Hagan has sights set on Arizona victory

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2010 NHRA FULL THROTTLE DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 2 of 23
26th annual NHRA ARIZONA NATIONALS
Firebird International Raceway
Chandler, Ariz.
Feb. 19-21, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

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. ³I 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."

MATT HAGAN QUICK FACTS:
* No. 6 in 2010 Funny Car standings, after quarterfinal finish in
season-opener in Pomona, Calif.
* Qualified No. 8 in Phoenix in 2009; lost second round to Ron Capps
* No. 11 in 2009 Funny Car point standings, as a Rookie-of-the-Year
frontrunner. Was first finisher outside the Countdown to 1 contenders
* Had two runner-up finishes, 13 first-round, eight quarterfinal, and one
semifinal in 2009
* Qualified on pole twice in 2009: in Sonoma, Calif., and Las Vegas 2
* Has a career round-win record of 16-25
* Qualified No. 14 at '09 Winternationals, lost first round to Ashley Force
Hood
* 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
* 2010 is second 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: 4.030 seconds (Las Vegas 2
2009)
* Fastest speed to 1000 feet so far: 313.88 mph (Las Vegas 2 2009)
* Manages family 500-acre Angus Cattle farm in Virginia

WEEKEND SCHEDULE:  
FRIDAY, Feb. 19  FULL THROTTLE SERIES QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 1:30 p.m. and
4 p.m.
SATURDAY, Feb. 20  FULL THROTTLE SERIES QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 12:30 p.m.
and 3 p.m.
SUNDAY, Feb. 21 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m. FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at
11 a.m.
 
TELEVISION:  
Sunday, Feb. 21, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise two hours of qualifying
highlights at 2 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, Feb. 21, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise NHRA Race Day, a 30-minute
news magazine show, at 11a.m. (ET)
Sunday, Feb. 21, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise three hours of coverage
starting at 7 p.m. (ET).
                   
SATELLITE:    
Friday, Feb. 19, 8:30 - 9 p.m. (ET), AMC 9 / Transponder 24K (12180 MHz,
vertical) (Analog feed)
Saturday, Feb. 20, 9:30 - 10.m. (ET), AMC 9 / Transponder 24K (12180 MHz,
vertical)
Sunday, Feb. 21, 9 - 9:30 p.m. (ET), AMC 9 / Transponder 24K (12180 MHz,
vertical)
Video news release contains race action highlights each day and winners¹
interviews on Sunday.
 
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