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Tony Stewart Racing Conquers Harsh Weather To Reach Semifinals At NHRA Virginia Nationals
The NHRA Mission Drag Racing Series faced extreme weather at the PlayNHRA Virginia Nationals, with Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) Dodge nitro teams navigating 150-degree track temperatures. Drivers Tony Stewart (Top Fuel) and Matt Hagan (Funny Car) reached the semifinals despite the challenging conditions.
Stewart, a NASCAR Hall of Fame driver and NHRA Top Fuel rookie, had one of his best races at Virginia Motorsports Park. He qualified third in the TSR Direct Connection Dodge//SRT dragster with a 3.885 and set low elapsed times in the first two rounds on Sunday.
Guided by crew chiefs Neal Strausbaugh and Mike Domagala, Stewart's Top Fueler clocked a 3.874 to defeat Clay Millican in round one and a 3.907 against former NHRA World Champion Brittany Force in round two. This marked Stewart's third semifinal appearance this year.
In the semifinals, Stewart faced defending World Top Fuel champion Doug Kalitta. Despite a strong reaction time of 0.047, Stewart's car lost traction midtrack, allowing Kalitta to win and eventually take the event title against Shawn Langdon.
"I’m really proud of our weekend coming off a disappointing Bristol race," said Stewart. "Nobody likes to lose and, ultimately, there’s only one person that wins the whole thing."
Matt Hagan, the defending NHRA Mission World Funny Car Champion, also had a tough road in the Funny Car division. Despite qualifying challenges, he defeated J.R. Todd and Mike Smith in Sunday's eliminations.
In the semifinals against Funny Car point leader Austin Prock, Hagan had an excellent start but narrowly missed victory with a 4.031 to Prock’s 3.96. Prock went on to win the event.
"A lot of teams were having problems, and we were having problems as well trying to keep eight cylinders lit in these conditions," said Hagan. "We didn’t qualify great, but we always seem to race great."
Upcoming Events
The next event on the NHRA Mission Drag Racing Series schedule is the Summit Racing Nationals at Norwalk, Ohio, from June 28-30. Qualifying rounds begin on Friday at 6 p.m. EDT and continue at 8:30 p.m. EDT.
Saturday’s sessions are scheduled for 2:30 p.m. EDT and 5 p.m. EDT, with Sunday’s final eliminations starting at 11 a.m. EDT. Fox Sports 1 will televise Sunday’s eliminations at 4 p.m., with later rounds on FOX network at 5 p.m.
Dodge//SRT Highlights
The @DodgeMoparMotorsports Instagram channel showcases Dodge//SRT Mopar drivers' performances on track, featuring action from NHRA Mission Drag Racing Series and NHRA Sportsman grassroots racers competing in various classes.
Dodge continues its legacy with high-performance vehicles like the all-new electric Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack and multi-energy powertrain options such as the Dodge Charger SIXPACK H.O., powered by a Twin Turbo Hurricane engine.
Mopar's Legacy
Mopar represents Stellantis genuine parts and accessories globally since its inception in 1937 as an antifreeze product line name combining "MOtor" and "PARts." It evolved over decades to offer comprehensive vehicle care and performance enhancements for enthusiasts worldwide.
Mopar gained prominence during the muscle-car era of the 1960s with performance parts for speed and handling improvements both on-road and racing use. Today, it integrates service, parts, and customer-care operations globally for enhanced support.
Fans can follow all NHRA action this season through DodgeGarage for daily updates on Dodge//SRT and Mopar drag-racing news including events, galleries, downloads, merchandise access via an online racing HQ.
Dodge is part of Stellantis' portfolio of brands offering unrivaled performance across segments while moving towards an electrified future with models like the new Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack.
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