Hagan disappointed with early loss after winning U.S. Nationals pole
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'Gremlins' get in the way of history-making chance for Hagan,
former champ more concerned with team's success in playoff
BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Sept. 4, 2017) - Matt Hagan missed his shot of making NHRA U.S.
Nationals on Monday, but when his race day was over it was the last thing on his
mind.
After winning the pole and trophy a year ago at the year's biggest event, he took
the first step by qualifying No. 1 again but the driver of the 80th Anniversary
Mopar/Express Lane Dodge Charger R/T wasn't able to take the first step in becoming
the first driver ever to win the pole and trophy in successive years.
Losing in a first round in two straight races is not the back-to-back results he
expected.
"Super unfortunate," he said of opening round losses two weeks ago at Brainerd,
Minn., and Monday in the 63rd edition of the U.S. Nationals near Indianapolis.
"We've got us a real good racecar. It's one of those things where the last two races
it's been just little gremlins that are eating us alive right now."
The three-time winner this year with crew chief Dickie Venables and assistant Michael
Knudsen will be seeded third for the six-race Countdown to the Championship when
the playoff begins in two weeks near Charlotte.
Hagan, who won the world title in 2011 and 2014, could have moved up to the No.
2 position but will start 40 points behind Don Schumacher Racing teammate Ron Capps
when points are reset for the Countdown. He finishes the regular season 250 behind
Capps.
"We've taken a hit in the points because of going out in the first round two races
in a row," Hagan said. "The car's qualified great, it runs great. The last two races
we've qualified first and second (at Brainerd).
"It's just hard to take those kinds of hits and not be upset about it. We all care,
we all get frustrated, but we've got to get ready to run for a championship and
that's getting these little bugs and things out of the way so we can make it happen
for these next six races.
"There are no do-overs. This all comes down to these last six races and it has to
be a well-oiled machine and we'll get there. But at least we've still got the Countdown
coming up and we'll make it happen."
MATT HAGAN, 80th Anniversary Mopar/Express Lane Dodge Charger R/T
Crew chief: Dickie Venables; assistant crew chief: Michael Knudsen
MONDAY CHAMPIONSHIP ELIMINATIONS
First round: Jim Campbell (5.008 sec., 164.83) def. HAGAN (10.951, 77.59)
QUALIFYING
Qualified: No. 1
FRIDAY: 3.799 sec., 338.77 mph - track records, (Session 1 of 5)
SATURDAY: 3.848m 336.23, (Session 2 of 5); 3.821, 337.83, (Session 3 of 5)
SUNDAY: 3.918, 331.45, (Session 4 of 5); 3.905, 329.83, (Session 5 of 5)
Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ
W/L
2017 3rd 18 3 1 6
4 4 4 0 31-15
CAREER 210 25 23 34 66
60 30 4 296-181
Career best time, speed: 3.802 sec. (2017,Topeka); 338.85 mph (2017, Topeka)
INDY BY THE NUMBERS
A year ago at Indy: Qualified No. 1, won in championship round over Del Worsham
Career at Indy: Wins 1 (2016); Runner-ups 0; Poles 5 (2010, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017)
FUNNY CAR STANDINGS
2017 COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP
1. RON CAPPS (6) 2,100 -----
2. Robert Hight (2) 2,080 -20
3. MATT HAGAN (3) 2,070 -30
4. JACK BECKMAN (2) 2,060 -40
5. TOMMY JOHNSON JR. 2,050 -50
6. Courtney Force 2,040 -60
7. John Force (1) 2,030 -70
8. J.R. Todd (2) 2,000 -80
9. Tim Wilkerson 2,010 -90
10. Cruz Pedregon 2,000 -100
FINAL 2017 NHRA MELLO YELLO REGULAR SEASON
1. RON CAPPS (6) 1,530
2. Robert Hight (2) 1,344
3. MATT HAGAN (3) 1,280
4. JACK BECKMAN (2) 1,275
5. TOMMY JOHNSON JR. (1) 1,229
6. Courtney Force 1,072
7. John Force (1) 1,007
9. J.R. Todd (2) 959
8. Tim Wilkerson 902
10. Cruz Pedregon 730
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About the Mopar Brand
Mopar (a simple contraction of the words Motor and PARts) was trademarked in 1937
with the launch of an antifreeze product but truly made its mark in the 1960s during
the muscle-car era. From Mopar Performance Parts to enhance speed and handling for
both road and racing use, the brand soon expanded to include technical service and
customer support.
Today, Mopar is FCA's service, parts and customer-care brand and distributes more
than 500,000 parts and accessories in more than 130 markets, integrating service,
parts and customer-care operations in order to enhance dealer and customer support
worldwide. Mopar is the source for genuine parts and accessories for FCA brands.
Mopar parts are unique in that they are engineered with the same teams that create
factory-authorized vehicle specifications for FCA vehicles - a direct connection
that no other aftermarket parts company can provide. A complete list of Mopar accessories
and performance parts is available at www.mopar.com.
About Don Schumacher Racing
Don Schumacher Racing, headquartered in Brownsburg, Ind., fields seven professional
NHRA teams. In Top Fuel, the U.S. Army dragster driven by eight-time world champion
Tony Schumacher, the Matco Tools dragster driven by three-time world champion Antron
Brown and the Papa John's Top Fuel dragster driven by Leah Pritchett; and in Funny
Car, 2011 and 2014 world champion Matt Hagan in the Mopar Express Lane Dodge Charger
R/T, 2012 NHRA world champion Jack Beckman in Terry Chandler's Infinite Hero Foundation
Dodge, the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge driven by 2016 Funny Car champion Ron Capps and
Chandler's Make-A-Wish Dodge driven by Tommy Johnson Jr.
DSR has won 314 NHRA national event titles and 16 world championships.
Follow Don Schumacher Racing at ShoeRacing.com, on Twitter at @shoeracing and Facebook.com/shoeracing
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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Jeff Wolf (wolfj@shoeracing.com), 702.524.1368
Leah Vaughn (vaughnl@shoeracing.com), 618.516.1988
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