CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. (April 14, 2010) - Matt Hagan is flying high following his first NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Funny Car victory in Houston on Sunday and heads for the next round at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals this weekend, where he earned his first runner-up in 2009 in his rookie year.
"We're looking to really keep the ball rolling heading to Vegas," said the 27-year-old Angus Cattle farmer who moved into second in the point standings with his victory, driving the DieHard Dodge Charger. "It's been great to get our first win behind us, but we're now looking toward getting that second, third and fourth win of the season.
"We have a lot of confidence coming into this race, but we have to qualify before we can even think about winning the race and so hopefully we can go out there, make a couple of good laps - nothing major, just get into the field - and take it from there."
Hagan spent the few days between races celebrating with his family and planting crops in his one-acre garden with wife Rachel and son Colby, 3, while six-month-old Penny Louise looked on. “We passed the trophy around among the family. Everyone was checking out to see how heavy it was,” he said.
In last year's Las Vegas 1 event, Hagan qualified 12th, then reached his first final round in his rookie year, but lost to his DSR teammate Ron Capps.
MATT HAGAN QUICK FACTS:
* No. 2 in 2010 Funny Car standings, after one victory, three quarterfinal finishes and one "semifinal" in first five events of season
* Is 70 points behind leader John Force
* Set national top-speed record (to 1000 feet) of 316.15 mph in Gainesville 2010
* Qualified No. 12 in 2009 Las Vegas 1; runner-up to Ron Capps
* 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 25-29
* 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
SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, April 16 - FULL THROTTLE SERIES qualifying at 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, April 17 – FULL THROTTLE SERIES qualifying at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
SUNDAY, April 18 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m. FULL THROTTLE SERIES eliminations begin at 11 a.m.
TELEVISION:
Saturday, April 17, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 6 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, April 18, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise NHRA Race Day, a 30-minute news magazine show, at 10 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, April 18, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise three hours of coverage starting at 7 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE: Friday, April 16, 9:30 - 10 p.m. (ET), AMC 1 / Transponder 18K (12060 MHz, vertical) (Analog feed)
Saturday, April 17, 8:30 - 9 p.m. (ET), AMC 1 / Transponder 18K (12060 MHz, vertical)
Sunday, April 18, 10:30 - 11 p.m. (ET), AMC 1 / Transponder 18K (12060 MHz, vertical)
Video news release contains race action highlights each day and winners’ interviews on Sunday.
