Tony Stewart, Driver of the TSR Dodge//SRT Direct Connection Top Fuel Dragster
You tied your highest finish of the year at the previous event in Richmond by advancing to the Semifinals (Arizona was other Semifinal appearance). What momentum does that give you heading into Norwalk?
“I feel really good about where our team is at after Richmond. Even though we didn’t win that event, I look at it like finishing in the top four. We’re making good progress under tricky conditions. Norwalk will be similar conditions. We’re going to one of the best drag race promotors and their facility in the country. We’re going to sprint car country, so we’ll have a lot of fans there that I’m excited to see that will be supporting us. I’m looking forward to it.”
Dodge’s headquarters is located 150 miles north of Norwalk in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Talk about the significance of competing in a quasi-home race for Dodge.
“We want to do a great job for Dodge. They’re a great partner with TSR on the nitro side. They were very supportive of our decision for Leah to step out and me to step in. They were the first ones to tell us they have our back and that they were with us, so we want to perform well for them. I feel like the results in Richmond make us a little more confident that we’re going down the right path and can have a good showing for them in their backyard.”
Matt Hagan, Driver of the TSR Direct Connection Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car
During the first nine races this season, you’ve advanced to the Finals four times and Semifinals two times, collecting two wins along the way (Charlotte and Chicago). What momentum does that give you heading into Norwalk?
“We have some positive momentum going into Norwalk. We have to get the car running on all eight cylinders and that’s been a challenge for us this season. Whenever we can turn the corner with that, I think we’ll really see the performance of the race car turn around. It’s not an easy task, but it still shows how strong of a team we are that we qualify in the bottom half of the field most of these races and fight our way through and are still sitting third in points. It’s not for a lack of hard work and effort, but we know that has to be our focus.”
Dodge’s headquarters is located 150 miles north of Norwalk in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Talk about the significance of competing in a quasi-home race for Dodge.
“Anytime we can get the Dodge folks out to the track and continue to build on that relationship, it’s great. Mark Whitney is amazing to work with. He’s a racer himself and goes to battle for us. We can’t thank Dodge and everyone behind the scenes enough. It take an army to do what we do and Dodge is a big piece of the puzzle to keep things moving forward out here. They’re a leader in the NHRA and in all of motorsports.”
Tony Stewart Racing
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