Since switching to the 1,000-foot distance in the nitro categories almost a decade ago, two-time Funny Car champion Matt Hagan has been a part of his fair share of firsts in the class.

He was the first in the 3.90s. He was the first in the 3.80s. He was the first to top the 330 mph mark.

But the latest barrier, a dip into the coveted 3.70s? That record eluded him - by a single pass.

Hagan became only the second driver to run in the 3.70s Friday evening during the first round of qualifying at the 63rd annual Chevrolet Performance NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway - just a couple weeks after Robert Hight became the first in Brainerd - running a 3.799 at 338.77 mph to top Funny Car qualifying.

It was both exhilarating and bittersweet for the Virginia native to achieve the mark, but falling two weeks too late.

“What a fun ride to hang on to,” an excited Hagan said. “It is out there digging, it is floating, it is hunting and you are just trying not to make too many moves on a run like that. Obviously we missed the 70s, just barely. We were the first in the 90s, first in the 80s, and then second in the 70s. That is just how it goes sometimes. But it is also what drives you to be the best you can be.

“Sometimes when you come up short it makes you dig even harder. It is like a kick in the butt. That is how our team works best.”

Hagan’s chart-topping lap during the first of five qualifying sessions this weekend clocked in just ahead of Robert Hight, who ran a 3.827 at 330.96 to place the Auto Club Chevrolet Camaro second on the charts. As the season has progressed, Hagan and Hight, along with their respective crew chiefs Dickie Venables and Jimmy Prock, have developed a friendly little war between them as the pair have traded records, fast laps and even a few wins.

“Robert is right in the mix with us right now. That car is running good and our car is running good. It is a throwdown right now in qualifying with me and Robert, Dickie Venables and Jimmy Prock. I have a lot of respect for Robert as a driver. It is an awesome feeling to strap yourself to that car, look over at the eyes of the person across the way and they are like, ‘hang on brother.’

“He is capable, smart enough to do it and we have the technology and the resources and the people to do it. It is just a matter of the conditions being there. I’m just very blessed to have a guy like Dickie in my corner as a guy who can get it done on any given day and in any conditions.”

Courtney Force was third on Friday with a 3.847 at 302.28 mph, with John Force (3.849) and J.R. Todd (3.865) rounding out the top five.

With four more hits at the track, including another evening session on Saturday, Hagan and the Mopar team are excited to see where the pieces fall come Sunday, especially on a brand new chassis with only three runs on it.

“The boss gave the OK tonight. We have another run on Saturday, so the crew chiefs were told to get after it,” Hagan said. “That is one thing Dickie knows how to do is get after it. That is only the third hit on that chassis. We came out here with brand new pipe, tested it, made two hits and Dickie says put it in the box. We pull it back out here at the nationals and it runs a 79.

“To the guys at the fab shop at DSR, the guys and girls putting everything together, this speaks volumes.”