Joliet: Matt Hagan preview

HAGAN LOOKS FOR "HOMETOWN" WIN IN CHICAGO

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."

-source: dsr