{"id":13188,"date":"2017-10-11T21:31:20","date_gmt":"2017-10-12T02:31:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=13188"},"modified":"2017-10-11T21:31:20","modified_gmt":"2017-10-12T02:31:20","slug":"two-time-funny-car-world-champ-matt-hagan-ready-for-overdue-hot-streak-to-start-at-aaa-texas-nhra-fallnationals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2017\/10\/11\/two-time-funny-car-world-champ-matt-hagan-ready-for-overdue-hot-streak-to-start-at-aaa-texas-nhra-fallnationals\/","title":{"rendered":"Two-time Funny Car world champ Matt Hagan ready for overdue hot streak to start at AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals"},"content":{"rendered":"

Courtesy of the NHRA<\/em><\/p>\n

ENNIS, Texas \u2013 Matt Hagan<\/strong> has been on enough hot streaks in his standout career \u2013 including one to open the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series<\/a> season \u2013 to know how quickly they can change the complexion of the season. Looking to end the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship with a bang, Hagan hopes there\u2019s one more hot streak waiting for him this year.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Matt Hagan. NHRA photo<\/p><\/div>\n

Hagan opened 2017 with back-to-back wins and he would like nothing more to finish it in similar fashion, starting with this weekend\u2019s AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals at Texas Motorplex, where Hagan is the defending winner. The first half of the NHRA\u2019s six-race playoffs hasn\u2019t gone Hagan\u2019s way in his 10,000-horsepower Mopar Express Lane Dodge Charger R\/T powered by Pennzoil, but Hagan has plenty of belief his chase for a third world championship isn\u2019t over yet.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe feel really good going to Dallas and if you click one off, maybe you can get in that groove of going rounds,\u201d said Hagan, who currently trails defending world champ Ron Capps by 157 points. \u201cWe\u2019ve not won since the beginning of the year and with the type of car and people we have on this team, you feel like you\u2019re due for a win. It\u2019s going to be tough and we\u2019ve got a tough road ahead of us, but we\u2019re not out of hope. We\u2019ve seen crazy stuff happen and we\u2019re never going to give up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"

Matt Hagan. NHRA photo<\/p><\/div>\n

Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Hagan (Funny Car), Drew Skillman (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year\u2019s winners of the event that will be televised on FOX Sports 1 (FS1), including live finals coverage starting at 2:00 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, Oct. 15. It is the fourth of six playoff events and Hagan is ready to snap a winless streak that has reached 12 races.<\/p>\n

The team, led by crew chief Dickie Venables, has had plenty of spectacular moments, qualifying No. 1 twice in that span, including a 3.799 at Indy, but they haven\u2019t visited the winner\u2019s circle since early June. Hagan has one semifinal appearances in the Countdown to the Championship, but had a second-round exit at the most recent race in St. Louis, which puts even more focus on a big performance in Dallas in hopes of a last-ditch attempt at tracking down Capps.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going to go in there and do the best job we can and finish as strong as we can,\u201d said Hagan, who has 25 career wins. \u201cThere\u2019s always that hope and with Dickie and this team, I feel like if anybody can do it we can. We\u2019ve had some rough luck, but that\u2019s racing and there\u2019s nobody that hasn\u2019t given 100 percent. We\u2019re going to keep coming out and doing the best job we can.\u201d <\/p>\n

In addition to trying to chase down his Don Schumacher Racing teammate, Hagan also has to deal with the likes of Courtney Force and Robert Hight, who trail Capps by 108 and 46 points, respectively. Hagan does have the luxury of two previous Dallas wins, but he\u2019s also well aware that those victories don\u2019t have a major effect on success in 2017 at the Texas Motorplex. He\u2019s expecting things will be fast and Hagan knows his team can put up big numbers this weekend.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s why our sport is so competitive, it\u2019s always changing and evolving,\u201d Hagan said. \u201cHopefully we can have a good weekend. That\u2019s why you get in these cars. If we can finish on a good note, that would be awesome. We\u2019ve got the key people in place. We have to go out there and earn it. We\u2019ve backed ourselves in a little corner, but hopefully we can go out and finish strong.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brown remains in the hunt for his third straight Top Fuel crown, but he must track down red-hot points leader and Texan Steve Torrence, who picked up his eighth win of 2017 in St. Louis.<\/p>\n

Skillman has four Pro Stock wins this season, but has yet to break through in the Countdown. Greg Anderson grabbed the points lead with a St. Louis win, while Bo Butner sits just three points back.<\/p>\n

Krawiec had been red-hot in Pro Stock Motorcycle, winning three straight races, before LE Tonglet won in St. Louis to pull within 16 points. Andrew Hines sits 72 points back.<\/p>\n

The AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals will also feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. After Nitro qualifying, stick around to see the spectacular Larsen Motorsports jet dragsters sponsored by Florida Tech and Matrix System. Known for their exciting pre-run flame shows and after burner pops, jet cars are thrust driven vehicles propelled by jet engines.<\/p>\n

