Atlanta: Matt Hagan Saturday notes

HAGAN NETS NO. 11 IN ATLANTA QUALIFYING

COMMERCE, Ga. (May 15, 2010) - Matt Hagan and the DieHard Dodge Charger Funny Car team qualified No. 11 for the 30th annual NHRA Southern Nationals.

Despite not landing in the top-half of the field under extremely hot conditions during both days of qualifying, Hagan and the DieHard team were pumped about their progress. Hagan's quickest pass of 4.248 seconds at 291.51 mph came in today's third session, during one of the hottest parts of the day, which eventually saw 85-plus-degree ambient temperatures and a race track reaching nearly 130 degrees.

Hagan's other laps included a 4.258/293.03 (No. 6) and a 7.169/89.12 (No. 10) on Friday. In today's final try, the 27-year-old Angus Cattle farmer from Christiansburg, Va., came up with a 4.301/285.71, the fourth-quickest pass of that session.

"We went down three out of the four laps, which is a huge improvement from where we have been the last two races," said Hagan, Houston winner this year, "and I think we're making headway in the right direction. Tommy and John (crew chiefs DeLago and Medlen) are working well together.”

What he's not excited about is having to face his Don Schumacher Racing teammate Jack Beckman in the opening round of eliminations. "We have Beckman the first round, so that's kind of a bummer," he said. "At least one DSR car is going to advance and we sure do hope it's us.

"We were fourth quickest that last session, so that was great. That just shows that, to be able to go down the track like that when it's blistering hot out there, is huge. It's a bit of a comfort factor for me as a driver going into the first round tomorrow, knowing it's going to get hotter and hotter every lap. We'll just go out there and hope for the best.

"We're glad to have UCoat It on the side of the car this weekend and also at the next race. Hopefully we can go a couple of rounds and get some good TV time for them."

-source: dsr