Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) is making a powerful statement as it heads into the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season. Leah Pruett returns to drive the TSR Dodge Top Fuel dragster after a two-year break, while four-time world champion Matt Hagan resumes his campaign in the Dodge//SRT HELLCAT Funny Car. The team arrives at the NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Florida, ready to battle for wins and championships with high expectations and fierce determination.
The 2026 NHRA season gives Dodge and Tony Stewart Racing another chance to show what happens when pure competitive drive and Dodge muscle hit the drag strip,
said Matt McAlear, Dodge CEO.
We welcome Leah Pruett back home to her Tony Stewart Racing Top Fuel dragster and four-time NHRA champ Matt Hagan back for his 19th year behind the wheel of a Dodge Funny Car. Both Leah and Matt, as well as team owner Tony Stewart, embody the attitude the Dodge brand stands for, and together they make this season one that will push our limits in all the right ways.
Leah Pruett’s Comeback to Top Fuel Racing
Leah Pruett’s return to competitive Top Fuel drag racing is marked by renewed focus and commitment. After taking two seasons off to focus on family life and welcome her son, Dominic, in November 2024, she now steps back into the driver’s seat of her 12,000-horsepower Dodge Top Fuel dragster. Though away from full-time racing, she stayed deeply connected to the team’s operations and developments.
Her re-entry into testing quickly reignited her passion.
I wasn’t sure if I was ready to jump back into a Top Fuel dragster,
Pruett said. “Being involved with the TSR team the last two years kept me active in the sport, and watching from outside the cockpit was a different perspective. When I first tested the dragster again, my brain was at 150 mph, and the car was going 300 mph. We have a new dragster for this year and I feel much more comfortable as we head toward the Gatornationals.
Working with the team in a different capacity the past two years had me deeply involved in the team’s activities, and I was like a student again talking with Tony. I was listening to Tony’s description of the car and engine, and it was similar to when he was starting in drag racing and I was his driver coach. Now, I am really anxious to make some ‘hits’ with the new race car. It feels great and I am ready to be behind the wheel again.
Prepared with a new chassis and upgraded setup, Pruett is aiming to claim her first NHRA Mission Top Fuel championship. As a 12-time NHRA national event winner, she has already demonstrated the skill and speed necessary to compete at the highest levels. For the first time in their professional careers, she could also find herself racing head-to-head against her husband, Tony Stewart, setting the stage for a unique and intense rivalry on the drag strip.
Tony Stewart’s Dual Role as Driver and Team Owner
While supporting Leah’s return to TSR’s Dodge Top Fuel dragster, Tony Stewart is not stepping back from competition himself. He will drive an Elite Motorsports Top Fuel car throughout the 2026 season, potentially racing against his wife during events. Stewart embraces this prospect with enthusiasm.
I’m excited to see Leah get back in our TSR Dodge Top Fueler,
Stewart said. “She’s done such an amazing job of becoming a mother, going through a whole year of pregnancy and our first year with Dominic. I knew deep down inside she wanted to drive that race car really bad, so I’m just excited to see her get that opportunity again. She has been a critical part of this team’s success and projects that we’re working on. And I know she wants to drive that car more than anything.
And, yes, with me in another Top Fuel car, we are going to have to race against each other this year. At first, I wasn’t sure about that. But I win in both situations. If I win the race, I move on to the next round. If Leah wins, my race team moves on to the next round. So, it’s a win-win for me.
The possibility of a husband-versus-wife competition adds a remarkable storyline to the season, heightening fan interest and media attention. Pruett is equally determined, signaling her readiness to push her limits and take on Stewart on the track.
I’ll be honest, I wasn’t totally sure that my passion for the sport was still there on the driving side,
Pruett admitted.
But once I got behind the wheel again, it was like I never left. My competitive spirit jumped right out again. I’m ready to go. And if I have to race Tony, then I’m set to beat him and he knows it. That matchup could happen as soon as the Gatornationals. Tony, myself, our respective teams and the fans will be ready for that one!
Matt Hagan Aims for Fifth Funny Car World Title
While the Top Fuel category seizes much of the spotlight, Matt Hagan continues to be a major force in Funny Car racing. The Virginia native enters his 19th consecutive season driving Dodge vehicles, holding the record for the longest active driver-manufacturer partnership in NHRA Funny Car competition. With 55 career wins and four world championships under his belt, Hagan’s 2025 season culminated in three victories and a runner-up finish in the Funny Car standings.
Backed by crew chiefs Mike Knudsen and Phil Shuler, who have been developing new setups and fine-tuning the race car during the offseason, Hagan feels well-positioned to contend for the 2026 championship.
It was a great achievement for our guys in new positions, and I knew there would be a learning curve in 2025 for the TSR Dodge Funny Car team,
Hagan said.
But I see great potential with the new lineup, and it showed with three wins late in the 2025 season. Now, in the winter, they have been working extremely hard prepping for the 2026 tour. They have been getting new parts and pieces and developing new setups for the race car.
Hagan’s Dodge//SRT HELLCAT Funny Car will debut with a striking Red, White, and Blue paint scheme at Gainesville. As a multiple-time Gatornationals winner, he is eager to accelerate his pursuit of a fifth world championship.
I know this team can win championships and I see the drive and ambition they have together,
Hagan said.
It’s hard to believe that I have been with Dodge and Mopar for 19 years. It has been a great relationship, and I want to continue the tradition with the 2026 NHRA World Championship. I know it’s possible with this group of guys.
2026 Season Kickoff at Gainesville Raceway
The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series kicks off from March 5 to 8 at Gainesville Raceway, marking the first test for TSR’s championship ambitions in 2026. With Leah Pruett back in the Top Fuel dragster and Matt Hagan chasing another Funny Car title, the Gatornationals promises thrilling qualifying rounds on Friday and Saturday, followed by final eliminations on Sunday morning.
This event not only sets the competitive tone but also has the potential to present the landmark Stewart vs. Pruett duel, making it one of the most anticipated NHRA events this season. As TSR pushes hard from the outset, fans and competitors alike will watch closely to see how the team’s bold moves this year unfold on the drag strip and influence the championship chase.
