Tony Stewart, Driver of the TSR Dodge//SRT Direct Connection Top Fuel Dragster
“This weekend was the polar opposite of what you normally see in racing. It’s the nature of nitro motors. Nitro motors want to be under load. It’s not as easy as backing down a couple of knobs off and softening everything. You soften it too much and it puts a hole out (of the cylinder). On weekends like this, the crew chiefs are balancing everything on a razor blade. You want to keep the load in the engine to make it happy, but then soften things enough to not overpower the track.
It was just a challenging weekend. I hope I forget about it by the time I get home. Unfortunately, the one run we needed to get right (Friday night), we stubbed our toe. It backed us in a corner for Q3 and Q4 on Saturday. And that put us in a tough Round One matchup today.
It was not meant to be this weekend, but we’ll be ready for Epping. We’ll test this week and I know there are things that Neal (Strausbaugh – crew chief) and Mike (Domagala – co-crew chief) want to try and get us where we need to be. So, we can sort out some things as we head into the June races.
I’m very pleased with Matt (Hagan) and his Funny Car team today in very tough conditions. They are fighting the same things we are with the Top Fuel team. This is a good weekend for picking up points in the Funny Car class.”
Matt Hagan, Driver of the TSR Direct Connection Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car
“It was a massive day for TSR (Tony Stewart Racing) and the Direct Connection Dodge//SRT guys. Back-to-back wins is super in very tough track conditions this weekend. This place was so tricky with the heat and humidity. We got stuck in the tough lane and we drove it to another win. Dickie Venables (crew chief), Mike Knudsen (co-crew chief), Alex Conaway (car chief) and all of the crew guys do such a great job on race day. I trust them to put me in position to win races. I just stab the throttle and steer it. I had to drive the wheels off the car today.
For much of my career, I drove for Don Schumacher, and we celebrated his life here this weekend in his hometown. He got me into Funny Car racing 15 years ago. Now, I race for Tony Stewart Racing, and Tony gives me the best equipment I could ask for in NHRA competition.
We didn’t qualify as well as we wanted with an 11th spot, but, on race day, we clicked those win lights and that is what it is all about. Getting those ‘four win’ lights is why we do this. I feel like if you are in it, you can win it.
Racing and beating John Force is an honor. He is the GOAT. So, I feel tremendous when you beat the best ever.
I’m always excited to win a ‘Wally’ trophy and now it was my 51st career win. I’m so grateful to race these cars and drive for Dodge and Tony Stewart Racing.”
Next Up
The next event on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series schedule is the NHRA New England Nationals May 31-June 2 at New England Dragway.
Tony Stewart Racing
