PRI 2025 NHRA Legends, Ida Zetterström, Matt Hagan & Shirley Muldowney
This week on The Pits Are Open, host Will Marotti and producer Alex Smith bring you a powerful PRI 2025 special episode, recorded live from the Indiana Convention Center during the biggest motorsports industry event of the year.
The show opens with reflections on an unforgettable PRI week — over 20 interviews, nonstop industry energy, and gratitude for the partners and people who made the broadcast possible. Will also shares exciting news that The Pits Are Open will be airing on Christmas Night and New Year’s Day on SpeedSport 1, continuing the show’s commitment to being there for racing fans year-round.
First, Ida Zetterström, NHRA Top Fuel driver from Sweden, joins the show to share her journey from junior dragsters and championship motorcycle racing to the pinnacle of nitro drag racing. Ida talks about growing up in European drag racing culture, why drag racing uniquely integrates men and women from childhood, and what it takes to mix fuel, prep cars, and compete hands-on at the highest level. She also opens up about her transition from bikes to Top Fuel, her love for American muscle cars, and the long road to fulfilling a childhood dream.
Next, four-time NHRA Funny Car Champion Matt Hagan sits down for a raw, honest conversation about life at 330+ mph. Matt reflects on nearly two decades in fuel cars, the pressure of driving for championship-level teams, and the physical and mental toll of fires, explosions, and close calls. He speaks candidly about safety concerns in modern Funny Cars, the reality of racing while traveling constantly, and his pursuit of a historic fifth championship — a milestone that would place him among the sport’s all-time greats.
The episode closes with a truly legendary moment as Shirley Muldowney, the trailblazer who forever changed drag racing, joins the show. Shirley reflects on her early days as a street racer in the 1950s, breaking barriers in a male-dominated sport, and what it meant to fight simply for the right to compete. Her presence serves as a reminder of how far the sport has come — and whose courage made it possible.
Presented by SpeedSport, Redline Ace, Schaeffer Oil, and America’s Christian Credit Union.
SpeedSport & SpeedSport 1: speedsport.com | speedsport1.com
Redline Ace Racing Graphics: redlineace.com
Schaeffer Oil: schaefferoil.com
America’s Christian Credit Union: americaschristiancu.com/pits
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