Pruett Builds Momentum as Hagan Aims for Seattle Repeat at NHRA Northwest

Leah Pruett makes her final start in American Rebel Light Beer colors at the Muckleshoot Casino Resort NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways, the 11th round of the 20-race calendar.

It is the second West Coast stop for Pruett and teammate Matt Hagan. Pruett sits third in Top Fuel points after a consistent campaign built on pace and error-free execution.

Her season includes a Bristol victory at the postponed New England Nationals on return from maternity leave, plus No.1 qualifying at the Arizona Nationals and Thunder Valley Nationals.

Pruett’s floor is high. She has only one first-round exit across 11 events and rarely starts outside the top half, reinforcing the value of Friday execution in a compressed schedule.

Seattle demands a quick hit. With about 15 Top Fuel entries, securing lane choice through a low-lying No.1 is pivotal, and the team plans aggressive first-runs informed by Sonoma data.

Pruett’s Pacific Raceways record is thin but relevant. She finished runner-up by 0.004s in 2018 and has recovered from heavy accidents here, targeting a reset under favorable forecasts.

Hagan arrives as defending Funny Car winner, the victory last year doubling as his first of 2025 and the maiden success with crew chiefs Mike Knudsen and Phil Shuler.

Since that reset, the group has four wins from 31 starts, including two this season. Momentum is punctuated by mixed weekends, with an Ohio opening-round loss and a Sonoma quarterfinal.

The year also opened impressively with Winternationals success at the NHRA’s 1000th Funny Car race, followed by Bristol glory on the weekend Pruett logged her first win of 2025.

Hagan’s record at Pacific Raceways includes 23 wins from 36 rounds, three finals and two victories, underlining why this weekend matters for sustaining championship pressure.

The schedule places premium weight on early running: Friday sessions at 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., Saturday at noon and 2:30 p.m., before eliminations begin Sunday at 10 a.m.

Fans can follow live on FOX Sports 1 and FOX, with Friday night qualifying, Sunday afternoon coverage, and eliminations airing at 4 p.m.

Beyond team storylines, Seattle’s bill is deep, with Pro Stock momentum and emerging names, including Maddi Gordon’s Seattle campaign, while the Funny Car title picture tightens as summer intensifies.

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Nicholas Rivera

Nicholas Rivera delivers NHRA Top Fuel and Funny Car news, including eliminator-round results and reaction-time stats. He brings track-side interviews, contender profiles, and championship-point breakdowns straight from drag-racing’s biggest national events.