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.
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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.
“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.
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