the birth of their son Dominic. The Indiana racer, who has 49 NASCAR Cup wins, drove to two runner-up finishes, placed ninth in the final Top Fuel point standings, and was named Pro Rookie Driver of the Year.

Stewart’s first Top Fuel race was in last year’s NHRA Gatornationals, and in the first round, he left the line ahead of Justin Ashley, known as the best reaction driver in the Top Fuel class, before his car lost traction. But “Smoke” gained the respect of his competitors in just his first Top Fuel event.

“This year’s Gatornationals definitely takes some of the stress of being a rookie driver out of the equation,” said Stewart, a former series champion in NASCAR, IndyCar, and USAC. “Last year, I had to learn a Top Fuel car and go up against the best in the class. The competition is tough, so having a year under my belt lets me go into Gainesville a little more relaxed than my rookie season.

“Right now, we are working on the performance of our car, and we have been testing. We had some performance issues last year, and we have been working on the car’s setups. I’m hoping that we get the needle moving in the right direction, and I’ll get this car into the winner’s circle.”

Hagan’s TSR Dodge//SRT Hellcat team made several crew changes during the winter with veteran Mike Knudsen taking over as the squad’s crew chief and Phil Shuler as co-crew chief for the Virginia driver’s 11,000-horsepower Funny Car. In addition, several of Hagan’s Funny Car crew have taken over new positions with the team, including Alex Conaway as car chief.

After an early testing session in Bradenton, Fla., which produced a strong 3.820-second pass, Hagan, with 52 NHRA career national event victories, is ecstatic with the initial performance of the Dodge//SRT machine and his crew.

“Having a new crew chief is kind of exciting,” said Hagan, the first Funny Car driver to break the 3.80-second barrier. “With Dickie Venables [former crew chief], we made a lot of memories. We won many races and championships. I’ve also spent 15 years with Mike Knudsen and watched him move his way up from the bottom. I would love nothing more than to win a championship with him. Things are looking bright for the future. I told him the other day that we have a chance to start a legacy and build on what I’ve accomplished so far in the sport.

“Mike, Phil, and Alex are all the real deal. I’m excited to get to Gainesville. This is my 18th year with Dodge, and it has been an incredible ride. I’ve seen a lot of people come and go in this sport, so it’s unreal I have been with such a great sponsor for that time frame. They have been so loyal to me, and we are very loyal to them. My family has been a Dodge dealer for 50 years!”
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