TONY STEWART RACING NHRA SOUTHERN NATIONALS RACE RECAP

NHRA SOUTHERN NATIONALS RACE RECAP SOUTH GEORGIA MOTORSPORTS PARK

By: Tony Stewart Racing (Photos Courtesy TSR)

LEAH PRUETT
Dodge // SRT Hellcat Top Fuel Dragster

Unofficial Points Standing: Tied 3rd

Qualifying
Qualifying: No. 8
3.804 seconds, 331.69 mph
Bonus Qualifying Points: 0
Q1: 12.079 at 58.47
Q2: 3.804 at 331.69
Q3: 7.254 at 90.31

Race Results
E1: 3.996 at 287.78 def. Josh Hart 7.296 at 77.48
E2: 3.864 at 322.96 lost to Doug Kalitta 3.798 at 333.00

• 12-time NHRA National Event Winner
• Finished 2023 runner-up in championship points
• Earned her Funny Car license at South Georgia Motorsports Park in 2008
• Previously won the Southern Nationals, competed at Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, Ga., in 2018 and was runner-up in 2015

“Even though we didn’t collect as many win lights on Sunday as we wanted, I feel that we’re farther ahead, progress wise, than many of our competitors. Just looking at how soon we were able to adapt to the challenging situations. Qualifying is a conversation all on its own, given the rain but we’re in a place that makes a lot of power. So the crew chiefs really have to detune the engines because they’re naturally making more power. On top of that, the track was ever changing. Started great, but then one lane being preferred over another by a substantial amount. We had to adapt to what’s coming to us and I believe that’s where we shine,” Pruett said. “You look at the second round of eliminations, we would have beat every single other car but Doug Kalitta, but that’s the cards that we were dealt, and that comes back to qualifying position.

“We did, for the fifth race in a row, qualify in the top half of the field, it was our worst effort of the season, but we’re ecstatic because when it became challenging to get down the track and the majority of the nitro cars in general are having a difficult time, we were able to navigate down,” Pruett continued. “But in that round against Doug, it was dogged up so much the clutch never even came one to one. We just didn’t have the speed and the ET for it, but, like, the mantra says you never give up. Good example of that is, we’re making four hits here tomorrow in Valdosta working on fine tuning our program. 

“It was cool seeing Andy Ross come in today, and for both Matt and I to get past the first ground. I know I was looking forward to celebrating with some American Rebel Light in the winners circle, but I’ll have to wait for two weeks from now in Chicago.”

MATT HAGAN
Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car

Unofficial Points Standing: 3rd

Qualifying:
Qualifying: No. 3
3.901 seconds at 326.16 mph
Bonus Qualifying Points: 2
Q1: 9.587 at 79.60
Q2: 3.933 at 328.78
Q3: 13.416 at 51.43

Race Results:
E1: 3.988 at 328.06 def. Jack Beckman 4.598 at 183.24
E2: 10.211 at 83.83 lost to Alexis DeJoria 4.016 at 314.68

• Four-time world champion (2023, 2020, 2014, 2011)
• Finished 2025 season runner-up
• Coming off a win at the Winternationals, NHRA’s 1000th Funny Car race
• 14 season streak with at least one win
• Has previsouly made passes down South Georgia Motorsports Park in Pro Mod
• Won the Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway in 2016, was also runner-up in 2013 and 2018.

“Recap of the weekend, well obviously, qualifying was a little tricky with the new track and the weather conditions, raining all day Saturday and only getting three total sessions in. But I’m really proud of my guys, they came in here and really had some big hills to climb. We smoked the tires twice during qualifying. They made some real wholesale changes overnight on Saturday. [Crew chiefs] Mike Knudsen and Phil Shuler and they’re our brain trust, man. They yarded everything out, put everything back in, and we made some really good progress to be able to get that first round win,” Hagan said. “Second round, we didn’t have lane choice and, I think, and everyone who was here and watched or will watch the broadcast will see, the left lane was kind of the kiss of death. So it made things very, very challenging. But we’ll just move on to Chicago and hopefully keep this horse rolling.

“It was great to have Andy Ross from American Rebel swing through,” Hagan continued. “Always good to see him whenever he can make it out. Just wish we could have shared some American Rebel in the winners circle.”