Rookie Hagan hopes to improve on his Vegas record

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2009 NHRA FULL THROTTLE DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 5 of six in Countdown to 1 Playoffs
Round 23 of 24 for season
Ninth annual NHRA Las Vegas Nationals
The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Oct. 30-Nov. 1, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

ROOKIE HAGAN HOPES TO IMPROVE ON HIS VEGAS RECORD

LAS VEGAS (Oct. 29, 2009) - Matt Hagan, the contender for the 2009
Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award as an NHRA
rookie-of-the-year frontrunner, is ready to improve on his record at The
Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. This weekend's NHRA Las Vegas Nationals
will mark the second NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event of the
season at The Strip, and Hagan wants to better his April runner-up finish by
claiming his first victory of the season.

Driving the Shelor.com Dodge Funny Car for Don Schumacher Racing, Hagan has
dealt with many challenges in his rookie year, including an illness he's
been trying to shake off before he competes here this weekend at the
penultimate event of the 2009 season.

The 26-year-old Angus Cattle farmer from Virginia is out of the Countdown to
1 playoffs and is in 12th place, but his runner-up finish here earlier this
year has boosted his and the teamıs confidence. He and the shelor.com team
believe they have the performance and wherewithal to earn themselves a win.

"This is Vegas," said Hagan. "We did well here before, so I know (crew
chief) Tommy (DeLago) can go back to his notes and put another good race car
under me this weekend. I feel that with the success we had here at the
beginning of the year, we should be able to roll into town and hit the
ground running.

"I'm really looking forward to racing here, and at the finale in Pomona
(Calif.) in two weeks. We need to get qualified well and make some laps. I
think that our season has been kind of hit or miss. We've either been on or
we've been off, so I really want to get back into the race car and hope that
we're on for this weekend.

"I've been enjoying a break (two weekends off following four back-to-back
events), even though the farm still needs my attention every day. I've
needed the rest because I've been sick. But, I'm feeling a lot better now
and I'm ready to get back to racing at The Strip."

MATT HAGAN QUICK FACTS:
* No. 12 in 2009 Funny Car point standings, as a Rookie-of-the-Year
frontrunner
* Has 13 first-round, six quarterfinal, one semifinal and two runner-up
finishes so far in 2009
* Qualified on his first pole in Sonoma, Calif., this year
* Entered NHRA Funny Car class four times in 2008, qualifying once at the
U.S. Nationals
* 2006 NHRA AMS Pro Mod Challenge Rookie of the Year
* First season with Don Schumacher Racing
* Won class-best three Funny Car events in 2008 IHRA series, ending season
third in point standings
* Born Nov. 11, 1982 in Salem, Va., lives in Christiansburg, Va.
* Married to Rachel; one son, Colby (10/27/06), one daughter Penny Louise
(9/28/09)
* Quickest elapsed time to 1000 feet so far: 4.051 seconds (Richmond 2009)
* Fastest speed to 1000 feet so far: 309.49 mph (Richmond 2009)
* Manages family 500-acre Angus Cattle farm in Virginia

SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, Oct. 30 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.
SATURDAY, Oct. 31 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30
p.m.
SUNDAY, Nov. 1 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m. FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11
a.m.
 
TELEVISION:     
Saturday, Oct. 31, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying
highlights at 11:30 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, Nov 1, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will air NHRA Race Day, at 2:30 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, Nov. 1, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of final
eliminations at 7:30 p.m. (ET).
 
SATELLITE (Analog feed):
Friday, Oct. 30, 9:30 - 10 p.m. (ET) - AMC 16 / Transponder 14K (11980 MHz,
horizontal)
Saturday, Oct. 31, 9:30 - 10 p.m. (ET) - AMC 16 / Transponder 14K (11980
MHz, horizontal)
Sunday, Nov. 1, 11 - 11:30 p.m. (ET) - AMC 16 / Transponder 14K (11980 MHz,
horizontal)
Video news release contains race action highlights each day and winnersı
interviews on Sunday.

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