Hagan takes No. 1 in Denver qualifying

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2010 NHRA FULL THROTTLE DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 16 of 23
MOPAR Mile-High NHRA Nationals
Bandimere Speedway
Morrison, Colo.
July 23-25, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

HAGAN TAKES NO. 1 IN DENVER QUALIFYING

MORRISON, Colo. (July 24, 2010) - Matt Hagan pulled out a
pole-position-securing run in the final round of qualifying for the Mopar
Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway, knocking 14-time champion John
Force off the top spot.

Racing the special Mopar-bodied Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car (his usual mount
is the DieHard Dodge), Hagan collected his second No. 1 of the season, the
fourth of his career, and his first at the Mopar Mile-High Nationals.

His 4.161-second run at 301.33 mph eclipsed Force's 4.191/296.76, set on
Friday night under the lights. Today's final session was held under a cloud
cover on a 90-degree track surface.

On Friday, Hagan posted a tire-smoking 6.445/102.72 (No. 11) and a
4.242/285.59 (No. 6). Today's earlier pass produced a 4.275/288.21, the
third quickest pass of that round, which was good for No. 6 at the time.

"We just have a really great race car," said Hagan, No. 4 in the points
rankings entering the event and two-time winner so far this year. "(Crew
chief) Tommy DeLago is doing such a good job. And we're reaping the benefits
from these crew guys. I can't talk enough about them. They've had a flawless
year this year. It goes up there every time and starts and, knock on wood,
we haven't had any problems. Our guys have really come full circle this year
for us compared to where they were last year.

"Tommy basically said, 'Look, kid. Hang on to it; you never know what's
going to happen up there.' He said he was going to get after it and he did.

"It went out there and [the clutch] tried to get one-to-one and when it did
that it just took off. All I could do is keep it in the groove and hang on
to it until the win light came on.

"We should have been in the last two finals also," he said of his semifinal
finishes at the last two events in Seattle and Sonoma, Calif. "Woulda,
coulda, shoulda, but didn't. We're just kind of creeping up on it and having
fun along with it.

"With this being the Mopar Mile-High Nationals and having us No.1 in Funny
car and Allen Johnson No. 1 in Pro Stock, how does it get any better as far
as qualifying goes? Obviously tomorrow we have to go out and win the race. I
know Don (Schumacher, team owner) is excited about it, and we're excited.

"No. 1 kind of comes with a bad omen, so I'd like to have been 2 or 3, to be
honest with you. It's nice to be No. 1, [but] sometimes that seems to bite
you on race day."

Hagan faces No. 16 qualifier Jack Wyatt in the opening round of Sunday's
eliminations.

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