[coverattach=1]CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. (June 2, 2010) - Matt Hagan hails from Christiansburg, Va., where he manages a 500-acre Angus Cattle farm, but when he's racing the DieHard Dodge Charger Funny Car in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series his heart is solidly in the Chicago area. That's where his team owner Don Schumacher hangs his hat and it's also where DieHard's headquarters are based.
So, it's no surprise that the 27-year-old driver who's already won one national event this season wants to do it again in front of a "hometown" crowd at this weekend's 13th annual Route 66 NHRA Nationals in Joliet, Ill.
"We're really excited to be racing in the Chicago area," said Hagan. "With Don being from Chicago and DieHard being based there, we really want to do well for them at this race.
"As everybody knows, it's racing, so anything can happen. We're going to keep our fingers crossed. I know that Tommy and John (crew chiefs DeLago and Medlen) are working hard to get the DieHard Dodge performing at its best. We've been trying some new stuff in anticipation of the Countdown to 1 playoffs, when strong results really count, and we've slipped back a little bit. And once we're past that learning curve, we should be back on top again.” Hagan was second in the standings through the fifth and sixth events this year and now is ranked in sixth. The top 10 contend for the Funny Car championship during the Countdown to 1 playoffs in the final six events of the year.
"I have to do my part as well," he added. "I have to go up there and focus and make sure we have good lights (reaction times). We also need to have a little luck. There's 100 ways to lose and one way to win, and we have to take that and really concentrate on what we're doing up there."
MATT HAGAN QUICK FACTS:
* No. 6 in 2010 Funny Car standings, after one victory (in three career final rounds), four quarterfinal finishes, one "semifinal" and three first rounds in first nine events of season
* Is 198 points behind leader John Force
* Set national top-speed record (to 1000 feet) of 316.15 mph in Gainesville 2010
* Qualified No. 8 in 2009 Chicago race; lost first round to Robert Hight
* No. 11 in 2009 Funny Car point standings, as a Rookie-of-the-Year frontrunner. Was first finisher outside the Countdown to 1 contenders
* Had two runner-up finishes, 13 first-round, eight quarterfinal, and one semifinal in 2009
* Low qualifier once so far in 2010, in Gainesville. Qualified on pole twice in 2009: in Sonoma, Calif., and Las Vegas 2
* Has a career round-win record of 26-33
* Entered NHRA Funny Car class four times in 2008, qualifying once at the U.S. Nationals
* 2006 NHRA AMS Pro Mod Challenge Rookie of the Year
* 2010 is second season with Don Schumacher Racing
* Won class-best three Funny Car events in 2008 IHRA series, ending season third in point standings
* Born Nov. 11, 1982 in Salem, Va., lives in Christiansburg, Va.
* Married to Rachel; one son, Colby (10/27/06), one daughter Penny Louise (9/28/09)
* Quickest elapsed time to 1000 feet so far: 4.030 seconds (Las Vegas 2 2009)
* Fastest speed to 1000 feet so far: 316.15 mph (Gainesville 2010)
* Manages family 500-acre Angus Cattle farm in Virginia
WEEKEND SCHEDULE:
Full Throttle Series qualifying sessions are scheduled for noon and 2:45 p.m. on Friday, June 4, and will continue at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 5. Final professional eliminations begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, June 6.
TELEVISION:
ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 11 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, June 5.
On Sunday, June 6, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will feature NHRA Race Day, a 30-minute pre-race show, at 10 a.m. (ET), and three of eliminations coverage at 4 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE NEWS FEED:
Friday, June 4, 8:30-9 p.m. (ET) – AMC 9 / Transponder 5 K
Saturday, June 5, 7:30-8 p.m. (ET) – AMC 9 / Transponder 5 K
Sunday, June 6, 7:30-8 p.m. (ET) – AMC 9 / Transponder 5 K
Downlink Frequency: AMC 9 / Transponder 5K (11800 MHz, Horizontal)
This is an ANALOG feed
ON THE WEB:
Get instant results, access to photos, video and audio clips and the latest news updates from every NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event on the Internet at NHRA.com.