As always, fans can interact with their favorite drivers with an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. This unique opportunity gives fans direct access to the teams, allowing them to see the highly-skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds, and get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers. Fans can also visit NHRA\u2019s popular Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create a carnival atmosphere with interactive displays, simulated competitions, merchandise, food and fun for the entire family.<\/p>\n

Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 2:15 and 5:15 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 13, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Oct. 14, at 1:15 and 4:15 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 15.<\/p>\n

To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, call 800-668-6775. Tickets also are available online at www.texasmotorplex.com. Kids<\/a> 12 and under are free in general admission areas with a paid adult. To honor the Salute to First Responders, military and first responders can save 20 percent on general admission tickets at the gate. For info about the NHRA visit www.NHRA.com.  <\/a><\/p>\n

AAA TEXAS NHRA FALLNATIONALS<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

WHAT:<\/strong> 32nd annual AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals, the 22nd of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and the fourth of six races in the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship playoffs. Drivers in four categories – Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle – earn points leading to 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championships.<\/p>\n

WHERE:<\/strong> Texas Motorplex, Ennis, Texas. The track is located at 7500 W. Highway 287.<\/p>\n

COURSE:<\/strong>   Championship drag strip; Track elevation is 500 feet above sea level; Track direction is southwest to northeast.<\/p>\n

WHEN:<\/strong> Thursday through Sunday, Oct. 12-15<\/p>\n

SCHEDULE:
\n<\/strong>THURSDAY, Oct. 12 – LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying<\/p>\n

FRIDAY, Oct. 13 – LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying
\nMELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 2:15 and 5:15 p.m.<\/p>\n

SATURDAY, Oct. 14 – LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations 
\nMELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 1:15 p.m. and 4:15 p.m.<\/p>\n

SUNDAY, Oct. 15 – Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m. 
\nMELLO YELLO SERIES eliminations begin at 11 a.m.<\/p>\n

TELEVISION:<\/strong> 
\nFriday, Oct. 13, FS1 will televise one hour of live qualifying coverage at 6:00 p.m. (ET).
\n Sunday, Oct. 15, FS1 will televise one hour of qualifying coverage at 2:30 a.m. (ET).
\nSunday, Oct. 15, FS1 will televise three hours of live finals coverage starting at 2 p.m. (ET).<\/p>\n

2016 EVENT WINNERS:<\/strong>
\nAntron Brown, Top Fuel; Matt Hagan, Funny Car; Drew Skillman, Pro Stock; Eddie Krawiec, Pro Stock Motorcycle.<\/p>\n

MOST VICTORIES:<\/strong> 
\nJohn Force, FC, 7; Tony Schumacher, TF, 6; Warren Johnson, PS, 5; Cruz Pedregon, FC, 4; Greg Anderson, PS, 4.<\/p>\n

TRACK RECORDS:<\/strong> 
\nTop Fuel – 3.682 sec. and 330.55 mph by Antron Brown, Oct. \u201916
\n Funny Car – 3.839 sec. by Robert Hight, Oct. \u201916; 333.66 mph by Jack Beckman, Oct. \u201916
\n Pro Stock – 6.457 sec. and 214.59 mph by Greg Anderson, Oct. \u201915
\n Pro Stock Motorcycle – 6.744 sec. and 198.99 mph by Jerry Savoie, Oct. \u201915<\/p>\n

NATIONAL RECORDS:<\/strong> 
\nTop Fuel – 3.631 sec. by Clay Millican, Sept. \u201817, Brainerd; 333.66 mph by Brittany Force, May \u201817, Topeka, Kan.
\nFunny Car – 3.793 sec. by Robert Hight, Aug. ’17, Brainerd; 339.87 mph by Robert Hight, July \u201917, Sonoma, Calif. 
\nPro Stock – 6.455 sec. by Jason Line, March ’15, Charlotte, N.C.;  215.55 mph by Erica Enders, May \u201814, Englishtown N.J.
\nPS Motorcycle – 6.728 sec. by Andrew Hines, Oct. \u201912, Reading, Pa.; 199.88 mph by Hector Arana Jr., March \u201915, Charlotte, N.C.
\n   
\nTICKETS:<\/strong> For tickets call (800) 668-6775. Tickets are also available at www.texasmotorplex.com<\/a>.   <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Courtesy of the NHRA ENNIS, Texas \u2013 Matt Hagan has been on enough hot streaks in his standout career \u2013 including one to open the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season \u2013 to know how quickly they can change the complexion of the season. Looking to end the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13190,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[4],"tags":[333,197,6,328],"class_list":["post-13188","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nhra","tag-aaa-texas-nhra-fallnationals","tag-matt-hagan","tag-nhra","tag-texas-motorplex"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Hagan_Matt_Action_2017.jpg?fit=2250%2C1497&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-3qI","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13188","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13188"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13188\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13191,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13188\/revisions\/13191"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13190"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13188"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13188"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13188"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}