The 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Funny Car rookie sensation has come close to claiming his first win this season after reaching the final round in Las Vegas. He has also qualified for every event so far, including five of them in the top half of the field, and posted his season-best starting position of second at the last event in St. Louis. Not only that, he set quickest elapsed time and top speed of the event at Gateway Int'l Raceway. The humble 26-year-old stands sixth in points, just 30 markers out of second place, a slot he held briefly after his Vegas runner-up finish. His Don Schumacher Racing teammate Ron Capps currently has a stronghold on first place.

Hagan is hungry for that first victory. "I think that we have a good race car," he said. "We just have to have some breaks along the way. It takes a lot of skill out here to do what we are doing, but we also have to have a little bit of luck going our way. And I think that when we get that we'll see it all come together and we'll be in the winner's circle.

"I would love to do it in Bristol because it is kind of my hometown track being just a two hours' drive away. Everybody I know is going to be there and I'd love to go out there and qualify well, run well and go as many rounds as possible. And hopefully we can attract a major sponsor who will see how our success and Don Schumacher Racing's resources will benefit them." Hagan lost his primary sponsor early in the season due to the nation's fluctuating economy. "Things change and life's tricky some times," he said. "I'm just fortunate enough that my family is stepping in and allowing me to be able to run this car."

As for his solid results this year, "I think a lot of that comes from (crew chief) Tommy DeLago and Don Schumacher," said Hagan. "Don is letting Tommy do a lot of r&d work back at the race shop and there are a lot of smart guys working at DSR during the week, and it's showing on the race track.

"We have plenty of power, so it's just a matter of applying that power. The entire Shelor.com team and the guys working back at the shop are the ones to thank. When I'm at home working on the farm, they're there finding power for us. And that's what it takes, a good r&d program. And that's what Don Schumacher has put together."

Hagan's limited experience racing at Bristol Dragway has included test runs and competing in Pro Mod and Sportsman events. "I've never raced a nitro Funny Car there, and I'm excited to get there and hear the thunder echo in the valley when the nitro cars run," he said.

MATT HAGAN QUICK FACTS:
* No. 6 in 2009 Funny Car point standings, as Rookie-of-the-Year frontrunner
* Has one first-round, four quarterfinal, one semifinal and one runner-up finish so far in 2009
* Is 149 points behind leader Ron Capps, 30 short of second place
* Entered NHRA Funny Car class four times in 2008, qualifying once at the U.S. Nationals
* 2006 NHRA AMS Pro Mod Challenge Rookie of the Year
* First season with Don Schumacher Racing
* Won class-best three Funny Car events in 2008 IHRA series, ending season third in point standings
* Born Nov. 11, 1982 in Salem, Va., lives in Christiansburg, Va.
* Married to Rachel; one son, Colby (10/27/06), daughter on the way
* Quickest elapsed time to 1000 feet so far: 4.098 seconds (Phoenix 2009)
* Fastest speed to 1000 feet so far: 306.12 mph (Atlanta 2009)
* Manages family 500-acre Angus Cattle farm in Virginia

SCHEDULE:
Pro qualifying sessions are scheduled for 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 15, and 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 16.
Final eliminations begin at noon on Sunday, May 17.

TICKETS:
Tickets are available for the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals by calling Bristol Dragway at (423) 989-6900 or via http://www.bristoldragway.com

ON TV:
ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 6 p.m. (ET) on Saturday May 16.
On Sunday, May 17, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will feature NHRA Race Day, a 30-minute pre-race show, at 11 a.m. (ET), and three hours and 30 minutes of eliminations coverage at 7 p.m. (ET).

Courtesy of Judy Stropus