Tony Stewart Racing – NHRA Four-Wide Nationals Preview

NHRA Drag Racing News: Tony Stewart Racing Reps American Rebel Light Beer at NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway

The American Rebel Light NHRA Four-Wide Nationals near Charlotte, North Carolina, is the fifth 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.

Hagan and Stewart each advanced to the Finals in their respective nitro categories at the previous event, the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Las Vegas, with Stewart earning his first Top Fuel victory.

Coming into Charlotte, Stewart is second in the Top Fuel standings, 16 points behind leader Shawn Langdon. It marks his highest standing since sliding into the seat previously occupied by his wife Leah Pruett. Hagan is currently fourth in the Funny Car standings, 44 points behind leader Paul Lee.

Tony Stewart, Driver of the TSR Dodge//SRT Direct Connection Top Fuel Dragster

You earned your first NHRA Top Fuel at the last Four-Wide Nationals event at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Have you had an opportunity to really soak in the win and how much confidence does that give you heading into another four-wide event?

“I think it gives the whole team confidence. It finally allows myself and this entire team to stop having to answer the questions of if and when we’re going to win our first race. To get the first one out of the way allows the team to go to Charlotte with our heads up high and know that we can do this. We just have to put three solid rounds together in Charlotte just like we did at Vegas. Getting the first one out of the way just takes a lot of pressure off of everybody and allows us to show up and race, so I think we’re all grateful for that.

I’m looking forward to going to a home away from home so to speak. I spent a lot of time in Charlotte in my NASCAR days and appreciate everything that NASCAR gave me, so this is an opportunity to go back to a place that’s special to me. It’s a big deal to go there as the defending race winner, so that means a lot to us.”

American Rebel Light has been named title sponsor of the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals. How special will that make the event, given how valuable TSR’s relationship is with the brand and CEO Andy Ross?

“We are so excited for American Rebel Light and for our good friend Andy Ross. This is a beer brand that’s growing. It’s a great beer that’s currently in ten states and working on getting distributed in all fifty states. They’re tackling it one state at a time and now they’re in North Carolina and going to be the title sponsor of the race, so it is big for the brand. Hopefully we can go and not only make it big for Andy and the team, but for ourselves as well. We’re excited for Andy because he’s such a great guy and he pours his heart and soul to everything he does, whether it’s his singing or his brand. Hopefully we can have a good outcome for him.”

Photo: Tony Stewart Racing

Matt Hagan, Driver of the American Rebel Beer Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car

After a strong weekend advancing to the Finals at the last Four-Wide Nationals event at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, how much confidence does that give you heading into another four-wide event?

“Anytime you can go from one four-wide event to the next, if keeps you in a routine and gives you rhythm. Even though we advanced to the finals in Las Vegas, we had a parts breakage and ended up finishing last in the quad. I still feel really good about things. I felt like we had a good car all weekend in Vegas and had a good shot at winning the race. We were knocking on the door of where we needed to be, so we just have to keep the momentum moving forward.”

American Rebel Light has been named title sponsor of the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals. There will be a special customer event held at the track prior to the race weekend and American Rebel CEO Andy Ross will also be performing a concert for the fans on Saturday. How unique will that be, having American Rebel Beer as the primary sponsor of your Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car in Charlotte?

“It will be a huge week for American Rebel. They’re going to come in early and film a commercial at my farm on Wednesday. We’ll have a big customer event at the track on Thursday. Andy (Ross) will be playing at the track on Saturday and American Rebel will have a suite there all weekend. There will be a lot going on and I’m really excited about it. Four-wide races aren’t my favorite, but at the end of the day, we’ll make it a good one knowing they’ll be out there with us. I’m ready to get going.”


Tony Stewart Racing | Photos: TSR