[coverattach=1]INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 6, 2009) - Matt Hagan, a contender for the 2009 Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award as an NHRA rookie-of-the-year frontrunner, qualified the Valvoline Engine Guarantee/shelor.com Dodge Funny Car in No. 15 for the U.S. Nationals at Raceway Park at Indianapolis. Only one run of two remaining qualifying sessions took place today due to a long rain delay.
He drew himself a tough match-up against Ashley Force Hood in the opening round of eliminations on Sunday, while his Don Schumacher Racing teammate Ron Capps will face off against Cruz Pedregon. Hagan is in 11th place, 31 points behind Pedregon, and only the top 10 in points will vie for the championship in the Countdown to 1 playoffs, which begin following this weekend's event for the final six races.
"It's going to be a great race tomorrow," said Hagan. "We haven't done the best in qualifying this weekend, but we're in the show, and that's all that matters. You have to be in it to win it.
"I'm looking forward to getting a good night's rest, getting a good dinner in me, eating the right stuff and getting up tomorrow with the right attitude.
"We’ve kind of been struggling here lately. The times are showing that and not showing what our car is capable of.
"Obviously, we have a difficult draw tomorrow with Ashley Force, but we have to get around her to secure ourselves a place in the top 10. We're going to give it our best effort and make sure we do everything that we can do to secure our spot."
He drew himself a tough match-up against Ashley Force Hood in the opening round of eliminations on Sunday, while his Don Schumacher Racing teammate Ron Capps will face off against Cruz Pedregon. Hagan is in 11th place, 31 points behind Pedregon, and only the top 10 in points will vie for the championship in the Countdown to 1 playoffs, which begin following this weekend's event for the final six races.
"It's going to be a great race tomorrow," said Hagan. "We haven't done the best in qualifying this weekend, but we're in the show, and that's all that matters. You have to be in it to win it.
"I'm looking forward to getting a good night's rest, getting a good dinner in me, eating the right stuff and getting up tomorrow with the right attitude.
"We’ve kind of been struggling here lately. The times are showing that and not showing what our car is capable of.
"Obviously, we have a difficult draw tomorrow with Ashley Force, but we have to get around her to secure ourselves a place in the top 10. We're going to give it our best effort and make sure we do everything that we can do to secure our spot."
