Mopar-brand star racer Matt Hagan started the 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series the same way he began his 2017 season — driving the Mopar and Dodge//SRT brands to victory at the NHRA Lucas Oil Winternationals (Presented by ProtectTheHarvest.com) in Pomona, California.

The two-time NHRA Funny Car champion wrapped up a dominant weekend in which he also claimed the pole in his Mopar Express Lane Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car by outgunning Robert Hight in the final round at Auto Club Raceway. The victory was Hagan’s second straight at the NHRA Winternationals and the 27th of his career in 48 final rounds.

(Matt Hagan qualified #1 and set low ET of the event will winning NHRA’s season opening event at Pomona)

Adding to the Mopar and Dodge//SRT Funny Car Sunday celebration was the fact that Hagan was also joined in the Funny Car semifinals by two of his Mopar-powered DSR Dodge teammates, Jack Beckman and Ron Capps.

After earning the No. 1 qualifying spot on Saturday with a 3.822-second elapsed time (ET), Hagan recorded the second quickest run of the first round on Sunday to defeat Dodge Charger R/T driver Jim Campbell. The DSR driver next bested Cruz Pedregon before winning a tight all-Mopar Dodge match against Capps. In the final, Hagan’s 3.823/335.90 run was enough to hold off Hight’s strong 3.866/336.99 pass.

(Matt Hagan visited NHRA’s victory lane for the 27th time in his great career)

Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car driver Beckman posted impressive numbers in the first two elimination rounds. The 2012 Funny Car champion opened his day by using the third-quickest run of the round to best Bob Tasca, and then was quickest in the quarterfinals in trailering Tim Wilkerson. That ended in the semis, when Beckman’s car went quiet shortly after launch, ending his day.

Capps’ run to the semifinals included a first-round win over Shawn Langdon and an interesting battle with Jonnie Lindberg in the quarterfinals. Lindberg took the red light foul loss after leaving too early, which also caused Capps to launch a tad too soon as well. The fourth DSR Funny Car team member, Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger R/T driver Tommy Johnson, was unable to move past the first round after smoking the tires and losing to Cruz Pedregon.

“Congratulations to Mopar Express Lane Dodge Charger R/T driver Matt Hagan on starting off the 2018 NHRA season with a visit to winner’s circle. The Mopar and Dodge brands are working even closer together this year to expand our commitment to NHRA, and this is a great early return on that teamwork. We’re hopeful this is the first of many Sunday celebrations at the drag strip for our brands this year.”

(Defending NHRA World Champion Ron Capps had a strong “final four” finish)

Event Essentials:   NHRA Lucas Oil Winternationals (Feb. 8-11th, 2018) 

(New England’s Bob Tasca III entered the Winternationals race with this great looking Ford Motorcraft Mustang)

(Sweden’s Jonnie Lindberg raced this new look Jim Head Racing Toyota to the second round)

(This tribute to FC racing legend Chuck Beal was on the Brandon Welch car)

(Robert Hight set top speed of the meet at a track record 336.99 mph while losing the final round)

Posted with files by Darren Jacobs & Bruce Biegler
Photos by Bruce Biegler

To view additional FC racing photos from the Lucas Oil Winterationals visit our photo gallery site : HERE