Matt Hagan returns to American Rebel Light Beer colors for the NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway, round three of the six-race Countdown to the Championship.

Tony Stewart Racing arrives with momentum, and Hagan holds the playoff points lead in his Dodge Funny Car, consolidating control at a critical phase.

He enters St. Louis after an emotional, commanding Rockingham Dragway victory, making him the form driver heading into a track where execution often decides margins.

In Top Fuel, Leah Pruett debuts a primary Pellera paint scheme, highlighting the technology partner underpinning TSR’s data architecture and decision-making at high-grip, quick-turn playoff events.

Pruett credits Pellera’s predictive modeling, dashboards, and traction optimization for measurable gains, and targets a second win of the season to reinforce TSR’s multi-car playoff threat.

Last year, Pruett charged from eighth qualifier to the final, defeating Shawn Langdon, Doug Kalitta, and Steve Torrence before losing to Clay Millican by just 0.017 seconds.

She also owns a St. Louis victory from the 2018 Factory Stock Showdown, reinforcing confidence at a venue that rewards repeatable setups and disciplined staging.

Hagan’s St. Louis form is emphatic: seven finals in his last 14 starts, victories in 2021, 2023, and 2025, plus three poles that underline repeatable, high-base performance.

Rockingham lifted him to 59 career wins and four this season, and tied him with Greg Anderson for the most Countdown victories at 19.

Hagan credits crew chief Mike Knudsen and a settled unit for consistency, reflecting the team’s integrated program with Pruett, Knudsen, and Pellera that sharpens calls under pressure.

He also underlines the Funny Car field’s depth, calling 2026 perhaps the toughest of his 20-year career, which places a premium on humility, process, and execution.

Both TSR entries carry realistic winning prospects into St. Louis: Hagan hunting a fifth title with American Rebel Light Beer, and Pruett aiming to convert momentum into decisive playoff points.

Visual Summary

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.