BROWNSBURG, Ind. (WISH) — Essentially the most prestigious occasion in drag racing takes place this weekend at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, and Tony Stewart Racing is gearing up for the jam-packed week.
Two of the staff’s drivers, Matt Hagan and Leah Pruett try to do one thing that has by no means been performed earlier than, win “The Massive Go” for Tony Stewart Racing.
The Dodge Energy Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals began Wednesday. Occasions will happen all through the week, culminating within the ultimate races on Monday.
This occasion means to pull racing what the Indianapolis 500 means for IndyCar, as some drivers would moderately win this race than the precise NHRA sequence championship.
The winners of every class within the NHRA’s ultimate common season race are arrange effectively for the playoffs, because the winners earn points-and-a-half for this occasion.
The sequence options a number of lessons, with the principle two being Prime Gasoline and Humorous Automobile.
Matt Hagan drives the Humorous Automobile for Tony Stewart Racing, and Stewart’s spouse, Leah Pruett, drives within the Prime Gasoline class.
Hagan received the largest race on the NHRA’s schedule in 2016 and at the moment sits in third within the factors standings getting into the ultimate weekend of the common season.
“I’ve been very blessed to have the ability to win the NHRA U.S. Nationals with Dodge on the aspect of the automotive and to have them sponsor the race, we’re simply so blessed to have only a nice associate for thus lengthy,” Hagan mentioned. “I don’t assume they could possibly be happier with TSR and this basis we’ve constructed. It’s one thing particular with this associate and I’m glad to be part of it. I’ve nothing however good emotions heading into this race, and that is the largest race of the 12 months for us. There’s a whole lot of alternatives for us to excel this weekend.”
Pruett has additionally received in Indy earlier than, however that was 5 years in the past within the Manufacturing facility Inventory Showdown. This is able to be her first U.S. Nationals win within the Prime Gasoline division, driving the 11,000-horsepower Dodge Direct Connection dragster.
Pruett is aware of the significance of this occasion. She spoke about how essential it’s for the staff “to capitalize on each single qualifying occasion. Get these small little factors, do effectively on the mission problem in order that we are able to have factors on the finish of the season and put ourselves in an amazing place on Monday to win the U.S. Nationals,” Pruett mentioned.
She at the moment sits fifth within the factors standings, so a win would imply lots for her championship aspirations as effectively.
Stewart himself can be getting behind the wheel within the Prime Alcohol Dragster division, because the legendary NASCAR driver started racing within the NHRA sequence this season after his retirement in 2016.
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