MATT HAGAN WINS MISSION FOODS #2FAST2TASTY CHALLENGE;
LEAH PRUETT HOLDS ON TO NO. 1 QUALIFYING POSITION
LEAH PRUETT HOLDS ON TO NO. 1 QUALIFYING POSITION
POMONA, Calif. (April 11, 2026) – Matt Hagan and the Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car team won the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge during Saturday qualifying at the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals while Top Fuel teammate Leah Pruett and her Rinnai Tankless Water Heaters team held on to the No. 1 qualifying position from their run Friday afternoon.
With a 3.94-second pass at 329.58 mph Hagan and the JHG team won their first #2Fast2Tasty Challenge of the season on Saturday evening defeating Paul Lee and his 4.198 at 236.71 in the final.
“The #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, its a race inside of a race, gotta love it. I just hope I haven’t used up all my adrenaline for the weekend. But it’s cool what Mission does—we call it the ‘Taco Challenge’ back in the pits. Being able to win some money for the crew guys and put a little extra in their pockets means a lot. At the same time, we’re really focused on the points. We’ve got a great race car this year, and I’m excited to see what we can do with it,” Hagan said. “Mike Knudsen is really starting to come into his own, and with Phil Shuler and Alex Conaway, we’ve built a real brain trust. They’re constantly learning and growing, and it’s honestly impressive to just stand back and watch them work. They make smart decisions and put together solid runs, even when conditions are tricky for other cars. We’re very blessed to be here and very thankful for everything on the Mission side. Now we’ve got to shift our focus to tomorrow—race day. There’s a lot on the line. The weather is unpredictable, but I’ll tell everyone it’s sunny in California… just maybe keep a poncho in your back pocket.”
Hagan ended qualifying at the Winterntaionals in the No. 4 position with his #2Fast2Tasty final round run. Hagan started the day defeating 2025 Rookie of the Year Spencer Hyde in the first round, redeeming himself from the semi-finals of the NHRA Arizona Nationals. Hagan ran a 3.997-second pass at 325.45 mph while Hyde coasted to an 8.442 at 67.87. Hagan and Hyde will have a rematch in the first round of eliminations on Sunday.
In Top Fuel, Pruett and the Rinnai team held on through Saturday qualifying to take the No.1. qualifying position off Friday’s 3.724-second pass at 329.75.
“I think fantastic is an understatement. I think more than anything, we’re thrilled with where the performance of this Rinnai team’s performance is at, it’s building confidence and momentum. If you look at the ladder, only 15 cars, so you know we’re going to have a chance on E1 to really fine tune that extra power,” said Pruett referring to her bye for first round of eliminations. “We were surprised that 3.72 stuck. The day just changed all throughout with the delays, the cloud cover, the sun. I’m happy. I have my own work to do, but, man, for Rinnai, for all our Pellera guests out here today, we’re moving and grooving, and looking forward to eliminations tomorrow.”
Eliminations at the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals have been moved up to 10 a.m. local time to accommodate for potential weather. Television coverage of the event will air on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) beginning Sunday with a qualifying show at 11:30 a.m. ET and a Finals show at 6:30 p.m. ET.
With a 3.94-second pass at 329.58 mph Hagan and the JHG team won their first #2Fast2Tasty Challenge of the season on Saturday evening defeating Paul Lee and his 4.198 at 236.71 in the final.
“The #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, its a race inside of a race, gotta love it. I just hope I haven’t used up all my adrenaline for the weekend. But it’s cool what Mission does—we call it the ‘Taco Challenge’ back in the pits. Being able to win some money for the crew guys and put a little extra in their pockets means a lot. At the same time, we’re really focused on the points. We’ve got a great race car this year, and I’m excited to see what we can do with it,” Hagan said. “Mike Knudsen is really starting to come into his own, and with Phil Shuler and Alex Conaway, we’ve built a real brain trust. They’re constantly learning and growing, and it’s honestly impressive to just stand back and watch them work. They make smart decisions and put together solid runs, even when conditions are tricky for other cars. We’re very blessed to be here and very thankful for everything on the Mission side. Now we’ve got to shift our focus to tomorrow—race day. There’s a lot on the line. The weather is unpredictable, but I’ll tell everyone it’s sunny in California… just maybe keep a poncho in your back pocket.”
Hagan ended qualifying at the Winterntaionals in the No. 4 position with his #2Fast2Tasty final round run. Hagan started the day defeating 2025 Rookie of the Year Spencer Hyde in the first round, redeeming himself from the semi-finals of the NHRA Arizona Nationals. Hagan ran a 3.997-second pass at 325.45 mph while Hyde coasted to an 8.442 at 67.87. Hagan and Hyde will have a rematch in the first round of eliminations on Sunday.
