As the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series heads into its season finale at Pomona, the partnership between Matt Hagan and Tony Stewart is once again in the spotlight. Both drivers have made the Countdown to the Championship in 2025, and their shared momentum heading into the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals underscores how far Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) has come in a short time.

Entering Pomona, Hagan already owns three career NHRA Finals wins and two No. 1 qualifiers at the famed California strip. It’s also where he earned Tony Stewart Racing’s first Funny Car championship in 2023, his fourth overall title. But beyond numbers, Hagan wanted to make something else clear this weekend.

Next John Force?

“I never knew Tony Stewart at all, didn’t really follow NASCAR and kind of was like, now I am working with this guy, better look him up, just see what he has done and the timeframe of his career should be able to come over here,” Matt Hagan said.

What began as curiosity has grown into respect. He quickly discovered that Stewart’s leadership and drive translated perfectly from stock cars to dragsters. “And he’s like the new John Force, man,” Hagan added with a grin. “I think NHRA really rallies behind that. They have a great guy that’s gonna be a great ambassador for the sport, he’s just a great dude, man.”

His comments echo what many in the NHRA paddock have started to feel: Stewart is no longer just the NASCAR legend trying something new. He is now a genuine force in the Top Fuel class and a respected owner in drag racing circles.

For Hagan, that competitive spirit is what silences the critics. “I hate to see all these haters sometimes they’re just bashing this and that they don’t know the guy so it’s just… it’s been a joy of a bond to get to know him,” Hagan said. “I think if anybody gets the opportunity and chance to know the guy it wouldn’t leave anything negative on the internet at all.”

The pair’s results speak volumes. Stewart is making his second Countdown appearance this year and enters Pomona seeking his first Top Fuel win at the Finals. Earlier in 2025, he advanced to the final round at the NHRA Winternationals at Pomona, falling just short against Clay Millican.

That relationship has fueled TSR’s steady climb. Both Hagan and Stewart are backed this weekend by Direct Connection, Mopar’s high-performance parts brand, with additional partnership support from the Mopar Career Automotive Program (CAP), which connects Stellantis with students in technical schools nationwide. Their alignment with TSR reflects how deeply Stewart has integrated his motorsports empire into the NHRA’s competitive and cultural ecosystem.

The upcoming weekend marks Stewart’s 40th Top Fuel start and fourth career outing at Pomona. For a driver who only recently transitioned from asphalt ovals to 11,000-horsepower dragsters, the progress has been impressive.

For Hagan, the 2025 NHRA Finals mark his 372nd career Funny Car start and his 33rd overall at Pomona. For Stewart, it represents a shot at history, a chance to cap his second Top Fuel season by contending inside the same venue where his team secured a championship just one year ago.

As the points race comes down to every pass, both men are chasing victory, but for Hagan, the legacy they are building together is already clear. Stewart’s dedication, humility, and competitive fire, he insists, make him “the new John Force” that NHRA never saw coming.

Tony’s NASCAR future?

In the wake of Stewart-Haas Racing’s closure at the end of the 2024 season, Tony Stewart was unequivocal about his future in NASCAR ownership. “I am not going to own a team in NASCAR ever again,” he told Fox Sports, citing escalating operational costs and broader economic pressures that had made the four-car operation unsustainable. The shutdown marked the end of a 16-year partnership with Gene Haas, during which Stewart secured three Cup Series championships as a driver.

Since then, the 54-year-old Hall of Famer has shifted his focus to NHRA drag racing, where his wife, Leah Pruett, competes under the Stellantis banner, parent company to Dodge and RAM, while he oversees sprint car operations also tied to the manufacturer. Yet, as of November 11, 2025, persistent rumors suggest Stewart could re-engage with NASCAR. Speculation centers on a potential one-off appearance in the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series All-Star Race, driving a RAM entry alongside former rival-turned-ally Kasey Kahne.

The buzz originated from the “RAMMIN’ is RACING” podcast on Kaulig Racing’s Kaulignation network, with follow-up reports from SiriusXM NASCAR Radio hosts Mike Skinner and Angie Marlar. Kaulig, which parted ways with Chevrolet and Richard Childress Racing earlier this year, is aligning with RAM for a confirmed 2026 Truck Series return and is advocating for a fifth truck in the All-Star event to accommodate this “legends” lineup, potentially including Greg Biffle and Clint Bowyer sharing duties.

RAM CEO Tim Kuniskis addressed the chatter during a Michigan International Speedway announcement, confirming no formal discussions but noting Stewart’s name frequently arises. “People said when I was at MIS and made this announcement, ‘Are you just fishing for a team to see who stands up?’ I didn’t hear anything from Tony, but we’ll see where this all ends up,” Kuniskis said, expressing openness to leveraging recognizable veterans for the brand’s re-entry. The arrangement could tie into Stellantis’ broader support for Stewart’s NHRA program, where the company already offsets significant expenses.

Tony Stewart, who last competed full-time in the Cup Series in 2016, has softened some of his criticisms of the sport. In a recent SiriusXM interview, he affirmed plans to attend NASCAR events using his Hall of Fame credentials: “I’m definitely planning on coming back to NASCAR races. As a member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, I get a hard card… I miss a lot of things about NASCAR, and most of all the people.” He has voiced frustration with elements like plate racing but stopped short of ruling out selective involvement.