NHRA Funny Car Champion Matt Hagan Says Tony Stewart Is a Rare Breed of Team Owner

Three-time NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Funny Car champion Matt Hagan has driven for team owners who are no strangers to competition ever since he joined the class full time in 2009.

From 2009-2021, Hagan campaigned a Funny Car for Don Schumacher, one of drag racing’s pioneers in the Funny Car class as well as one of its fiercest match racers. Now, Hagan competes for Tony Stewart, a four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion as well as a title holder in Indy, Midget, Sprint and USAC Silver Crown cars. A car owner who this year started competing in the NHRA’s Top Alcohol dragster class.

So how do the two men differ?

Hagan says Schumacher always provided him and his team with the equipment they needed to be successful. However, Stewart remains a driver and will crawl underneath the car.

“He’ll tell you like, ‘Hey, man. You know, put your neck on the ground. Let’s get up on the tire. Get up on the wheel and let’s drive this thing,’” Hagan said.

While Hagan said he had “nothing but good things to say about Don Schumacher,” he noted it’s Stewart’s passion, his competitiveness that drives him.

“I’ve been around a lot of guys that just expect you to do well,” Hagan continued. “But it’s always good when you get that pat on the back. Those are hard to come by out here in motorsports. There’s a lot of times that you mess up … but Tony’s always the first one to come over to the trailer. He’s like, ‘If you did that on purpose, then I’m upset, but learn from your mistakes and move forward.’ He’s a real motivating guy.”

During a visit to Bristol Motor Speedway, Hagan also cited Stewart’s compassion for others. When Hagan’s car chief had a son in ICU, Stewart put him on his plane and told him to go home to his family.

“That guy was so grateful for that,” the Christiansburg, Va., resident said. “That’s the type of stuff that Tony does for his people. I have a lot of respect for that.”

Hagan currently leads the NHRA Funny Car standings. He’s 26 points ahead of current class champion Ron Capps in second and 64 points ahead of Alexis DeJoria in third. Next on the NHRA schedule is the Four-Wide Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.