ENNIS, Texas – Matt Hagan has said all along that he believes at least two wins are necessary in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship to win a series crown.
Realizing that, the reigning Funny Car world champion also knows time is running out to get those victories. Winless and currently third in the Funny Car points standings through three races in the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship, Hagan is aiming to put together championship performances through the final three events of the 2015 season.
That starts with this weekend’s 30th annual AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals at the Texas Motorplex, and Hagan knows wins need to come if he wants to claim a second straight world championship, and third overall, in his 10,000-horsepower Mopar Express Lane/Rocky Boots Dodge Charger R/T.
“We have to have three good races to win this thing,” said Hagan, who is winless over the past 10 events and trails points leader Del Worsham by 90 markers. “We’ve had two first round losses and one final in the Countdown, and I’ve always said you need to win two to three of these things. This next race is crucial and hopefully we get that consistency back.
“Dallas and Las Vegas are big. You want to narrow that gap heading to Pomona. Dallas is the biggest race of the year for us right now. We need to do well and we still have a shot.”
Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel), Courtney Force (Funny Car), Dave Connolly (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year’s winners of the event that will once again be televised on ESPN2. It marks the fourth of six playoff races in the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship, making it a crucial stop to kick off the second half of the NHRA’s playoffs.
Having a week off before the race gave Hagan and his team a chance to hit the reset button. The team, led by standout crew chief Dickie Venables, made some noteworthy adjustments heading into Dallas, something that Hagan believes will get the team performing at a level reminiscent to earlier this season when he won four races and was the Funny Car points leader.
“We’ve been pretty aggressive trying to run some numbers, but looking at consistency it hasn’t really been there the way we want it,” Hagan said. “Talking to the guys, and Dickie and everyone, we’re going to put some stuff back in that’s a little more forgiving and hopefully we can go down the track a little more. The break gave us some time to reevaluate something things.
“Our consistency has fallen off. We’ve been running great numbers when it hooks up, but we had to step back and reevaluate. Are we giving up consistency and possibly round wins to run a number? That’s not the team we are and not the way we race.”
Hagan has been one of the most consistent drivers in the loaded Funny Car class over the last three seasons, finishing second to 16-time world champion John Force in 2013, winning the world championship in 2014 and adding four more wins in 2015.
Hagan has 13 total wins in that span, including three in his championship run a year ago, and knows he needs to add to that total to claim a third world title. But the Christiansburg, Virginia cattle rancher doesn’t feel any extra pressure heading to the final stretch of the 2015 season.
“You couldn’t put any more pressure on yourself than you already do,” Hagan said. “Everyone is going to work to the best of their ability and we just have to go out and be smart on Sunday. It’s drag racing so you never know what’s going to happen. We have to approach the situation and know we have to do well (in Dallas). I would love to win and give myself a shot at a championship.”
Of course, Hagan will have to deal with more than just Worsham, who won the first two races of the Countdown, in his quest for another championship. Hagan’s Don Schumacher Racing teammate Jack Beckman continued his amazing 2015 campaign, winning in Reading and setting a national elapsed time record to move to second, just 16 points behind Worsham.
Other standouts in the category include Tommy Johnson Jr., who trails Worsham by 98 points, Ron Capps, John Force, Alexis DeJoria, Cruz Pedregon, Robert Hight and Tim Wilkerson. The good news is Hagan feels at home at the Texas Motorplex, which he hopes spurs his late-season surge.
“We have good history at that track and it’s treated me well,” said Hagan, who won in Dallas in 2010. “My first win was in Houston and I won Dallas that same year. Texas has been good to me, so I’m looking forward to it. We just have a good vibe there and seem to do well.”
In Top Fuel, Antron Brown remained perfect in the Countdown, winning his third straight race and opening up a 94-point lead over reigning world champion Tony Schumacher. Other Top Fuel stars in the Countdown are three-time world champion Larry Dixon, Brittany Force, who moved to third, Doug Kalitta, Richie Crampton, who has four wins in 2015, J.R. Todd, Connolly, 2013 world champion Shawn Langdon and Steve Torrence.
Erica Enders will look to get a step closer to a second straight Pro Stock world title in Dallas, but will have to deal with the likes of four-time world champion Greg Anderson, who sits 72 points back in second, Allen Johnson, rookie Drew Skillman, who picked up his first career Pro Stock win in St. Louis, Larry Morgan, Chris McGaha, who won the most recent race to move into third and 104 points behind Enders, Vincent Nobile, Jason Line, Shane Gray and Jonathan Gray.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, reigning world champion and points leader Hines picked up his second Countdown win at Maple Grove, opening up an 89-point lead over teammate Eddie Krawiec. Hector Arana Jr., who won in St. Louis, is 101 points behind Hines, while others to watch include Jerry Savoie, Matt Smith, Hector Arana, two-time season winner Karen Stoffer, Jim Underdahl, Chip Ellis and Scotty Pollacheck.
The AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals also will feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.
As always, fans will have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers as they’re granted an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. This unique opportunity in motorsports gives fans direct access to the teams, allowing them to see firsthand the highly-skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds, and get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers.
Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying begins Friday, Oct. 16, with sessions at 2:45 and 5:45 p.m. The final two qualifying sessions will take place Saturday, Oct. 17, at 12:45 and 3:45 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 18.
