Hagan poised for tough contest in U.S. Nationals eliminations

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2009 NHRA FULL THROTTLE DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 18 of 24
55th annual U.S. Nationals
Raceway Park at Indianapolis
Sept. 4-7, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

HAGAN POISED FOR TOUGH CONTEST IN U.S. NATIONALS ELIMINATIONS

INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 6, 2009) - Matt Hagan, a contender for the 2009
Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award as an NHRA
rookie-of-the-year frontrunner, qualified the Valvoline Engine
Guarantee/shelor.com Dodge Funny Car in No. 15 for the U.S. Nationals at
Raceway Park at Indianapolis. Only one run of two remaining qualifying
sessions took place today due to a long rain delay.

He drew himself a tough match-up against Ashley Force Hood in the opening
round of eliminations on Sunday, while his Don Schumacher Racing teammate
Ron Capps will face off against Cruz Pedregon. Hagan is in 11th place, 31
points behind Pedregon, and only the top 10 in points will vie for the
championship in the Countdown to 1 playoffs, which begin following this
weekend's event for the final six races.

"It's going to be a great race tomorrow," said Hagan. "We haven't done the
best in qualifying this weekend, but we're in the show, and that's all that
matters. You have to be in it to win it.

"I'm looking forward to getting a good night's rest, getting a good dinner
in me, eating the right stuff and getting up tomorrow with the right
attitude.

"Wešve kind of been struggling here lately. The times are showing that and
not showing what our car is capable of.

"Obviously, we have a difficult draw tomorrow with Ashley Force, but we have
to get around her to secure ourselves a place in the top 10. We're going to
give it our best effort and make sure we do everything that we can do to
secure our spot."

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