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Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) is heading into unfamiliar territory this weekend, but both Leah Pruett and Matt Hagan believe the inaugural NHRA Potomac Nationals presented by JEGS at Maryland International Raceway could become one of the most exciting stops on the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series calendar.
After a strong showing at Route 66 Raceway outside of Chicago, the TSR camp arrives in Maryland carrying momentum, confidence, and plenty of opportunity as the season begins an important three-race stretch during the heart of the summer schedule.
For Pruett and the Rinnai Top Fuel team, consistency has been one of the biggest strengths so far this year. Through the opening six races of the season, the team has yet to suffer a first-round elimination loss. That level of consistency has helped place Pruett third in the current Top Fuel standings, only 165 points behind the championship lead and just ahead of husband Tony Stewart in fourth.
Pruett Looking For Breakthrough Weekend
While the consistency has been there, Pruett feels the team may be on the verge of unlocking even more performance with the current setup on the Rinnai dragster.
“I think this Rinnai team is looking forward to the potential for real fast and quick runs at Maryland International Raceway. The new package we’ve been working on boasts in that direction. So, if all the atmospheric conditions are right with being that close to the sea, if we can get our consistency down with this package, it could be a really promising weekend and an awesome show for the fans,” Pruett said.
Maryland International Raceway will be a brand-new stop for the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, meaning every team will be learning the track conditions together throughout the weekend. That uncertainty can sometimes level the playing field, especially for teams carrying strong momentum entering the event.
Pruett has visited the facility before, although only as a spectator, and she believes NHRA’s recent success at smaller facilities should help make the weekend run smoothly.
“I have been to that racetrack before as a spectator, so I’m familiar, a little bit with the layout and the size. NHRA has done a great job helping to cater what we do at some of these smaller race tracks. I think they proved that in Valdosta at South Georgia Motorsports Park
, not as many classes racing but keeping everything on time with constant competition, weather permitting. We’ll all find out together what the track surface is like, but I think there’s a chance for some impressive numbers,” Pruett continued.
The Maryland event is also expected to draw a large crowd from several nearby states where NHRA fans rarely get an opportunity to see nitro racing this close to home.
“I’m looking forward to meeting the fans, I’m sure we’ll see some familiar faces from Virginia maybe Pennsylvania or even North Carolina,” Pruett added. “I hear from fans all the time that they wish we raced more in the Northeast so this delivers and I’m glad we could bring the NHRA tour their way.”
Hagan Chasing Funny Car Points Lead
On the Funny Car side, Matt Hagan and the American Rebel Light Beer Dodge//SRT HELLCAT team are entering the weekend with a real shot at taking over the championship lead.
The four-time Funny Car world champion currently sits only nine points behind the top spot after collecting a win earlier this season at the historic 1000th Funny Car race during the NHRA Winternationals. Combined with multiple semifinal appearances and zero first-round losses, Hagan’s team has quietly become one of the most consistent groups in the category.
Even with all his experience, Maryland International Raceway still presents a fresh challenge for Hagan.
“We’re rolling into Maryland next, a new racetrack for everybody. It’s been so long since I’ve been in Maryland, so I’m looking forward to it. I tested there in a Funny Car, and I burnt the clutch out of it because I didn’t know there was a stop in it. They gave it back to me in a Ziploc bag. So, we’re going to try to do a little better than that when we show up there this weekend,” Hagan said.
The Virginia native knows track conditions and lane choice could play a huge role throughout the weekend, especially at a facility the teams have limited experience with.
“I just hope for a good racing surface. Lane choice is crucial and it’s so easy to lose lane choice sometimes just by having a cylinder out or your driver can lose it for you by staging it too far and trying to get a good reaction time. So hopefully the facility is great. It’ll be cool, though, new fans, new excitement, new deal,” Hagan explained.
Like Pruett, Hagan is equally excited about introducing NHRA drag racing to an entirely new audience.
“I think that’s the biggest thing is that you come out to a race and you’re always meeting new folks at the ropes, getting their responses and how they react to what we do,” Hagan continued. “I’m sure we’re going to have a little carryover from other areas, fans who have been before which will be great to see, but to pull in new fans, that’s exciting. It’s a new group of people that get to experience NHRA Drag Racing, that’s going to be cool for sure.”
#2Fast2Tasty Challenge Returns
Both TSR Nitro teams will also participate in the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge during Saturday qualifying. The special bonus competition features semifinal rematches from the previous event, giving both Pruett and Hagan an immediate shot at redemption after falling in the semifinals at Route 66 Raceway.
The challenge also awards additional championship bonus points and prize money, making every qualifying session even more important.
With both teams showing strong pace early in the season, this weekend could become another major turning point for Tony Stewart Racing as the battle for the 2026 NHRA championships continues heating up.
NHRA Potomac Nationals TV Schedule
Qualifying coverage from Maryland International Raceway will air Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. ET on FS1. Elimination coverage will air Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on FOX.
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