To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, call the Texas Motorplex at (800) 668-6775 or visit www.texasmotorplex.com. For more information about the NHRA visit www.NHRA.com.
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AAA TEXAS NHRA FALLNATIONALS FACT SHEET
WHAT: 30th annual AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals, the 22nd of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and the fourth of six races in the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship playoffs. Drivers in four categories – Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle – earn points leading to 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championships.
WHERE: Texas Motorplex, Ennis, Texas. The track is located at 7500 W. Highway 287.
COURSE: Championship drag strip; Track elevation is 500 feet above sea level; Track direction is southwest to northeast.
WHEN: Thursday through Sunday, Oct. 15-18
SCHEDULE:
THURSDAY, Oct. 15 – LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying
FRIDAY, Oct. 16 – LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying
MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 2:45 and 5:45 p.m.
SATURDAY, Oct. 17 – LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations
MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 12:45 a.m. and 3:45 p.m.
SUNDAY, Oct. 18 – Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.
MELLO YELLO SERIES eliminations begin at 11 a.m.
TELEVISION:
Sunday, Oct. 18, ESPN2 will televise one hour of qualifying coverage at 4 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, Oct. 18, ESPN2 will televise three hours of coverage starting at 8 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE (Digital HD feed):
Saturday, Oct. 17, 8 – 8:30 p.m. (ET), AMC 9/Transponder 02C
Sunday, Oct. 18, 7:30 – 8 p.m. (ET), AMC 9/Transponder 02C
(3710 MHz, vertical; Data Rate: 40.46147055 Mbp; Symbol Rate: 29.27 Ms; FEC: ¾; Bandwidth: 36 Mhz)
Video news release contains race action highlights each day and winners’ interviews on Sunday.
2014 EVENT WINNERS: Tony Schumacher, Top Fuel; Courtney Force, Funny Car; Dave Connolly, Pro Stock; Andrew Hines, Pro Stock Motorcycle.
MOST VICTORIES: John Force, FC, 7; Tony Schumacher, TF, 6; Warren Johnson, PS, 5; Cruz Pedregon, FC, 4; Greg Anderson, PS, 4.
TRACK RECORDS:
Top Fuel – 3.761 sec. by J.R. Todd, Sept. ’14; 326.71 mph by Doug Kalitta, Sept. ’14
Funny Car – 4.039 sec. and 314.90 mph by Courtney Force, Sept. ’14
Pro Stock – 6.550 sec. and 211.99 mph by Allen Johnson, Sept. ’12
Pro Stock Motorcycle – 6.828 sec. by Hector Arana Jr., Sept. ’11; 197.22 mph by Michael Phillips, Sept. ’11
NATIONAL RECORDS:
Top Fuel – 3.680 sec. by Antron Brown, Aug. ‘15, Brainerd, Minn.; 332.75 mph by Spencer Massey, Aug. ‘15, Brainerd, Minn.
Funny Car – 3.897 sec. by Jack Beckman, Oct. ‘15, Reading, Pa.; 330.47 mph by Matt Hagan, Sept. ‘15, Madison, Ill.
Pro Stock – 6.455 sec. by Jason Line, March ’15, Charlotte, N.C.; 215.55 mph by Erica Enders-Stevens, May ‘14, Englishtown, N.J.
PS Motorcycle – 6.728 sec. by Andrew Hines, Oct. ’12, Reading, Pa.; 199.88 mph by Hector Arana Jr., March ’15, Charlotte, N.C.
TICKETS: For tickets call (800) 668-6775. Tickets also are available at www.texasmotorplex.com.
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NHRA MELLO YELLO COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS STANDINGINGS
GLENDORA, Calif. — Point standings (top 10) following the third of six playoff races in the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship, and the 21st of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.
Top Fuel: 1. Antron Brown, 2,432; 2. Tony Schumacher, 2,338; 3. Brittany Force, 2,238; 4. Larry Dixon, 2,234; 5. Richie Crampton, 2,187; 6. J.R. Todd, 2,181; 7. Shawn Langdon, 2,177; 8. Doug Kalitta, 2,173; 9. Steve Torrence, 2,160; 10. Dave Connolly, 2,158.
Funny Car: 1. Del Worsham, 2,361; 2. Jack Beckman, 2,345; 3. Matt Hagan, 2,271; 4. Tommy Johnson Jr., 2,263; 5. Ron Capps, 2,256; 6. John Force, 2,211; 7. Cruz Pedregon, 2,169; 8. Tim Wilkerson, 2,162; 9. Alexis DeJoria, 2,154; 10. Robert Hight, 2,140.
Pro Stock: 1. Erica Enders, 2,385; 2. Greg Anderson, 2,313; 3. Chris McGaha, 2,281; 4. Larry Morgan, 2,240; 5. Allen Johnson, 2,227; 6. Drew Skillman, 2,212; 7. Vincent Nobile, 2,187; 8. Jason Line, 2,179; 9. Shane Gray, 2,149; 10. Jonathan Gray, 2,119.
Pro Stock Motorcycle: 1. Andrew Hines, 2,378; 2. Eddie Krawiec, 2,289; 3. Hector Arana Jr, 2,277; 4. Jerry Savoie, 2,259; 5. Matt Smith, 2,244; 6. Chip Ellis, 2,223; 7. Karen Stoffer, 2,199; 8. Hector Arana, 2,167; 9. Jim Underdahl, 2,126; 10. Scotty Pollacheck, 2,076.
