TONY STEWART RACING PREVIEW: NHRA BRAINERD NATIONALS

By: Tony Stewart Racing (Photos Courtesy TSR)

BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 19, 2026) — The NHRA Brainerd Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway, the 13th event on the 20-race Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series schedule, marks a pivotal weekend for Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) drivers Leah Pruett and Matt Hagan. With only two races remaining before the playoffs begin, both TSR pilots head to Minnesota having officially secured their spots in the 2026 NHRA Countdown to the Championship.

Returning to full-time driving duties in 2026 after stepping away to start her family, Leah Pruett has staged an impressive campaign aboard her Rush Truck Centers Top Fuel dragster. Pruett currently sits third in the Top Fuel championship standings. Her 2026 season highlights include a victory at the postponed New England Nationals in Bristol, Tennessee, a runner-up finish at the Arizona Nationals, two No. 1 qualifying positions (Arizona and Bristol), qualifying in the top half of the field in nearly every event and and consistent race-day execution—she’s only had one first-round loss. 

“Honestly, ‘securing a spot in the Countdown’ just reinforces our focus on the next two races,” Pruett said. “They are all we have left to be able to get into the best points position available come the start of the Countdown to the Championship at the Dodge NHRA Great Lakes Nationals presented by MOPAR in Martin, Michigan.”

After three busy weeks away from competition, Pruett is looking to continue the momentum her Rush Trucks Top Fuel team has carried throughout the first 12 races. 

“We may have had three weeks away from racing, but there hasn’t been any downtime,” Pruett said. “Since Seattle, we’ve been to Dodge’s Roadkill Nights in Pontiac, Michigan, where we took part in the Top Fuel and Funny Car burnouts on Woodward Avenue. I also tested a pavement midget, spent last week in Knoxville, Iowa, supporting TSR’s Sprint Car team at the Knoxville Nationals, and then headed to help Erica Enders and Aaron Stanfield kick off Top Fuel testing.”

A 13-time Top Fuel national event winner and 2023 championship runner-up, Pruett returns to a Brainerd facility where she has enjoyed past victory lane success, including a Top Fuel triumph in 2019 and a No. 1 qualifying award in 2017.

“Brainerd International Raceway is ultimately one of the most fun places to race. With clear cool weather, cars can really turn up the heat and lay down killer passes, which makes for great racing,” Pruett said. “There are drivers and teams who partake in the Zoo Campground and celebrate great racing with the fans throughout the weekend. As for me, I’ve been on the go so much, I can’t fathom ‘Zoo-ing it’. I truly only care about getting this Rush Truck Centers dragster in the winners circle and celebrating with the awesome fans after we accomplish that. 

“It would be a special victory,” Pruett added. “We’ve never won with a Rush Truck Centers primary livery on the car. When I say never I’m including all of TSR and Stewart Haas Racing (SHR). Rusty Rush (CEO) will be at the event this weekend, so I’m looking forward to performing our best with Rusty there to cheer us on.”

On the Funny Car side, four-time NHRA World Champion Matt Hagan enters the NHRA Brainerd Nationals riding a wave of strong results in his American Rebel Light Beer Dodge//SRT Hellcat. Hagan sits near the top of the Funny Car points standings, backed by two national event victories in 2026—a double-up win alongside team owner Tony Stewart at the season-opening Winternationals and a victory at Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage’s home event, the Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tennessee. The strong performance earned Hagan and his team an early spot in the Countdown. 

“Securing your spot in the Countdown is always great, however and whenever it comes. That’s what we do this for, to run for a championship. At the end of the day, no one remembers how many races you won, they remember who the champion is,” Hagan said. “Getting into the Countdown is step one of being able to put yourself in a situation to fight for a championship. It’s time to hone in, especially with points and a half at the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis. The Funny Car points are tight, especially at the top. A lot can change in one race. We’ve got some work ahead of us, but it’s within our reach.”

Coming off a semi-final finish at the NHRA Northwest Nationals, Hagan is currently fifth in the points standings and after a three week break, is itching to get back in the seat of his American Rebel Funny Car. 

“Three weeks felt like three years almost. It seems like forever since we’ve been in a race car and competing and there’s absolutely nothing like competition so I’m super excited to get back,” Hagan said. “We’ve done well at Brainerd in the past and we’re going to stay over and test on Monday. It’ll be a long weekend, but I can’t wait to get back to see all the people at Brainerd and see what’s going on in the Zoo. What a great race weekend to come into after a long break.”

With 57 career Funny Car victories, Hagan brings a wealth of experience to Brainerd International Raceway. He’s visited the winners circle four times (2013, 2016, 2021, 2024) and captured the Funny Car Wally at BIR in 2021. He’s also earned the No. 1 qualifying position four times (2011, 2016, 2019, 2022).

“There’s a lot of history at Brainerd, and I’ve made a lot of memories there over the years,” Hagan said. “The fans are what make it such a special event. They camp out all weekend, have a great time, enjoy some American Rebel Light Beer, and really embrace the whole experience. It’s a little wild, a little crazy, but that’s what makes Brainerd so memorable.

“The race track itself is excellent, and that’s one of the reasons we stay over on Monday to test. The facility is first-class, with plenty of shutdown area, and when the conditions are right—especially if we get some cooler northern air—you can really put a lot of power down. It’ll probably be hot and greasy during the day, but that’s part of racing. Everybody is dealing with the same conditions, so you just go out there and do your job.”

Competition at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway begins with four rounds of nitro qualifying on Friday at 4:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. and Saturday at noon and 2:30 p.m. which also features the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge in which both Pruett and Hagan will be competing. Final eliminations are scheduled for Sunday at 11:00 a.m. Television coverage will be broadcast on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) with qualifying shows Friday at 7:00 p.m. ET and Saturday at 10:30 p.m. ET. Eliminations will air Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET. 

-TSR-