TSR Funny Car driver Matt Hagan is also no stranger to success at Firebird Motorsports Park. The four-time world champion has raced his way to five final rounds in the desert and picked up three victories in 2015, 2017 and 2019. He has also been No. 1 qualifier three time in 2015, 2020 and most recently in 2022.
“Phoenix is one of my favorite races to come to. Everything is great about this place, the atmosphere, who knows, I’d get a winter home here if I could, maybe one day. It’s going to be hot, kind of crazy hot but [crew chiefs] Mike Knudsen and Phil Shuler have proven they can do really well in the heat. We were one of the few cars to go down the hot racetrack during qualifying over the Gainesville weekend. So, I have a lot of confidence with us moving into some of these hotter races,” Hagan said. “We’ll be racing earlier, which is a good call on NHRA even though it’s a little tougher on the guys with the early mornings, but we want to put on a great show for these fans. It could be a lot of pedaling and we’ll have to adjust. One thing about Phil and Mike and our car chief Alex Conaway is they do a great job with that so I’m excited to see what we have in our arsenal.”
Hagan is coming off a No. 5 qualifying position and quarterfinal exit at the NHRA Gatornationals a showing that has him entering the Arizona Nationals with his JHG Dodge team fifth in points. Last year at Firedbird Motorsports Park, Hagan qualified 10th before having a quarterfinal exit.
“It’s our first race of the year with JHG and I’m excited. Jason Johnson, his wife Nikki, Nate and Genelle Cox, the whole family have become really good friends. I think we need to pull a Phoenix win out for them this year,” Hagan said. “I’ve had a lot of luck here, there’s a good vibe and just feels natural. We have a great car and proven we can get down a tricky racetrack, our team is all working well together, it’s a great group, I know I’ve got some work to do after that holeshot loss in Gainesville but we have the pieces to get the job done and I would love nothing more than to do it this weekend with the whole JHG group here.”
Competition at the FMP Arizona Nationals at Firebird Motorsports Park begins with four nitro qualifying sessions Friday and Saturday at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. each day. Eliminations are slated for Sunday at 10 a.m. Television coverage of the event will be on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) starting with a qualifying shows Friday at 10 p.m. ET and Sunday at noon ET. Eliminations will air Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET.
“Phoenix is one of my favorite races to come to. Everything is great about this place, the atmosphere, who knows, I’d get a winter home here if I could, maybe one day. It’s going to be hot, kind of crazy hot but [crew chiefs] Mike Knudsen and Phil Shuler have proven they can do really well in the heat. We were one of the few cars to go down the hot racetrack during qualifying over the Gainesville weekend. So, I have a lot of confidence with us moving into some of these hotter races,” Hagan said. “We’ll be racing earlier, which is a good call on NHRA even though it’s a little tougher on the guys with the early mornings, but we want to put on a great show for these fans. It could be a lot of pedaling and we’ll have to adjust. One thing about Phil and Mike and our car chief Alex Conaway is they do a great job with that so I’m excited to see what we have in our arsenal.”
Hagan is coming off a No. 5 qualifying position and quarterfinal exit at the NHRA Gatornationals a showing that has him entering the Arizona Nationals with his JHG Dodge team fifth in points. Last year at Firedbird Motorsports Park, Hagan qualified 10th before having a quarterfinal exit.
“It’s our first race of the year with JHG and I’m excited. Jason Johnson, his wife Nikki, Nate and Genelle Cox, the whole family have become really good friends. I think we need to pull a Phoenix win out for them this year,” Hagan said. “I’ve had a lot of luck here, there’s a good vibe and just feels natural. We have a great car and proven we can get down a tricky racetrack, our team is all working well together, it’s a great group, I know I’ve got some work to do after that holeshot loss in Gainesville but we have the pieces to get the job done and I would love nothing more than to do it this weekend with the whole JHG group here.”
Competition at the FMP Arizona Nationals at Firebird Motorsports Park begins with four nitro qualifying sessions Friday and Saturday at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. each day. Eliminations are slated for Sunday at 10 a.m. Television coverage of the event will be on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) starting with a qualifying shows Friday at 10 p.m. ET and Sunday at noon ET. Eliminations will air Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET.
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