So, it's no surprise that the 27-year-old driver who's already won one national event this season wants to do it again in front of a "hometown" crowd at this weekend's 13th annual Route 66 NHRA Nationals in Joliet, Ill.
"We're really excited to be racing in the Chicago area," said Hagan. "With Don being from Chicago and DieHard being based there, we really want to do well for them at this race.
"As everybody knows, it's racing, so anything can happen. We're going to keep our fingers crossed. I know that Tommy and John (crew chiefs DeLago and Medlen) are working hard to get the DieHard Dodge performing at its best. We've been trying some new stuff in anticipation of the Countdown to 1 playoffs, when strong results really count, and we've slipped back a little bit. And once we're past that learning curve, we should be back on top again.” Hagan was second in the standings through the fifth and sixth events this year and now is ranked in sixth. The top 10 contend for the Funny Car championship during the Countdown to 1 playoffs in the final six events of the year.
"I have to do my part as well," he added. "I have to go up there and focus and make sure we have good lights (reaction times). We also need to have a little luck. There's 100 ways to lose and one way to win, and we have to take that and really concentrate on what we're doing up there."
MATT HAGAN QUICK FACTS:
* No. 6 in 2010 Funny Car standings, after one victory (in three career final rounds), four quarterfinal finishes, one "semifinal" and three first rounds in first nine events of season
* Is 198 points behind leader John Force
* Set national top-speed record (to 1000 feet) of 316.15 mph in Gainesville 2010
* Qualified No. 8 in 2009 Chicago race; lost first round to Robert Hight
* No. 11 in 2009 Funny Car point standings, as a Rookie-of-the-Year frontrunner. Was first finisher outside the Countdown to 1 contenders
* Had two runner-up finishes, 13 first-round, eight quarterfinal, and one semifinal in 2009
* Low qualifier once so far in 2010, in Gainesville. Qualified on pole twice in 2009: in Sonoma, Calif., and Las Vegas 2
* Has a career round-win record of 26-33
* Entered NHRA Funny Car class four times in 2008, qualifying once at the U.S. Nationals
* 2006 NHRA AMS Pro Mod Challenge Rookie of the Year
* 2010 is second season with Don Schumacher Racing
* Won class-best three Funny Car events in 2008 IHRA series, ending season third in point standings
* Born Nov. 11, 1982 in Salem, Va., lives in Christiansburg, Va.
* Married to Rachel; one son, Colby (10/27/06), one daughter Penny Louise (9/28/09)
* Quickest elapsed time to 1000 feet so far: 4.030 seconds (Las Vegas 2 2009)
* Fastest speed to 1000 feet so far: 316.15 mph (Gainesville 2010)
* Manages family 500-acre Angus Cattle farm in Virginia
WEEKEND SCHEDULE:
Full Throttle Series qualifying sessions are scheduled for noon and 2:45 p.m. on Friday, June 4, and will continue at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 5. Final professional eliminations begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, June 6.
TELEVISION:
ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 11 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, June 5.
On Sunday, June 6, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will feature NHRA Race Day, a 30-minute pre-race show, at 10 a.m. (ET), and three of eliminations coverage at 4 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE NEWS FEED:
Friday, June 4, 8:30-9 p.m. (ET) – AMC 9 / Transponder 5 K
Saturday, June 5, 7:30-8 p.m. (ET) – AMC 9 / Transponder 5 K
Sunday, June 6, 7:30-8 p.m. (ET) – AMC 9 / Transponder 5 K
Downlink Frequency: AMC 9 / Transponder 5K (11800 MHz, Horizontal)
This is an ANALOG feed
ON THE WEB:
Get instant results, access to photos, video and audio clips and the latest news updates from every NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event on the Internet at NHRA.com.
