Everybody in NHRA circles knows about the physique of nitro Funny Car driver Matt Hagan.
The legendary John Force is aware of his rival’s fitness, referring to him as “Hulk Hagan.”
Everybody in NHRA circles knows about the physique of nitro Funny Car driver Matt Hagan.
The legendary John Force is aware of his rival’s fitness, referring to him as “Hulk Hagan.”
Hagan, 31, has no designs on being a body builder, and he does have a sense of humor about it.
“Right now it (his workout routine) is cupcakes, donuts and cereal,” Hagan said with a laugh.
Hagan has been driving a nitro Funny Car for Don Schumacher Racing full-time since 2009, highlighted by him winning the 2011 NHRA world championship.
And, his success has nothing to do with cupcakes and donuts.
According to Hagan, he lost around 30 or 40 pounds since he started working out.
“I put some weight back on and hopefully more muscle than fat,” Hagan said. “Every day I struggle with it. I like to eat sweet stuff like everybody else and you just have to learn not to eat so much of it. I have a long ways to go still, but you have the rest of your life to worry about it.”
Hagan has a workout routine he follows which includes him bench-pressing 315 pounds for four sets of eight.
“I’m just trying to stay fit,” Hagan said. “Here lately I haven’t been in the gym that much with everything going on. I’ve just been trying to do push-ups and sit-ups when I get time. That’s kind of crazy that people call me that (Hulk Hagan). I’m not much on nicknames, but whatever puts a smile on someone’s face.”
In terms of his weight, Hagan has been on a roller-coaster throughout his life.
“We have all had ups and downs in what we do,” Hagan said. “I’ve been a big kid, and I’ve been lean. I’ve been down to 160 pounds before and I’ve been up to 240 to 250 pounds.”
These days, the 6-foot-1 Hagan is tipping the scales at 218 pounds.
“I would like be 200 pounds, but realistically if I could shed five or six more pounds I would be happy with that. It is like anything you do, you have to stay after it and keep going with it. I definitely haven’t got this figured out by any means.”
However, Hagan admitted he does like the way he feels now that he began taking his health more serious, and it also has benefitted him at the dragstrip.
“What really helped me when I started working out and running and doing different things like that my reaction times came around,” Hagan said. “Before I was okay at the lights, but I was never like leading the class in reaction time and stuff. Here lately since I’ve been working out I’m more mentally clear and focused up there. You’re physically fit, but you are also mentally fit, which helps out a bunch.”
Here’s a sample of one of Hagan’s workout routines for a week:
30 – 45 minutes cardio a day (aerobic day 1 / interval day 2)
– day 1 aerobic 145-150 bpm
– day 2 interval 130-140 2 minutes, 140-147 2 minutes, 148-160 1 minute (repeat day 1)
Monday: back & biceps
– lat pull down wide grip 2×12, 2×8
– reverse grip pulldown (shoulder width grip) 2×12, 2×10
– bent over rows 2×12, 2×10
– incline seated d-bell curl 4×15
– step ups 4×20
Tuesday: quads & hams
– squat 2×20, 2×15
– seated leg ext. 4×15
– lying leg curl 2×15, 2×10
– stiff legged deads 4×15
– walking lunges 4x40ft
Wednesday: biceps and triceps
– ez bar curl 3×15
– skull crushers 3×15
– hammer curl 3×15
– reverse grip pushdown 3×15
– incline d-bell curl super set with rope pushdown 3×12
Thursday: chest, delts, & triceps
– incline press super set with lateral raises 4×12
– flat bench super set with machine press 4×12
– cable crossover super set with bent over lateral raises 4×12
– tricep pushdown 4×15
Friday: leg touch-up
– step ups 4×20
– walking lunges 4x25ft
– hyper extensions 3×15
– abs 4 sets to failure (movement of your choice)
Saturday: cardio only 30-45 minutes
Sunday: Off
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