Hagan "steals" bonus points, qualifies No. 12 in Memphis

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2009 NHRA FULL THROTTLE DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 3 of six in Countdown to 1 Playoffs
Round 21 of 24 for season
NHRA MID-SOUTH NATIONALS
Memphis Motorsports Park
Oct. 2-4, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

HAGAN ³STEALS² BONUS POINTS, QUALIFIES NO. 12 IN MEMPHIS

MEMPHIS (Oct. 3, 2009) - Matt Hagan "stole" three qualifying bonus points
today from the Countdown to 1 playoffs contenders and qualified the
Valvoline Engine Guarantee/shelor.com Dodge in No. 12 for the NHRA Mid-South
Nationals at Memphis Motorsports Park.

He set his quickest pass of 4.136 seconds at 304.05 mph in Friday evening's
second session (No. 12), but the pass for which he was rewarded the three
bonus points was the final one, in which he scored the quickest of the round
of 4.141/300.93. His other runs included a 4.210/293.28 in his first try
(No. 12) on Friday, and a 4.925/159.21 (No. 12) in today's third session.

He will face Cruz Pedregon in the opening round of Sunday's eliminations.

'We're really excited with earning those bonus points," said Hagan, who is
12th in the standings and not in the playoffs. "I was really impressed with
that last lap. We thought it might be a little greasy out there, because it
was a little hotter today than it was yesterday.

"Tommy (DeLago, crew chief) really stepped up and ran a number that lap. All
I had to do was hang on to it. I did my part, Tommy did his, and now we have
a good race-day set up for tomorrow and go in there and hopefully take out
Cruz first round."

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