Hagan misses in Norwalk opening round

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2010 NHRA FULL THROTTLE DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 13 of 23
Fourth annual NHRA Nationals
Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park
Norwalk, Ohio
June 25-27, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

HAGAN MISSES IN NORWALK OPENING ROUND

NORWALK, Ohio (June 27, 2010) - After a solid No. 2 qualifying effort at the
fourth annual NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio, Matt Hagan finally lost to
Jeff Arend, against whom he had a 6-0 season record entering this event.

Hagan nailed Arend at the starting lights with a .076 reaction time (.000 is
perfect) to Arend's .105, but it wasn't enough to take the win, as the
DieHard Dodge Charger Funny Car lost traction and a cylinder early. Hagan
attempted to pedal it, but time ran out as Arend, who also lost a cylinder,
made it to the finish stripe first in 4.405 seconds at 280.02 mph to Hagan's
losing 4.753/236.05.

"I pedaled it, and it put a bunch more cylinders out and I was trying to
save a messed-up run,² said Hagan, who holds on to third place in the NHRA
Full Throttle Drag Racing Series class point standings. ³We thought the left
lane was a good lane, but it wouldn't hold what we were trying to run. Bob
Tasca smoked the tires right behind us, too. Maybe there was something in
the lane.

"Tommy (DeLago, crew chief) wasn't looking for that, obviously, and neither
was I. We've been against Arend a bunch of times this year and beat him. I
guess when you roll the dice sometimes you crap out. We rolled that No. 7
today and now we have to get back after it.

"We have a bunch of racing still ahead of us (four races before the
Countdown to 1 playoffs kick in). I've got a lot of confidence in Tommy.
We're hoping to keep the ball rolling and put this behind us and move
forward."

Next up is the 23rd NHRA Northwest Nationals in Kent, Wash., July 9-11.

UNOFFICIAL FUNNY CAR POINT STANDINGS, after 13 of 23 events:
1. John Force, 1024 (runner-up today)
2. Robert Hight, 951
3. Matt Hagan, 849
4. Jack Beckman, 835
5. Ashley Force Hood, 813
6. Bob Tasca III, 792
7. Tim Wilkerson, 777 (winner today)
8. Ron Capps, 751
9. Del Worsham, 741
10. Tony Pedregon, 637

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