In Top Fuel, Pruett and the Rinnai team held on through Saturday qualifying to take the No.1. qualifying position off Friday’s 3.724-second pass at 329.75.
“I think fantastic is an understatement. I think more than anything, we’re thrilled with where the performance of this Rinnai team’s performance is at, it’s building confidence and momentum. If you look at the ladder, only 15 cars, so you know we’re going to have a chance on E1 to really fine tune that extra power,” said Pruett referring to her bye for first round of eliminations. “We were surprised that 3.72 stuck. The day just changed all throughout with the delays, the cloud cover, the sun. I’m happy. I have my own work to do, but, man, for Rinnai, for all our Pellera guests out here today, we’re moving and grooving, and looking forward to eliminations tomorrow.”
Eliminations at the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals have been moved up to 10 a.m. local time to accommodate for potential weather. Television coverage of the event will air on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) beginning Sunday with a qualifying show at 11:30 a.m. ET and a Finals show at 6:30 p.m. ET.
MATT HAGAN
Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car
Four-time world champion (2023, 2020, 2014, 2011)
Finished 2025 season runner-up in the championship points standings
Previously won at the NHRA Winternationals in 2015, 2017, 2018, 2023
Five final round appearances
No. 1 qualifier at the event in 2017, 2018, 2020, 2024
Winningest active Funny Car driver at In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip with seven victories total at the facility, second overall only to legend John Force who has 17
Winternationals is one of five events in which he has won at least 30 rounds of racing (along with Charlotte 2, Las Vegas2, Dallas and St. Louis)
Qualifying:
No. 4; 3.940 seconds at 329.58 mph
Bonus Qualifying Points: 1
Q1: 5.007 at 152.61
Q2: 4.037 at 324.75
Q3: 3.997 at 325.45
Q4: 3.940 at 329.58
Additional Quotes:
“I really believe this car and this group have a ton of potential. Honestly, it’s just fun to come to work right now. There’s no drama. Everyone gets along, from the media team to the guys working on the car. The whole group is in sync—everyone’s smiling, everyone’s bought in. It’s been a long time since I’ve been part of a team like that. We communicate well, we work well together, and that makes a huge difference. It’s still early in the season, and this is just one accomplishment we can put on the shelf, but I think there’s a lot more ahead of us. Coming here to Pomona, especially for a milestone like the 1,000th Funny Car race, makes it even more special. I mean, I was dreaming about winning three trophies—the 1,000th race trophy, the Funny Car trophy, and the #2Fast2Tasty trophy. That’s the dream, right? But these Funny Cars will humble you quickly. You might do great today, but tomorrow can be completely different. You still have to show up, do your job, and perform for your sponsors and fans. We’re blessed to be in this position, and as good as today feels, you still go to bed, say a prayer, give thanks, and get ready for race day.
“You’ve got to stay focused, driven, and make the right calls. That’s where Mike comes in. He’s been an understudy of Dickie Venables for 15 years, and he’s learned a lot. It’s been exciting to watch him grow. For [team owner] Tony [Stewart] to give him this opportunity was a big move. When you move away from something proven, that takes confidence. But Mike he’s delivered, and the whole team has. At the end of the day, we’re just very blessed. There’s an old saying that all greatness comes from God, and I believe that. Christ is King. I know some people might think it’s too much, but I think it needs to be said more. I’m fortunate to have a platform, and I’m going to use it. We’re excited, we’re grateful, and we’re ready for tomorrow.”
“I really believe this car and this group have a ton of potential. Honestly, it’s just fun to come to work right now. There’s no drama. Everyone gets along, from the media team to the guys working on the car. The whole group is in sync—everyone’s smiling, everyone’s bought in. It’s been a long time since I’ve been part of a team like that. We communicate well, we work well together, and that makes a huge difference. It’s still early in the season, and this is just one accomplishment we can put on the shelf, but I think there’s a lot more ahead of us. Coming here to Pomona, especially for a milestone like the 1,000th Funny Car race, makes it even more special. I mean, I was dreaming about winning three trophies—the 1,000th race trophy, the Funny Car trophy, and the #2Fast2Tasty trophy. That’s the dream, right? But these Funny Cars will humble you quickly. You might do great today, but tomorrow can be completely different. You still have to show up, do your job, and perform for your sponsors and fans. We’re blessed to be in this position, and as good as today feels, you still go to bed, say a prayer, give thanks, and get ready for race day.
