Matt Hagan Sonoma Final Report
Infinenon Raceway Sears Point
Matt Hagan Nosed Out In Fram/Autolite NHRA Nationals
Matt Hagan, aboard the DieHard Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car, dropped a close first round match today in the first round of the 24th-annual FRAM/Autolite NHRA Nationals here at Infineon Raceway.
Coming out of the seventh-qualifying position, the 28-year-old Don Schumacher Racing driver was narrowly clipped in the opening session by 10th-qualifier Cruz Pedregon, with the margin of victory an almost immeasurable .003 of a second. The race was won by DSR teammate Ron Capps.
“This car ran great all weekend; we just got beat in an old-fashioned drag race,” said Hagan. “One thing, he knows we’ve got a really good car and we gave him a run for his money – he can’t take us for granted, which puts some pressure on him for next time.”
Hagan, in fifth, sits right behind Pedregon in the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Funny Car standings, which is becoming increasingly significant with the start of the Countdown to 1 playoffs drawing closer.
With three races left in the regular season before the top 10 in the standings have their points reset for the championship battle every potential title contender is doing everything possible to score points and improve their position.
“I’m very happy with the way the DieHard Funny Car is running right now,” said the Christiansburg, Va. native. “It keeps improving from race to race and has now performed really well in both Denver and here in Sonoma.
“I feel good as we get closer to the Countdown. Tommy’s (DeLago, crew chief) confidence is going up, which is getting mine up as well. This car is really responding to the adjustments he’s making and it is all good.”
By: don schumacher racing
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