Phoenix: Matt Hagan preview

HAGAN HAS SIGHTS SET ON ARIZONA VICTORY

CHANDLER, Ariz. (Feb. 17, 2010) - With his first NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series national event as a non-rookie under his belt, Matt Hagan is ready to attack this weekend's 26th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals, driving the new DieHard Dodge Charger Funny Car.

"I can't really believe the first race is already over," said the 27-year-old Angus Cattle farmer from Christiansburg, Va., who was barely two years old when this event was first held at Firebird Int'l Raceway. "The anticipation and the build-up of beginning this season in Pomona, Calif., last weekend after my rookie year in 2009 is gone now and we're on full throttle for the 2010 season. The off-season rust has worn off, and it's nice to be able to go right into the very next weekend and get right back in the DieHard car.

"Hopefully we can keep some momentum going. We left Pomona sixth in the point standings (after a quarterfinal finish), and we're right in the hunt. I'm looking forward to getting out there and qualifying the car well and getting lane choice for the first round. Then it will be an all-out effort to win our first race for DieHard and Don Schumacher Racing.

"We tested at Firebird last year and did pretty well," he added. "I think it's a good track, and we definitely don't have to worry about shutting down because there's plenty of sand out there at the end of the track."

-source: dsr