Hagan makes surprise early exit in Sonoma

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2009 NHRA FULL THROTTLE DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 15 of 24
FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals
Infineon Raceway
Sonoma, Calif.
July 24-26, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Judy Stropus, 203-438-0501; cell 203-243-2438;
jstropus@earthlink.net

HAGAN MAKES SURPRISE EARLY EXIT IN SONOMA

SONOMA, Calif. (July 26, 2009) - Matt Hagan, the No. 1 Funny Car class
qualifier for the FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals, made a surprise early exit
today in the opening round of eliminations when he fell to No. 16 qualifier
Cruz Pedregon.

Hagan nailed Pedregon at the starting lights with a .101 reaction time to
Pedregon's .142 (.000 is perfect), but, despite a straight path down the
1000-foot track to record a 4.234-second elapsed time at 295.59 mph, it was
no match for Pedregon's winning 4.164/295.53.

The 26-year-old contender for the 2009 Automobile Club of Southern
California Road to the Future Award as an NHRA rookie-of-the-year
frontrunner, dropped to 11th in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series
point standings, six markers out of the top 10. Only the top 10 in each
category will compete in the Countdown to 1 playoffs, which begin following
the U.S. Nationals on Labor Day weekend for the final six events.

"Right now, I feel a little disheartened," said Hagan, who earned his first
pole position of his young NHRA pro career. ³It was a big opportunity for us
and we should have capitalized on it. It's kind of how this season has been
going for us. We seem to do well in spurts and then we back-pedal a little
bit.

"To go up there as the No. 1 qualifier to race the No. 16 qualifier and lose
was very disappointing for me and the whole shelor.com team. But, everybody
out here is tough. Cruz has been struggling this season and for him to step
up in the first round like that was a real shocker.

"We just have to come back strong and continue to try to go rounds. We'll
figure it out. We have a strong team with a good group of guys and a smart
group of guys. No one will work harder than these guys and (crew chief)
Tommy DeLago to get us back in the top 10.

"The shelor.com Dodge went down the race track every lap this weekend and,
because of that, we went into the first round with a good deal of
confidence. We had a good race, but it just wasn't our day. Not taking
anything away from the race car. It's a fast race car and we've proven that
in qualifying. We just have to have it come together for us on race day."

Next up is the NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minn., Aug. 14-16.

(A complete list of unofficial point standings will be distributed following
the completion of todayıs event.)

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