Sometimes, the answer to all of life's problems is just to go fast.

Following a turbulent offseason for two-time champion Matt Hagan, one that included the joy of welcoming his third child into the world and the sorrow following the unexpected passing of his brother, Kyle, Hagan was more than ready to get back behind the wheel and use the therapeutic powers of a 10,000 horsepower, fire-breathing Funny Car to calm his nerves.

“It’s obviously been a long winter,” Hagan said. “I lost my brother about a month ago and I have just been chomping at the bit to put a mouthpiece in and put a helmet on. I’ve had a lot of frustration and have been ready to take it out on the race track.”

And he did just that on Friday.

Hagan drove his Mopar Express Lane/Rocky Boots Dodge Charger R/T to the top of the Funny Car ladder on day one of the NHRA Circle K Winternationals, putting down a stout 3.840-second lap at 330.15 mph to lead qualifying Friday at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.

Hagan’s chart-topping pass came during session one of Funny Car qualifying as persistent rains forced the cancellation of the second round of professional qualifying midway through the Funny Car session.

“It’s really nice to come out here and, right out of the box, run an 84,” Hagan said. “We ran some 86s in testing and Dickie (Venables) worked off of that and we had great conditions out here. Obviously, it is one of those runs where you know you have to get it in so it is a pressure-filled situation. It needs to go down the track and you need to get qualified because we have got this rain coming in. We were all suited up and ready to make that other run and I was just so bummed.

“Unfortunately, you are strapped in there, ready to go and you don’t get it in. You hate it for our fans. I am just really glad we ran strong in our first run. Hopefully we can come out here tomorrow and run strong again. We have got a fast hot rod and I am excited about the year ahead.”

Courtney Force, debuting her new Advance Auto Parts-sponsored Chevy Camaro, was second with a 3.849 at 330.23 mph and Tim Wilkerson, one of the few drivers to get in a second qualifying pass on Friday, was third with a 3.857 at 322.65 mph. Alexis DeJoria (3.932) and J.R. Todd (3.936) round out the top five.

While Friday’s strong opening statement was certainly a boost for Hagan, he was most excited to show his team that he is ready to get back to work.

“I have got a lot of emotions, a lot of things going on in my mind this year, but it is one of those things where you have to have a way to channel that and put it in a direction where it is going to be positive,” Hagan said. “I am ready to go racing. You want your guys to know you are focused and you are ready to go racing, that you are not thinking about other things that are going on in your life. I think they know that.

“It’s been a long winter, so I am just proud to put on that Mopar shirt and get out there and mash the gas.”

And it certainly doesn’t end with a strong run on Friday. Hagan believes there is even more in store when the teams hit the track on Saturday.

“We went 84 and the national record is 82. We were knocking on the door right there,” Hagan said. “I was all suited up and ready to go, thinking we are going to run an 80-something or a 79 with the conditions out here, and then the raindrops hit the windshield. I mean, you come to California and it rains, that never happens.

“But we have tomorrow. The track is there and I think we are going to see some great numbers.”