Matt Hagan made a welcomed return to the winner’s circle with the Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) Direct Connection Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car for his first 2025 victory at the NHRA Northwest Nationals in Seattle.
 
Hagan, the popular & 4X NHRA World Champion, notched his 53rd NHRA career win (all in Dodge//SRT Funny Cars) by defeating longtime rival Ron Capps in the final round at Pacific Raceways. Matt, used a solid starting line advantage (0.054) and recorded a 3.904 to Capps’ 3.919. It was the 15th final round matchup for the two former World titleholders, with Hagan now winning nine races.
 
The win also moved Hagan into third in the current NHRA Mission Foods Funny Car points standings, just 26 behind second place Jack Beckman, as the NHRA tour now heads to Sonoma Raceway on July 25-27 for the annual NHRA Sonoma Nationals.

Hagan, working with new crew chiefs Mike Knudsen and Phil Shuler in 2025, posted round wins over Buddy Hull, Beckman and Alexis DeJoria before facing Capps in the final round, as the Virginia racer was the class of the field with low elapsed times in the second round (3.861), third round (3.879) and the final round (3.904).
 
Hagan’s runner-up performance last month at Norwalk, Ohio, showed that his new crew chiefs were producing impressive runs with Hagan at the controls, and the Seattle win for Hagan and his TSR Direct Connection Dodge//SRT Hellcat squad now gives the NHRA Funny Car field a car to watch for heading into the NHRA “Countdown” playoffs starting in September.
 
“It has been a while since my last win, last year at Dallas,” said Hagan. “And I’m very happy for the whole team, especially Mike Knudsen, who took over as crew chief this year. We were on a learning curve with Mike as a new crew chief after many years working under Dickie Venables with our team. Dickie helped us win three World Championships and many race wins. And we feel that success will continue with Mike working with Phil Shuler (co-crew chief) and Alex Conaway (car chief). I want to thank Tony (Stewart, team owner) too, for bringing in a new guy to head his Funny Car team.
 
“I would have liked to have won earlier this year, but everyone was learning, and this win feels great. I think with a final round at Norwalk and a win at Seattle that we are definitely coming into our own with our TSR Dodge//SRT team. We are very happy to put Direct Connection back in the winner’s circle too. I have been with Dodge for some 18 years now and all my NHRA wins have come in a Dodge Funny Car. So, getting career win No. 53 is very special. It takes time to build that confidence in a new crew chief and a new team overall. But we have it now.”
 
Knudsen said his crew has been developing a strong unit to give Hagan a more competitive car as the season enters the final stages.
 
“We knew that the tide was turning in Norwalk,” said Knudsen. “Every run has built more confidence for our team as well as Matt, and we showed that today with our first 2025 win. Now, we feel we have a good combination heading to Sonoma this coming week. We hope this is just a start towards the ‘Countdown.’”

The NHRA Denso Sonoma Nationals gets underway this coming weekend at Northern California’s Sonoma Raceway July 25-27.

NHRA Muckleshoot Northwest Nationals – Funny Car Class Summary

WIN: Matt Hagan – 3.904 secs 331.94 mph (Career win #53)
R/UP: Ron Capps – 3.919 secs 331.61 mph
Low ET: Jack Beckman – 3.839 secs
Top MPH: Austin Prock – 336.40 mph
Bump: 4.227
Entries – 17 cars

Posted with files by Tom Blattler & Bruce Biegler

Photos by Les Puchala and courtesy of NHRA

To view more Funny Car class photos from this event – link to gallery : HERE