Four-time world champion Matt Hagan, put together a solid performance in his all-new TSR Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car at the NHRA Gatornationals with the fifth spot in qualifying (3.931) and two excellent runs in eliminations.
The Virginia driver defeated Julie Nataas in the first round of action with a strong 3.976 at 326.63 mph to advance to the quarterfinals against defending Gatornationals champion Chad Green. Green upset Hagan in the semifinals on his way to the 2025 event win.
This time, Hagan had another sensational time of 3.967, but Green’s quick reaction time off the starting line gave him the win with a 3.975. After Green’s “holeshot” victory, he went on to capture his second consecutive NHRA Gatornationals title.
“Obviously, that one (lost) fell on the driver,” said Hagan. “The team gave me a great racecar and the Dodge//SRT Hellcat has been running very well. Mike Knudsen, Phil Shuler and Alex Conaway have been making some great calls with this new chassis. We ran 3.97 and 3.96 in eliminations. My 0.076 (second) light isn’t bad, but Chad (Green) ran a 0.060 against me. So, we got beat by eight inches at the finish line. That’s drag racing. I need to go home and work on my craft for Phoenix in a couple weeks. Everything felt good off the line, and I never saw Chad since we were so close at the lights. He was up for me more than I was for him.
“So that is a tough one to swallow. That’s just one race and we have 19 more to go. The car drove well all three days, and the crowd here at the Gatornatonals was amazing, so big with drag racing fans. It’s not the outcome we wanted and that falls on my shoulders. But I’ve been doing this (Funny Car racing) a long time, and I can take it. I think I can make it up to the team with a few holeshots myself. I have a lot of confidence with this car and team after this race. We showed it at the end of last year with several wins. I think we had one of the most consistent cars here this weekend, and we see a lot of potential with the Dodge//SRT Hellcat.”
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The Virginia driver defeated Julie Nataas in the first round of action with a strong 3.976 at 326.63 mph to advance to the quarterfinals against defending Gatornationals champion Chad Green. Green upset Hagan in the semifinals on his way to the 2025 event win.
This time, Hagan had another sensational time of 3.967, but Green’s quick reaction time off the starting line gave him the win with a 3.975. After Green’s “holeshot” victory, he went on to capture his second consecutive NHRA Gatornationals title.
“Obviously, that one (lost) fell on the driver,” said Hagan. “The team gave me a great racecar and the Dodge//SRT Hellcat has been running very well. Mike Knudsen, Phil Shuler and Alex Conaway have been making some great calls with this new chassis. We ran 3.97 and 3.96 in eliminations. My 0.076 (second) light isn’t bad, but Chad (Green) ran a 0.060 against me. So, we got beat by eight inches at the finish line. That’s drag racing. I need to go home and work on my craft for Phoenix in a couple weeks. Everything felt good off the line, and I never saw Chad since we were so close at the lights. He was up for me more than I was for him.
“So that is a tough one to swallow. That’s just one race and we have 19 more to go. The car drove well all three days, and the crowd here at the Gatornatonals was amazing, so big with drag racing fans. It’s not the outcome we wanted and that falls on my shoulders. But I’ve been doing this (Funny Car racing) a long time, and I can take it. I think I can make it up to the team with a few holeshots myself. I have a lot of confidence with this car and team after this race. We showed it at the end of last year with several wins. I think we had one of the most consistent cars here this weekend, and we see a lot of potential with the Dodge//SRT Hellcat.”
The post Hagan Posts Impressive Runs with TSR Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car appeared first on Matt Hagan Racing.
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