HAGAN’S UPHILL BATTLE
Tue, 2008-10-14 12:29
Prior Oil down Penalties Will Make This Weekend’s Championship Battle Tougher
Nitro Funny Car rookie Matt Hagan would love to be a lot closer in the final championship battle this weekend in Rockingham, N.C. At 65 points in arrears, Hagan is facing the toughest battle of his fledgling career.
One DNQ and more than a handful of oil down penalties have worked against his quest to overtake leader Terry Haddock.
"We've been penalized more than all of the other drivers in the top 12 combined," explained Hagan. Prior Oil down Penalties Will Make This Weekend’s Championship Battle Tougher
Nitro Funny Car rookie Matt Hagan would love to be a lot closer in the final championship battle this weekend in Rockingham, N.C. At 65 points in arrears, Hagan is facing the toughest battle of his fledgling career.
One DNQ and more than a handful of oil down penalties have worked against his quest to overtake leader Terry Haddock.
"We've been penalized more than all of the other drivers in the top 12 combined," explained Hagan.
Hagan questions some of those penalties but refuses to allow the negativity to permeate his championship mindset.
"Racing in this IHRA Funny Car class has been a wonderful experience for us," Hagan says. "I hope the rumors that it might be going away are not true because this is a great class for the fans and drivers and it has given us an opportunity to get started in the Nitro ranks."
IHRA President Aaron Polburn told CompetitionPlus.com last week that if sponsorship for the class isn’t procured, it will be shelved following the 2008 season.
That’s a huge factor in Hagan wanting to capture the championship, that and the lure of being the champion drives him. The end result is the battle will be left to circumstance.
"We've heard all of the different ways the scenarios can play out, as far as what it would take for us to pass Haddock or hold off Lee and Kelley," said Hagan. "Personally, I know the only thing we have control over is having the best race we can and at the end of the day we'll see where everyone ends up."
Hagan has won three events this season including the IHRA Springnationals earlier this season in Rockingham, N.C.
Nitro Funny Car rookie Matt Hagan would love to be a lot closer in the final championship battle this weekend in Rockingham, N.C. At 65 points in arrears, Hagan is facing the toughest battle of his fledgling career.
One DNQ and more than a handful of oil down penalties have worked against his quest to overtake leader Terry Haddock.
"We've been penalized more than all of the other drivers in the top 12 combined," explained Hagan. Prior Oil down Penalties Will Make This Weekend’s Championship Battle Tougher
Nitro Funny Car rookie Matt Hagan would love to be a lot closer in the final championship battle this weekend in Rockingham, N.C. At 65 points in arrears, Hagan is facing the toughest battle of his fledgling career.
One DNQ and more than a handful of oil down penalties have worked against his quest to overtake leader Terry Haddock.
"We've been penalized more than all of the other drivers in the top 12 combined," explained Hagan.
Hagan questions some of those penalties but refuses to allow the negativity to permeate his championship mindset.
"Racing in this IHRA Funny Car class has been a wonderful experience for us," Hagan says. "I hope the rumors that it might be going away are not true because this is a great class for the fans and drivers and it has given us an opportunity to get started in the Nitro ranks."
IHRA President Aaron Polburn told CompetitionPlus.com last week that if sponsorship for the class isn’t procured, it will be shelved following the 2008 season.
That’s a huge factor in Hagan wanting to capture the championship, that and the lure of being the champion drives him. The end result is the battle will be left to circumstance.
"We've heard all of the different ways the scenarios can play out, as far as what it would take for us to pass Haddock or hold off Lee and Kelley," said Hagan. "Personally, I know the only thing we have control over is having the best race we can and at the end of the day we'll see where everyone ends up."
Hagan has won three events this season including the IHRA Springnationals earlier this season in Rockingham, N.C.
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