CONCORD, N.C. — Four-time Funny Car world champion Matt Hagan has been part of some of NHRA’s most memorable moments.
Near the top of that list is his historic 3.99-second run at zMAX Dragway in 2011 and at this weekend’s NHRA 4-Wide Nationals, Hagan returns to Charlotte with what he hopes is another thrilling weekend in his 12,000-horsepower Dodge//SRT Hellcat.
“I remember making that 3.99-pass,” said Hagan. “It was at night. We had been saving some parts and pieces towards the end of the season and so I knew that we had some good stuff on the car. It was one of those things where it was night and it was cool, where you could see your breath. You always get those feelings when your crew chief kind of looks at you in there at you and before he turns the knob and walks away, like, ‘hold on, bud.’
“That’s what’s really cool because it has stuck with me. To break into the 3.99-range in 1,000-feet, that was really cool, especially to do it at Charlotte.”
Hagan is a veteran within the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series ranks and is the only active Funny Car driver with four world titles. Hagan has 56 career wins to his impressive credit, with four coming at zMAX Dragway. After winning two weeks ago at the Winternationals in Pomona, Hagan is riding that momentum to the “Bellagio of Dragstrips” for this weekend’s 16th annual NHRA 4-Wide Nationals.
“Winning in Pomona was great. Then you come into Charlotte, it’s my home track. It’s just such a great place. The Smith tracks, they’re always just top-notch. I mean, and the facilities are great. The fans are great,” Hagan said.
The NHRA 4-Wide Nationals is this season’s sole four-wide event. Fans will witness four nitro-burning machines racing simultaneously, showcasing nearly 50,000-horsepower at once while reaching speeds of more than 340 mph.
This year’s visit to Charlotte will also continue the season-long celebration of NHRA’s 75th anniversary, where fans can expect multiple highlights at zMAX Dragway, including:
An appearance from NHRA’s four-time Funny Car world champion Hagan, as well as NHRA legends Darryl Gwynn and Frank Manzo.
On Sunday, a free, limited-edition NHRA schedule magnet will be given to the first 5,000 fans in attendance to take in eliminations.
A new-look Nitro Mall, special displays and much more.
Last season, Shawn Langdon (Top Fuel), Austin Prock (Funny Car), Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) claimed victories at the famed facility.
With the 75th anniversary season underway, NHRA added 25 additional drivers to the Top 75 Drivers list. Joining this year’s class of additions was Hagan. With his record-breaking passes, wins and four world titles, Hagan was a natural addition to the prestigious list of past and present NHRA legends, and he’s thrilled to celebrate that prestigious honor this weekend in Charlotte.
“When you say ‘legend,’ I don’t even consider myself in that category. I just feel like how lucky am I? All these things came together, and right place, right time, and here we are,” Hagan said. “I never really dreamed of sitting out here doing this as a profession and it’s just something that kind of happened, and here we are now. But at the end of the day, what an honor. To win a couple of championships with different crew chiefs, and a handful of different guys along the way, and to still be able to be out here doing what we do is awesome.”
