Hagan wants that second win in St. Louis

CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. (April 26, 2010) - Having tasted his first victory in his second season as a nitro Funny Car driver in the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, Matt Hagan wants the feast to continue at this weekend's 14th annual NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway International Raceway, just outside of St. Louis.

"It's easy to get greedy out there," said the 27-year-old Angus Cattle farmer from Christiansburg, Va., who won in Houston this year driving the DieHard Dodge Charger Funny Car. "We have to remember that this is a very humbling sport. Right now, we have to find a hot weather tune-up. I know (crew chiefs) Tommy (DeLago) and John (Medlen) are working hard on it. We stayed Monday and tested in Las Vegas. Hopefully, we found some things going into St. Louis to help us in the heat.

"I don't know exactly what the weather is going to be out there, but we're expecting hot weather, so it will be interesting," added Hagan, who stands second in points, behind 14-time champion John Force. "We're chasing Force and he seems to have a hot-weather or a cool-weather tune-up, so that's what we're trying to find to be able to run with that guy and take over the points lead.

"I have all the confidence in the world with Tommy and John and I know they're going to figure it out. We just have to go up there and put four good runs together again on race day and get another win.

"We've been kind of struggling a little bit in the heat, so it will be interesting to see how it all turns out."

MATT HAGAN QUICK FACTS:
* No. 2 in 2010 Funny Car standings, after one victory in three final rounds, four quarterfinal finishes and one "semifinal" in first six events of season
* Is 120 points behind leader John Force
* Set national top-speed record (to 1000 feet) of 316.15 mph in Gainesville 2010
* Qualified No. 2 in 2009 St. Louis; lost second round to Tony Pedregon
* 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 26-30
* 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:
FRIDAY:
Pro Stock Qualifying Session (PS Motorcycle / PS Car) 3:15 PM.
Nitro Qualifying Session (Funny Car / Top Fuel Dragster) 4:00 PM.
Pro Stock Qualifying Session (PS Motorcycle / PS Car) 5:45 PM.
Nitro Qualifying Session (Funny Car / Top Fuel Dragster) 6:30 PM.

SATURDAY:
Pro Stock Qualifying Session (PS Motorcycle / PS Car) 11:30 AM.
Nitro Qualifying Session (Top Fuel Dragster / Funny Car) 12:30 PM.
Pro Stock Qualifying Session (PS Motorcycle / PS Car) 2:00 PM
Nitro Qualifying Session (Top Fuel Dragster / Funny Car) 3:00 PM

SUNDAY:
Pre-Race Ceremonies 10:00 AM; Final Eliminations 11:00 AM.

TELEVISION:
5/01/2010 Qualifying -  9:00 PM - 11:00 PM ET/6:00 PM - 8:00 PM PT (ESPN2).
5/02/2010 Eliminations - 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM ET/4:00 PM - 7:00 PM PT (ESPN2).
5/05/2010 Repeat Eliminations - 3:00 AM - 5:00 AM ET/12:00 AM - 2:00 AM PT (ESPN2).