Hagan focused on first win in Gainesville
DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2010 NHRA FULL THROTTLE DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 3 of 23
41st annual NHRA GATORNATIONALS
Gainesville (Fla.) Raceway
March 12-14, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Judy Stropus, 203-438-0501; cell 203-243-2438;
jstropus@earthlink.net
HAGAN FOCUSED ON FIRST WIN IN GAINESVILLE
CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. (March 11, 2010) - Matt Hagan and the DieHard Dodge
Charger Funny Car team are focusing on earning their first victory as a
second-year team at this weekend's 41st annual NHRA Gatornationals.
Hagan came on strong in the first two events of the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle
Drag Racing Series, qualifying fifth in Pomona (Calif.) and second in
Phoenix, where he also set top speed. He finished in the quarterfinals in
both events. The 27-year-old Angus Cattle farmer can taste that first win.
"We definitely have a front-running car," said Hagan. "To go out there and
qualify that well has been a great start to the year. Now we just have to go
out there and race well on Sunday.
"I'll trade all my qualifying points in for race-winning points on Sunday.
We've proven we can qualify well and be in the front of the pack; it's time
to go out there and show everybody that we can start going rounds and
winning some races.
"I'm super-excited about racing at the Gatornationals this weekend, and I
know that Tommy (DeLago, crew chief) is working hard to get us in the
winner's circle. I'm looking forward to having some great weather and
hopefully some great races.
As for having shed his rookie status, "I think I've proven that I can handle
a race car," he said. "It's just a matter of going out there and getting the
reputation of being able to do the same thing every time, and be relaxed in
the car. I think I can stand face to face with anybody out there.
"We definitely were in many different situations last year and I got to
experience a lot of new things, like what goes on in the car, good and bad.
So, I feel pretty comfortable in the car and I'm confident in myself that I
can go out there and do what we need to do to win.
"It would be huge for me to win in Gainesville. It's pretty close to home
and it's such a historic race. A lot of my family will be there, and it
would be awesome to get that first race win in front of them."
MATT HAGAN QUICK FACTS:
* No. 5 in 2010 Funny Car standings, after two quarterfinal finishes in
first two events of season
* Qualified No. 7 in 2009 Gatornationals; lost semifinal to Tony Pedregon
* 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 17-26
* 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, March 12 FULL THROTTLE SERIES qualifying at noon and 2:45 p.m.
SATURDAY, March 13 FULL THROTTLE SERIES qualifying at noon and 2:45 p.m.
SUNDAY, March 14 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m. FULL THROTTLE SERIES
eliminations begin at 11 a.m.
TELEVISION:
Sunday, March 14, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise two hours of qualifying
highlights at midnight (ET).
Sunday, March 14, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will re-air the two-hour qualifying
highlights show at 10 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, March 14, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise NHRA Race Day, a 30-minute
news magazine show, at noon (ET).
Sunday, March 14, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise three hours of coverage
starting at 6 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE:
Friday, March 12, 7:30 - 8 p.m. (ET), AMC 6 / Transponder 21K (11920 MHz,
vertical) (Analog feed)
Saturday, March 13, 7 - 7:30 p.m. (ET), AMC 6 / Transponder 21K (11920 MHz,
vertical)
Sunday, March 14, 7 - 7:30 p.m. (ET), AMC 6 / Transponder 21K (11920 MHz,
vertical)
Video news release contains race action highlights each day and winnersą
interviews on Sunday.
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