1 |
|||
New for ’ 22 Breaking down the offseason news and developments By Nate Van Wagnen
The offseason is often referred to as the “ silly season ” as rumors swirl and formal announcements are made . The 2021-2022 offseason was one of the silliest in recent memory , with a number of new teams and partnerships forming and more than a couple drivers and tuners returning to action after time away on the sidelines . Here ’ s a breakdown of some of the biggest moves and most eye-catching headlines that developed over the offseason as of print time . More on each of these storylines can be found on DragIllustrated . com .
|
1 . Leah Pruett , Matt Hagan Move to Tony Stewart Racing
■ While it was announced in October that circle track racing icon Tony Stewart was forming a new NHRA nitro team with now-wife Leah Pruett and three-time Funny Car world champion Matt Hagan , few details were available at the time . Additional announcements have revealed the team ’ s crew chiefs , primary sponsor , and manufacturer .
Neal Strausbaugh will be the crew chief for Pruett ’ s Top Fuel dragster , while Dickie Venables will tune Hagan ’ s Funny Car , continuing drivertuner pairings that started at Don Schumacher Racing . Pruett ’ s team will also include co-crew chief Mike Domagala and car chief Ryan Mc- Gilvry . Hagan ’ s 2014 and 2020 championshipwinning team also joined Hagan and Venables at Tony Stewart Racing .
Pruett and Hagan will also continue working with Dodge // SRT and Mopar as the team ’ s manufacturer and sponsor . The auto manufacturer will use the partnership to spotlight the recently announced Dodge Power Brokers and Direct Connection programs .
“ I ’ m really pleased to have Dodge // SRT and Mopar as partners with our new NHRA venture
|
as manufacturer and sponsor for our two entries in Top Fuel and Funny Car with Leah and Matt ,” Stewart said . “ It shows confidence in your program when an OEM wants to be on your team and for you to help support their program as well . They have obviously had a great relationship with both drivers for the last few years and to be able to continue that association is key to this team ’ s success and a huge benefit to the continuity for everyone involved .”
2 . Ron Capps Forms His Own Funny Car Team
■ Less than a month after winning his second NHRA Funny Car world championship , Ron Capps announced that he ’ s formed his own team , Ron Capps Motorsports . The announcement , which Capps made on the NHRA stage at the PRI Show , confirmed rumors that started swirling towards the end of the season .
“ Team ownership has been a lifelong dream ,” Capps said . “ I ’ ve been in the sport of NHRA Drag Racing for almost 30 years as a driver and being able to race for legends like Don ‘ The Snake ’ Prudhomme , and then Don Schumacher , it ’ s obviously been an incredible experience . I ’ ve been very fortunate to compete at a high level all these
|
PHOTOGRAPHS BY RON LEWIS , TARA BOWKER , COLE ROKOSKY , RICK BELDEN , AND NHRA |