The NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is the fourth event on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series’ 20-race calendar in 2025. Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) brings its two full-time entries – one in Top Fuel for Tony Stewart and one in Funny Car for 52-time Funny Car winner and four-time champion Matt Hagan.
Tony Stewart, Driver of the Rayce Rudeen Foundation Dodge//SRT Top Fuel Dragster
You’re coming off of a runner-up finish at the NHRA Winternationals. What momentum does that give you heading into Las Vegas?
“Hopefully Pomona gives us a lot of momentum going into the four-wide event in Las Vegas. I personally love the four-wide races, so I get excited about going to Vegas for this event.
The runner-up finish at the Winternationals in Pomona gives our team a lot of confidence. We know we still have a lot of work to do to get caught up to a lot of the other teams on speed, but right now, our car is consistent going down the track. The consistency means the most to me at this point. I feel like we have to be consistent going down the race track before we can really press to make the car go faster. I feel like we’ve established that first benchmark and now we have the ability to try to make our car faster, so Vegas is a perfect place for it. It’s a place that is special to me. It’s where I ran my very first drag race in the Top Alcohol Dragster class and got my first win there as well, so every time we go to Vegas, I’m definitely excited about the trip”.
You’ll be representing the Rayce Rudeen Foundation in Las Vegas. How special is their mission of encouraging a lifestyle free from addiction to you and your relationship with the Rudeen family?
“Drug addiction and the effects of fentanyl in our society is very important and means even more to us when you have friends in the racing world that have been affected directly by it. Rayce Rudeen was Kevin Rudeen’s son that he lost to a fentanyl overdose. It makes having the Rayce Rudeen Foundation logos on our car very special to Leah (Pruett) and myself. It’s a terrible addiction and a terrible substance that is wreaking havoc and around the world. It has affected so many families.
What Kevin and Monika and their whole family are doing to try to give awareness and support to families that are going through this is amazing. Whether they have the addiction or whether they have a loved one that has the addiction, they give them support and the tools on how to support these families and combat the addiction. It is something that we’re very passionate about supporting.
Having them at the race with us is something that makes Vegas even that much more special. I’m excited to be representing them and their family. We obviously wish Rayce was here also to be a part of this and see what impact he’s having on others, but his legacy will live on through the Rayce Rudeen Foundation. I think he’s probably looking down from above and very proud of what his family has done to support him and others that are going through fentanyl addictions.”
Matt Hagan, Driver of the TSR Direct Connection Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car
You entered Pomona seventh in points and left the event third in points. What momentum does that give you heading into Las Vegas?
“It’s early in the season and point standings are going to change a lot, but it just shows how competitive Funny Car is. Some of the heavy-hitters have been eliminated early on race day, so it changes week-to-week.
I think you have to just try and do the best you can with what you have in front of you. We have a great team with great parts and pieces. The ‘boomer’ in Pomona was unexpected, so we don’t want it to make us too gun shy going into Last Vegas. The four-wides are such a different race. We have a good car that’s making it down the race track.”
You’ve won at least one event in each of the past 12 seasons, the longest active streak among professional racers. How special is that and how hungry does that make you to earn the win in Las Vegas?
“It’s funny when you think about winning races. You look at someone like Ron Capps, who won back-to-back world championships and then didn’t win a single race last year. You have to be grateful for every win light that comes on because they are so hard to come by nowadays. Everyone is pushing to the max . I think Funny Car is probably the most competitive class in the field. It’s dog eat dog with all 16 cars now. Getting a round win, let alone a race win, is huge. I would love to keep our streak going, but there’s no guarantees with what we do out here. It’s very humbling.”
Stewart is representing the Rayce Rudeen Foundation in Las Vegas. You’re passionate about a lifestyle free from addiction, so how special is their partnership with TSR?
“The Rayce Rudeen Foundation is very special to me. My brother lost his life from opioid addiction, so I watched what it did to him from start to finish. It is so aggressive and sometimes, the person feels they have no control over the situation. My brother was prescribed the medicine from a doctor and he still passed away. So, I can’t image how tough it is for families that have a loved one addicted to other drugs like heroin or any opioid that’s free-range.
The foundation is near and dear to my heart, and I learned a lot of life lessons along the way. If you can talk about it and help someone to change their life, it’s so important. I was so upset with my brother for a while. I didn’t understand the opioid binds the receptor to your brain, so you don’t release dopamine anymore and don’t feel like doing anything other than taking pills. It’s a very sad thing.”
Tony Stewart Racing | Photos: Tony Stewart Racing
