Hagan’s win moved the Dodge//SRT Mopar racer to the top of the current NHRA Funny Car point standings with 277 to Capps’ 251 as the NHRA Camping World tour heads to the Four-Wide Nationals on April 14-16 in Las Vegas, NV.

Matt Hagan proved to be the most consistent Funny Car driver at the In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip when he drove the Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) Haas Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat to victory in the NHRA Lucas Oil Winternationals, the third race of the 21-event NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series.
 
Hagan, winner of the season opener at Gainesville, FL, came from his tenth starting position to clock runs of 3.929, 3.950, 3.955 and 3.967 in defeating defending Funny Car World Champion Ron Capps in the final round.

The victory was Hagan’s fourth Winternationals title and 45th NHRA career triumph, currently ranking fourth all-time Funny Car wins behind John Force, Capps and Robert Hight.

“Matt Hagan and his Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) team continues to show the winning ways in the very tough NHRA Funny Car class with his second 2023 victory this weekend at the prestigious Winternationals,” said Tim Kuniskis, Dodge Brand Chief Executive Officer – Stellantis. “We congratulate Matt and his crew for another stellar performance with his potent Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat machine. It just shows the commitment from the team that continues to our Dodge lineup of vehicles and Direct Connection performance parts.”
  
In qualifying, Cruz Pedregon, recent Pomona Dragstrip winner in November at the NHRA World Finals, continued his strong performance by capturing the Top Qualifier Award in the Snap-On Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat with a 3.865 run. Pedregon advanced to the second round in eliminations, as did young Alex Laughlin the Jim Dunn “Moon Eyes” Dodge Charger SRT Hellcast.
 
The Dodge//SRT Mopar competitors move to Las Vegas for the next round of the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series on April 14-16 in the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals.

Funny Car Racing Event Summary – Lucas Oil Winternationals

WIN: Matt Hagan 3.967 secs 328.06 mph (Career win #45)
R/UP: Ron Capps 4.303 secs 211.13 mph
Low ET: Cruz Pedregon 3.865 secs
Top MPH: Alexis DeJoria 333.49 mph
Bump (16 cars): 4.162 secs

In the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge, Chad Green picked up his first career high profile event win winning the Challenge’s Fuel Funny Car portion.

It was a memorable moment for Chad Green, beat last week’s winner from the Arizona Nationals, Alexis DeJoria with a run of 3.974 at 316.08 mph driving his Bond-Coat Ford Mustang.

Green knocked off Robert Hight, who finished third in qualifying, earlier and then got past DeJoria, who qualified second, with a strong run in the final round of the bonus event, enjoying the biggest moment in his young Funny Car career in the process.

“It’s a really big moment for us,” Green said. “It’s our first win in Funny Cars as a team. This season] is going a little better than I expected to start the season off, but we’re not surprised. I mean, we’ve got a good car. We’ve got a good group of guys, and we’re focused this year.

The 63rd edition for the Lucas Oil Winternationals also included a demonstration eliminator featuring an 8-car field of Nitro Nostalgia Funny Cars — the “Legends Nostalgia Funny Cars” presented by Modern Warriors.

That final round was a Can-Am affair with former Top Fuel driver California’s Cory McClenathan facing off against Edmonton Alberta’s Tim Boychuk.

McClenathan, who had qualified #1 (4.733 secs Low ET) rand a winning 4.868 secs at 232.87 mph compared to Boychuk’s 4.895 secs at 202.97 mph racing his popular “Happy Hour” Chevy Camaro.

Posted with files by Tom Blatter, NHRA Communications & Bruce Biegler
Photos by Randy Anderson

To view more Funny Car racing photos from Pomona – visit the LMLCMedia gallery: HERE