4X NHRA world champion Matt Hagan enjoyed a magical weekend at the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals by capturing the historic 1,000th NHRA Funny Car race as well as the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Qualifying Challenge driving the Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) JHG Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car.
 
Hagan scored his fifth Winternationals title and eight overall In-N-Out Dragstrip triumph at the legendary Los Angeles County Fairgrounds racing facility with a close final round matchup with longtime rival Ron Capps. In recording his 56th career NHRA Funny Car win, Hagan posted a 3.876 to Capps’ 3.893 to round out a sensational event.

After qualifying fourth in the 16-car lineup, Hagan collected another $10,000 and a special Mission trophy by besting veteran Paul Lee in the final of the Mission 2Fast2Tasty Qualifying Challenge on Saturday with a 3.940.

During Sunday’s rain-delayed Lucas Oil Winternationals eliminations, Hagan was the model of consistency that led to the coveted 1,000th Funny Car race victory. The Virginia racer clocked a 3.892 in defeating Spencer Hyde in round one, a 3.906 over Jason Rupert in round two and a 3.886 in the semifinals race against J.R. Todd.

“This (Pomona) racetrack has showed me so much love over the years,” said Hagan. “It’s a magical place, because champions are crowned here at the end of the year. We used to start here, and we finish here, and there’s just so many great memories made at Pomona. I won a couple times under the lights here and it felt like a World Finals at night. When you pull up to the starting line your adrenaline’s going, and you’re trying to control your breathing. I was too pumped up in the final, and I almost double stepped (the clutch) up there off the line. It was just our day.
 
“So, history was made here with the 1,000th Funny Car race. That is super, super special. And I’m just very, very blessed to be a part of that. It just hasn’t really set in yet. But I know when we bring the trophy back home, and you put it up on the wall, it is a special race. Our TSR Dodge team is a family inside a family. I’m just proud to be a part of it. And we’re gonna hopefully do a lot more of this (winning) in the future.”

NHRA Lucas Oil Winternationals – Funny Car Class Summary

WIN: Matt Hagan – 3.876 secs 330.39 mph (Career win #56)
R/UP: Ron Capps – 3.893 secs 334.32 mph
Low ET: Ron Capps – 3.863 secs
Top MPH: JR Todd – 337.16 mph
Bump: 4.143
Entries – 18 cars

Posted with files by Tom Blattler & Bruce Biegler

Photos courtesy of NHRA & Mopar