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POMONA, Calif. -- Capps
But trailing Don Schumacher Racing teammate Ron Capps by 86 points, Hagan knows he would need one of the most fortunate weekends in class history in his 10,000-horsepower Mopar Express Lane/Rocky Boots Dodge Charger R/T to deny Capps his first career world title. A few different results during the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship might have meant a different story, but Hagan can also appreciate the type of season Capps has enjoyed leading into the 2016 finale. "Honestly, it's a long shot and we know that," Hagan said. "If we would have won Vegas, then maybe we roll in with a licking our chops-type feeling, but it's a tall order now. There's some rounds in the Countdown that just didn't go our way. At the end of the day, I want it to be me (that wins a championship), but if it can't be me, I'm glad it's Capps. He was one of the first guys who picked up the phone when I joined DSR. The dude is genuine and legit, and hats off to them, they've done a great job all year."
The world championship might have slipped out of Hagan's grasp with a handful of close losses in the Countdown to the Championship, but he also won four times, including his first Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, and set both ends of the national record (3.822 seconds and 335.57 mph). He's also part of a DSR group that includes Capps, Jack Beckman and Tommy Johnson Jr. that could finish in the top four spots in points. "We've basically dominated Funny Car and that's what Don wants," said Hagan, who has four of DSR's 13 Funny Car wins in 2016. "You can't ask for anything more that. For us, it's not been a bad year. Winning the U.S. Nationals is a feather in our cap and we've got a real strong shot at finishing second with a possibility for first. We just never hit that point where we dominated. But I'm super proud of every one of these guys and we have nothing to hang our heads about. Everyone here gave 100 percent all season."
"It's certainly not a done deal," said Capps, who has five wins and 10 final round appearances in 2016. "It's by far not over. We still need to get there and do our business and clinch it. I've seen some pretty miraculous things happen at Pomona over the years, and we definitely don't want to be one of those statistics." Antron Brown clinched his second straight Top Fuel world championship in Vegas and will try to end his banner year with his eighth win in 2016. Two former Pro Stock champions, Greg Anderson and Jason Line, are in a tight points battle, with Line and his eight wins this season leading Anderson by just 19 points.
The Auto Club NHRA Finals also features competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. As always, fans have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers as they're granted an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying feature two rounds at 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 11, and two final qualifying rounds on Saturday, Nov. 12, at 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 13. Tickets are available at www.NHRA.com/tickets or by calling 1-800-884-NHRA. Kids 12 & under can see it all for free with a general admission ticket, while all students can save 50 percent on general admission at the gate with a student ID.
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