“You’ve got to stay focused, driven, and make the right calls. That’s where Mike comes in. He’s been an understudy of Dickie Venables for 15 years, and he’s learned a lot. It’s been exciting to watch him grow. For [team owner] Tony [Stewart] to give him this opportunity was a big move. When you move away from something proven, that takes confidence. But Mike he’s delivered, and the whole team has. At the end of the day, we’re just very blessed. There’s an old saying that all greatness comes from God, and I believe that. Christ is King. I know some people might think it’s too much, but I think it needs to be said more. I’m fortunate to have a platform, and I’m going to use it. We’re excited, we’re grateful, and we’re ready for tomorrow.”
LEAH PRUETT
Rinnai Tankless Water Heaters Top Fuel Dragster
12-time NHRA National Event Winner
Finished 2023 runner-up in championship points
Two previous wins at NHRA Arizona Nationals (2016, 2017)
2016 victory was her first professional Top Fuel win
Lined up against husband and team owner Tony Stewart for the first time in the first qualifying session on Friday morning
Qualifying
No. 1; 3.724 seconds at 329.75 mph
Bonus Qualifying Points: 4
Q1: 3.808 at 325.85
Q2: 3.724 at 329.75
Q3: 5.890 at 111.44
Q4: 3.794 at 328.22
Friday Quotes:
“The cohesiveness of this team, whether we’re Rayce Rudeen last weekend, Rinnai this or Dodge next, the collaboration that has happened over the last year and a half, how competitive the car was last year with Tony [Stewart] driving, the team has jelled so well and worked really, really hard. What was significant about this Q2 run tonight is, as the sun is setting you don’t really know exactly when you’re running. So there are major changes happening in the staging lanes to accommodate the temperature and how much sun is on the track,” Pruett said. “I feel like we have established a really good meat and potatoes hold on our tune-up overall. This was an opportunity for us to work on our dessert feature, right? Like, we need to be able to run quicker, more often. We had a 3.69-second set up for the car and it ran a 3.72. I think overall we expected the whole session to be quicker. Definitely not complaining the track is fantastic and continuing to give us what we need to go down.
“I couldn’t be more proud of this team. You look at where Neal Strausbaugh was 10 years ago, five years ago, being a rookie lead crew chief with me at TSR and now to continue the momentum that we have, I’m a lucky individual to be with him.” Pruett continued. “We are excited about what we’re doing right now, and today, and where this team is going, and the pace that we’re going at, and the development in the clutch that we did, and worked hard in the offseason, and with Pellera and with tech. That’s been my pet project with the crew chiefs the past two years. To see our results, to be in the cockpit of the car after having a hand in the entire team operation, it is fulfilling in a way that I would never even have dreamed of before I’d gotten out of the car in 2023. So for me, yeah, this is absolutely fantastic, the provisional success we’re having. But it really, in my opinion, is just a preview of what’s to come, I hope.”
“The cohesiveness of this team, whether we’re Rayce Rudeen last weekend, Rinnai this or Dodge next, the collaboration that has happened over the last year and a half, how competitive the car was last year with Tony [Stewart] driving, the team has jelled so well and worked really, really hard. What was significant about this Q2 run tonight is, as the sun is setting you don’t really know exactly when you’re running. So there are major changes happening in the staging lanes to accommodate the temperature and how much sun is on the track,” Pruett said. “I feel like we have established a really good meat and potatoes hold on our tune-up overall. This was an opportunity for us to work on our dessert feature, right? Like, we need to be able to run quicker, more often. We had a 3.69-second set up for the car and it ran a 3.72. I think overall we expected the whole session to be quicker. Definitely not complaining the track is fantastic and continuing to give us what we need to go down.
“I couldn’t be more proud of this team. You look at where Neal Strausbaugh was 10 years ago, five years ago, being a rookie lead crew chief with me at TSR and now to continue the momentum that we have, I’m a lucky individual to be with him.” Pruett continued. “We are excited about what we’re doing right now, and today, and where this team is going, and the pace that we’re going at, and the development in the clutch that we did, and worked hard in the offseason, and with Pellera and with tech. That’s been my pet project with the crew chiefs the past two years. To see our results, to be in the cockpit of the car after having a hand in the entire team operation, it is fulfilling in a way that I would never even have dreamed of before I’d gotten out of the car in 2023. So for me, yeah, this is absolutely fantastic, the provisional success we’re having. But it really, in my opinion, is just a preview of what’s to come, I hope.”
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