Matt Hagan added his name to NHRA history Sunday, winning the 1,000th Funny Car race by defeating Ron Capps in the final round of the Winternationals at Pomona, Calif. Tony Stewart and Greg Anderson also secured victories in Top Fuel and Pro Stock, respectively, at the third event of the 2026 NHRA season.
Hagan’s 3.876-second run at 330.39 mph edged Capps’ 3.893, 334.32 in a side-by-side finish that reflected the rivalry between two of the class’s most accomplished drivers. The win marked Hagan’s first of the season and the 56th of his career.
The milestone carried added weight given the stage and the opponent. It also capped a weekend where Hagan controlled the narrative, winning both the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge and the Winternationals.
“I was telling Tony that sometimes you just wake up and you know today’s going to good, and it was great,” Hagan said. “To win with the boss man to double up, and, you know, Leah [Pruett] was No. 1 qualifier, and winning the 1,000th Funny Car and the [Mission] #2Fast2Tasty yesterday … the only thing we didn’t leave with was the change under the bleachers.”
Momentum built throughout eliminations as Hagan moved past Spencer Hyde, Jason Rupert and J.R. Todd. Each round reinforced a car-and-driver combination that did not falter under pressure.
“This race track has shown me so much love over the years,” Hagan said. “Racing Capps, man, it was like back in the day throwing it down, because we always used to throw down, so it just kind of felt natural.”
Capps reached his second straight final round, defeating Dylan Winefsky, Alexis DeJoria and Jordan Vandergriff. The result leaves Hagan and Capps tied for the Funny Car points lead after three events.
“It’s a magical place because champions are crowned here and tonight reminded me of the championship deals,” Hagan said. “It just felt right.”
In Top Fuel, Tony Stewart delivered his first Winternationals victory and the first Top Fuel win for his Elite Motorsports team. His 3.683 at 332.51 defeated Justin Ashley in the final round.
The victory represented more than a single race result. It validated a program Stewart believed was close to breaking through.
“I’ve been [in NHRA] for five years now and following [wife] Leah around and being a part of it, but it doesn’t take long to realize how special Pomona is in drag racing,” Stewart said. “To be able to come here, and especially on an anniversary or for NHRA, you couldn’t ask for a better scenario for me.”
Stewart’s path included wins over Will Smith, Josh Hart and Shawn Langdon. His reaction time and performance in the final allowed him to track down Ashley, who had been sharp on the starting line throughout eliminations.
“I literally told [team owner] Richard Freeman and Royce Freeman on Friday … all the stuff that you need to be successful is right here right now,” Stewart said. “I had no idea in 48 hours that it was going to come together.”
Ashley reached his first final of the season with round wins over Maddi Gordon, Leah Pruett and Doug Kalitta. Kalitta left Pomona as the Top Fuel points leader.
In Pro Stock, Greg Anderson extended his dominance at Pomona, winning for the 17th time at the facility. His 6.505 at 209.88 defeated KB Titan Racing teammate Dallas Glenn in the final.
The performance added to Anderson’s legacy, giving him 113 career wins and tying the track record for victories. It also marked his eighth Winternationals triumph, matching Bob Glidden’s class record.
“I came to the racetrack today with a lot of confidence,” Anderson said. “I knew I was going to have a great hot rod.”
Anderson was the quickest in every round, defeating Kenny Delco, Matt Latino and Greg Stanfield before facing Glenn. The final round required precision against a teammate who has emerged as a consistent contender.
“When you race Dallas, you’ve got to be perfect and I really didn’t make any big errors today, and the car was flawless,” Anderson said. “It really doesn’t matter how much you win by as long as that win light comes on.”
Glenn reached his second straight final round with wins over Matt Hartford, Eric Latino and Dave Connolly. He maintains the Pro Stock points lead despite the runner-up finish.
The NHRA season continues April 24-26 at the 4-Wide Nationals in Concord, N.C.
