If hindsight is 20/20, then it’s understandable why Matt Hagan is glad he spent more than the usual amount of time at Firebird Raceway testing during the National Time Trials last month in preparation for the 2009 season.

Though he only lasted atop the qualifying list for Friday’s opening session at the NHRA Lucas Slick Mist Nationals for one round, he couldn’t help but believe the previous time at the track in the desert afforded him that short opportunity.

“I owe it all to coming in here about a month ago and testing,” Hagan explained. “We got some really good baselines from coming in here and having those test sessions. We have been able to come back out here and put in a similar tune up and Tommy [crew chief Delago] has got this car under control.”

Hagan is in his first full season on the NHRA Full Throttle Series having stepped into the Funny Car division last year under the IHRA sanction, and making select appearances on the NHRA tour. He’s also a candidate for the 2009 NHRA Rookie of the Year Award.

Last year Paul Smith turned the wrenches on his ride and this year, as a member of Don Schumacher Racing, Tommy Delago has been assigned the task of tuning for Hagan.

Delago tuned Jack Beckman to the Funny Car title last year in Phoenix.

Even though he’s got that ace in the hole, Hagan is doing his best to take the challenge slowly and safely.

“You want to win every one you go to but you have to take it one lap at a time,” Hagan explained. “I think if you get ahead of yourself it’s too easy to get wrapped up in everything that going on so you just get in the car and concentrate on that lap and that moment. You have to make sure you do your job in the race car. “

Delago is making sure he’s doing that.

“Tommy is just a great asset to have around you,” Hagan said. “You know he’s got great experience with this car, it’s real good to bounce stuff off of him but he’s really got a handle on this race car. I think it’s starting to show a little bit.”

Ironically it was Ron Capps who knocked him from the perch in Friday’s qualifying. Hagan says he’s learned quite a bit from Capps in his short time with DSR.

“He’s really been taking me under his wing and just show me how to do things here and there,” Hagan added. “It’s just really cool to cut up with Ron, if nothing else. He’s a unique individual but he’s definitely a really cool guy. It’s good to be around people like that.”

Has he gotten any advice from the boss? After all, Schumacher is an accomplished Funny Car legend.

“Yes and no,” Hagan answered.

“I don’t really have too many conversations with Don, which is probably a good thing because no news is good news,” he continued. “I mean he’ll come up to me and tell me when I need to pedal the car and stuff like that because they are his parts and we try to take care of them. We don’t want to do anything that he wouldn’t want us to do.

“But on the flipside, we’re out here and we have to make decisions. He’s been kind of laid back, at least on my deal, but maybe if we do poorly that will all change. “