Top 10 Funny Car contender Matt Hagan entered the AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals ranked seventh in the Countdown to the Championship point standings and well-aware that his performance at the Texas Motorplex could have a make-or-break effect on his 2019 championship hopes.
Hagan’s plan to put himself solidly back into contention came together perfectly from behind the wheel of the Western Technical College/MOPAR CAP Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody when he knocked out three Countdown competitors to win the 34th running of the Ennis, Texas event.
Hagan’s triumph was the 32nd of his career, third of the year, and third at the facility located outside of Dallas.
With his first win in the Countdown, Hagan jumped from seventh to fourth in the championship standings with two races remaining, including the points-and-a-half format at the season-finale in Pomona, Calif.
“We were carrying the Western Tech and MOPAR CAP colors on this Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody Funny Car this weekend,” said Hagan, a two-time Funny Car world champion. “We had a message of life goals for a lot of students Friday morning, and any time we can reach young kids, it is a great thing. I have a few guys on my car that went through Western Tech, so to see the program come full circle is really awesome.”
The route to Hagan’s fifth final of 2019 was loaded with stout competition. He started his day from the sixth position on the ladder and earned an opening-round triumph over Blake Alexander with a pass of 3.903 seconds, and matched that time precisely in the second round when he put reigning world champion J.R. Todd on the trailer. Crew Chief Dickie Venables continued his master plan by tuning Hagan’s machine to its best pass of the day, 3.900 seconds at 329.83 mph, to take down current point leader Robert Hight, who went red at the starting line during the semifinals.
In a rematch of the 2012 Texas final, Bob Tasca III proved to be no match for Hagan in their 25th career race and third time in a final. Hagan grabbed the starting line advantage and never trailed, leading from start to finish to secure the victory.
Hagan was quick to note that it was a group effort to park the Western Technical College/MOPAR CAP Dodge in the winner’s circle on Sunday, saying “Our DSR teammates were coming over and helping us between rounds, and my hat goes off to them because it’s tough when your car goes out early, and you then have to help someone else win. To see those guys work just as hard on our car as they do on their own car shows the teamwork at DSR and all of the love and passion that we all have for each other.
“I did my job today, the guys did their jobs today, and that’s what happens when you put a good group of people together.”
Qualified: No. 6 (3.890 E.T. at 310.77 MPH)
The Results:
E1: 3.903 E.T. at 329.58 MPH defeated Blake Alexander 4.007 E.T. at 280.19 MPH
E2: 3.903 E.T. at 329.18 MPH defeated J.R. Todd 3.937 E.T. at 325.85 MPH
E3: 3.900 E.T. at 329.83 MPH defeated Robert Hight 9.492 E.T. at 80.86 MPH
E4: 3.909 E.T. at 327.59 MPH defeated Bob Tasca III 3.928 E.T. at 323.12 MPH
DSR PR
