It was a storybook day for Matt Hagan and the Rocky Boots/Mopar Express Lane Funny Car team at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway.

Just two hours from his home in Christiansburg, Va., Matt has had his eye on a Bristol title since he started his Funny Car career seven years ago. The story unfolded after qualifying second for Sunday’s eliminations with the team led by crew chief Dickie Venables. The beat John Hale, Cruz Pedregon and Don Schumacher Racing teammates Jack Beckman and Ron Capps en route to a series-best fourth event title of the season.

(The fuel FC Final was once again all DSR with Matt Hagan edging out Ron Capps for the title)

“This is just such a special race for me, I’m two hours down the road and I have so many friends, so many family members out there. My mom and dad came out, my wife brought my kids Colby and Penny. It is so, so special. I’ve been wanting to win Bristol for a long time because we are so close to home and I consider it my home track. It’s nice to be able to pull down four win lights and hold up a Wally trophy at the end of the day.”
Matt also shared the win with his race family – the nine-man crew led by Venables and assistant Michael Knudsen – that braved temperatures in the 90s and high humidity.

“The competition in Funny Car is phenomenal right now,” Matt said. “I pinch myself knowing we’ve won four races out here already this year and there’s still so much racing left. It’s so tough.

(Matt Hagan’s win was the 18th of his career)

“We have a great team and a great group and I just can’t say enough about Dickie Venables. The guy has taken it to another level. I’m very, very proud to have him as a crew chief. Our guys get along great and we have a great chemistry and we look like we’ve got another shot at hunting this championship this year.”

It was the 18th win of Matt’s career that moves him into a tie for 10th on the all-time wins list with NHRA legend Ed “Ace” McCulloch, Mark Oswald and Tim Wilkerson.

“That’s incredible. It’s because of the people around me that I’ve been able to do that. DSR is such a great place and they’ve given me this opportunity. I’ve had a good team around me my entire career.”

With the Thunder Valley win, the Rocky Boots team extended its points lead to more than four rounds of racing over Capps in second.

“Honestly this is up there like winning Indy for me,” he said. “I care that much about it, I wanted to win it that bad. It gives me chill bumps talking about it. This is a huge race for me and to have my family out here on Father’s Day, it piles on top of each other. It’s so, so special and something I’ll remember the rest of my life.”

Posted by: Leah Vaughn

Event Essentials :   NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals (June 19-21st)

(John Force set a track record during qualifying with both low ET and top speed)

Photos by:  Auto Imagery & Gary Nastase