The Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) team is launching its 2026 Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series campaign with Leah Pruett back behind the wheel of the Top Fuel dragster after a two-year break. Pruett’s return, coupled with four-time Funny Car world champion Matt Hagan’s drive following a close runner-up finish in 2025, sets a high bar for TSR’s championship ambitions. Both drivers took part in NHRA and Professional Racers Owners Organization (PRO) testing at Gainesville Raceway, Florida, from February 17-20, just two weeks before the NHRA’s landmark 75th Anniversary season opener.
Leah Pruett Rejoins Top Fuel Dragster After Maternity Break
Leah Pruett, a seasoned competitor with 12 NHRA national wins, resumes her position in Top Fuel racing only 15 months after the birth of her son, Dominic. For the first ten events, her dragster will showcase a classic Dodge livery featuring the historic Fratzog logo—a design originally used by Dodge from 1962 to 1976. Afterward, her vehicle’s appearance will rotate among sponsors Mobil 1, Rinnai, Rush Truck Centers, Rayce Rudeen, and American Rebel.
Pruett’s remarks after testing underline her enthusiasm and focus:
“Our team prepared very well to optimize our time at this test session, and it is showing. Every lap has been extremely strategic, from riffling through new fuel systems, rear ends, engine tune, long game dynamic strategies and a long list of new / different parts and systems to making sure our spare car is 100% fully functional,”
she said.
“I love being back. Every part of it. The focus, the hustle, the long days and nights, the progress, the immediate turnarounds, the satisfaction that I do not feel that I have been out of the seat for two years, the positive results of applying new strategies inside the cockpit that work, and kicking others to the absolute curb. It sounds funny, but I’ve let all superstitions go, and even frames of mind that have held me bound. Which is absolutely freeing.”
Dialing In Performance Through Testing and Teamwork
During the on-track sessions, Pruett highlighted her intent to fine-tune her approach:
Image of: Leah Pruett
“Although I am happy with my cadence and my brain’s processing speed of where I am on the track while I’m in the car, I’m looking forward to dialing in details in the cockpit that have worked for me so far,”
she shared.
“There are no substitutions for laps, no matter how many times I run scenarios in my brain. So, I’ll take as many hits on track as I can get.”
Her Top Fuel crew is headed by co-crew chiefs Neal Strausbaugh and Mike Domagala, with Ryan McGilvry overseeing car chief responsibilities. On the close collaboration within the team, Pruett commented:
“The team dynamic honestly couldn’t be a more Mobil1 well-oiled machine. Sure, all of our bodies hurt a bit from moving, grooving, lifting, and hustling in ways that the off season doesn’t replicate, but our leadership from Neal and Mike continues to be profoundly strong,”
adding,
“We are a team that values thorough communication, collective focus, and never individual ego.”
Matt Hagan Pursues Fifth Funny Car World Title with TSR
In Funny Car, Matt Hagan returns looking to build on a strong 2025 where he scored three victories in five final roundappearances, narrowly missing the championship by 101 points. He will also wear Dodge’s traditional Fratzog emblem for ten races, with sponsorship support rotating among Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage, American Rebel Light Beer, and Shelor Motor Mile as he aims for a fifth world title.
Reflecting on his nearly two decades in the sport, Hagan said:
“If you do the math, and I’m not great at math, but I think this is my 19th year now. Definitely not that rookie feeling anymore. It’s one of those things where it’s always great to get back in the car, make a hit, just kind of knock that rust off. During the offseason, our guys have worked pretty hard on some stuff with motor combos, and I think you just want to see how all that kind of stuff shakes out. Plus, we got a new chassis, new pipe and you’re making some adjustments here and there, just seeing if the car works,”
he explained.
Hagan also reflected on the variable nature of testing, noting:
“I’ve had seasons where we come out here, and we shook 20 times, and come to find out some pipes and different things from back in the day were put in the wrong place, you know? You just never know how testing’s going to go but, the chassis seems to be great. We shook down our old car and then put it in the box so we could just kind of focus on this new one a little bit to see what we can do and how it’s going to respond. All in all, I feel great about it.”
Funny Car Crew and Testing Progress
Hagan’s Funny Car squad is led by co-crew chiefs Mike Knudsen and Phil Shuler, with Alex Conaway filling the role of car chief. He praised the atmosphere within the team:
“The charisma, the energy, the feel of being here, knocking the rust off, it’s been great with the guys. Everybody is pretty much back from last year and the team is strong. We got one new kid on tire and body, but it’s been going well,”
Hagan remarked.
“I’m excited to start the season. We’ve had a couple good days of testing so far. Anything can happen with nitro cars, you can have the greatest test session and then the last couple runs, blow it up. So, it’s just a matter of seeing what we can do and how we can keep progressing forward.”
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Season Start in Florida
Both Leah Pruett and Matt Hagan will officially begin their campaign for NHRA championships at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, the season opener on March 6-8, 2026, at Gainesville Raceway in Florida. Their preparations and testing sessions indicate a well-prepared and determined team poised to contend seriously for titles in both Top Fuel and Funny Car classes.
