His name is bunched up and in line with the best in the sport. And it’s starting to stand out.
Matt Hagan might be a rookie in the National Hot Rod Association Funny Car series. But heading into this weekend’s Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway in Bristol, Tenn., Hagan ranks sixth in the standings with 413 points. And the 26-year-old Christiansburg, Va., native is holding his own against premier drivers such as Ron Capps, Ashley Force Hood, Tim Wilkerson and John Force.
“I’ve really had a great year,” Hagan said. “We’re right there in the front running of this deal and I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
Hagan has yet to post a win in the Funny Car series. But he’s come close. He’s already made a final round, and his command of his Shelor Dodge vehicle has allowed Hagan to post a top speed of 306.12 miles per hour while pushing Hagan to the front of the rookie-of-the-year competition.
Hagan credited crew chief Tommy DeLago with having the biggest impact on his strong season, calling DeLago a “great tuner.”
“[He] really puts a fast race car underneath us,” Hagan said.
Hagan said the main difference between Funny Car and other NHRA series is the level of competition. According to Hagan, obtaining a single victory in Funny Car seems like a dream.
“When you get a win, that’s what makes it so special,” said Hagan, whose angus cattle farm business helps support his NHRA racing habit. “Don’t get me wrong – all the classes are very competitive.
But Funny Car class … all these guys are here to win and they don’t play around.”
Hagan has been able to run with the best all season. As a result, his name has been lumped in with other hot-shot NHRA rookies, such as Spencer Massey and Shawn Langdon. But Hagan said his primary concern is carving out an identity of his own.
“It’s one of those things where it’s so easy to get caught up in that, just like the points chase,” Hagan said. “And I think you’ve just got to step back and just do your thing. And don’t worry about that; it’s going to fall where it’s going to fall. And I think the more you worry about it, it’s easier to do worse, because you’re so wrapped up in it.”
To answer the pressure and expectations, Hagan said he’s tried to keep his job simple: drive; stay consistent; get his car from one end of the track to the other.
“[I’m] trying to cut a good light out there,” said Hagan, who started racing four-wheelers as a teenager. “The rest is going to come into play.”
Hagan said time and patience are hard things to learn in the fast-paced world of NHRA. But his desire for both shows he’s wiser and older than his rookie status. And Hagan’s wisdom and self-reliance should keep his name among the best in the Funny Car series for years to come.
“It’s been a very humbling sport for me,” Hagan said. “But it’s also been a very positive sport. You’re around so many great people and you learn to interact with all these great people and their stories. And when you put good people around you, good things happen. And that’s kind of what has happened so far.”
btsmith@bristolnews.com|(276) 645-2569
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