Hagan serious about Sonoma
DON SCHUMACHER RACING
Round 15 of 23
2010 NHRA FULL THROTTLE DRAG RACING SERIES
FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals
Infineon Raceway
Sonoma, Calif.
July 16-18, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Judy Stropus, 203-438-0501; cell 203-243-2438;
jstropus@earthlink.net
HAGAN SERIOUS ABOUT SONOMA
CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. (July 13, 2010) - Matt Hagan is serious about racing at
the FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals in Sonoma, Calif., this weekend. He's got a
strong car under him in the DieHard Dodge Charger Funny Car tuned by Tommy
DeLago, and he's returning to the site of his first No. 1 qualifying effort.
In last year's event at Infineon Raceway, Hagan not only grabbed the pole
but set both ends of the track record: 4.068-second ET and 307.51-mph top
speed.
Hagan is third in the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series point
standings, just 94 markers out of second place (Robert Hight), and is
getting closer to clinching a spot in the Countdown to 1 playoffs, which
begin for the top 10 in the final six events of the year. He is also 135
points behind first-place John Force.
"We made it to the semifinals last week in Seattle, so hopefully we can
carry some of that momentum into Sonoma this weekend," said Hagan, 27, who
manages a 500-acre Angus Cattle farm in Christiansburg, Va. "Sonoma is a
great race track to compete at and the surrounding wine country is awesome.
But, even though it would be nice to taste some of the great wine in that
area, we have to get serious about our racing goals.
"We would love to move up to second place and work our way into first, but
right now we just have to take it one lap at a time. This DieHard car is
running good, the guys are working well together and we have to focus on
getting down the track each time and demonstrate how solid this team really
is.
"We've got the track records at Infineon and I think it would be a great
place to get our third win of the season and assure our place in the
Countdown to 1 playoffs. Even though the points are reset going into the
Countdown, it gives you great confidence to be able to enter the playoffs
carrying some positive momentum. We really would like to lock ourselves into
the Countdown soon, and the quicker can we do that the quicker some of that
pressure comes off us and then we can focus on our run for the
championship."
Hagan is scheduled to throw out the first pitch this Thursday, July 15, at
the San Francisco Giants vs. New York Mets game at AT&T Park in San
Francisco. ³I¹ve never done that before,² said Hagan. ³That¹s going to be a
great opportunity. I started practicing back in Seattle, when I first heard
I would be doing that.²
MATT HAGAN QUICK FACTS:
* No. 3 in 2010 Funny Car standings, after two victories in two final rounds
(four career final rounds), five quarterfinal finishes, three semifinal and
four first rounds in first 14 events of season
* Is 135 points behind leader John Force, 94 in back of Robert Hight in
second
* Qualified No. 1 (his first) in Sonoma in 2009; set both track records:
4.068 seconds for ET; 307.51 mph for top speed
* Lost first round to Cruz Pedregon in 2009 in Sonoma
* Set national top-speed record (to 1000 feet) of 316.15 mph in Gainesville
2010. It has since been eclipsed by Ashley Force Hood with a 316.38 mph
* Set national elapsed-time record in Chicago 2010: 4.022 seconds
* 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
* Low qualifier once so far in 2010, in Gainesville. Qualified on pole twice
in 2009: in Sonoma, Calif., and Las Vegas 2
* Has a career round-win record of 35-37
* 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: 4.022 seconds (Chicago 2010)
* Fastest speed to 1000 feet so far: 316.15 mph (Gainesville 2010)
* Manages family 500-acre Angus Cattle farm in Virginia
SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, July 16 - FULL THROTTLE SERIES qualifying at 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, July 17 - FULL THROTTLE SERIES qualifying at 11:45 a.m. and 2 p.m.
SUNDAY, July 18 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m. FULL THROTTLE SERIES
eliminations begin at 11 a.m.
TELEVISION:
Saturday, July 17, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise two hours of qualifying
highlights at 11 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, July 18, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise NHRA Race Day, a 30-minute
news magazine show, at 1 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, July 18, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise three hours of coverage
starting at 6 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE:
Friday, July 16, 11:30 p.m. - Midnight (ET), AMC 9 / Transponder 5K
(Digital SD feed)
Saturday, July 17, 9:30 - 10 p.m. (ET), AMC 9 / Transponder 5K
Sunday, July 18, 9:30 - 10 p.m. (ET), AMC 9 / Transponder 5K
(11800 MHz, horizontal; Data Rate: 18.295441161 Mbp; Symbol Rate: 13.235 Ms;
FEC: ¾; Bandwidth: 18 Mhz)
Video news release contains race action highlights each day and winners’
interviews on Sunday.
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