SONOMA, California — Rookie driver Matt Hagan has had only a handful of night runs.
So when he saw the sparks in his Schumacher Dodge Charter R/T Funny Car he was a little freaked. But he didn’t panic. Too much was at stake.
Hagan, sitting on the 10th and final playoff spot in the Countdown to No. 1, recorded the fastest Funny Car pass on the first day of qualifying in the 22nd annual FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals Friday night at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma.
During a typical fast night of racing, other top qualifiers after the first day are J.R. Todd (Top Fuel), Ron Krisher (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle). Todd’s car is owned by Baca Motorsports, which is based in Brentwood in the Bay Area.
Before one of the largest opening-day crowds on the NHRA circuit this season, Hagan recorded a personal best of 4.069 seconds over the 1,000-foot trek (307.51 mph) to edge a host of heavy hitters including Mike Neff (Ford Drive One Mustang) at 4.069 (305.42) and Ashley Force Hood (Castrol GTX Ford Mustang) at 4.099 (304.07).
Hagan hasn’t been the top qualifier this season and is looking for his first victory.
With 669 points, Hagan is fighting off proven drivers Cruz Pedregon (662) and Robert Hight (626) for the final postseason spot.
“This is a critical point in the season,” Hagan said. “We either have to step up or sit out. We definitely don’t want to sit out.”
Hagan has qualified third at the last two events, but went out in the second round of finals in Denver and the first round in Seattle.
“When the sparks flew up I wasn’t sure what was going on, but I just kept my foot on it,” Hagan said. “We really needed to come together now. We’ve been in a slump and this is good for morale of our team.”
Hagan needed a career run to fight off the motivated John Force Racing team which has won the last three Funny Car events at Infineon, including defending champion Robert Hight.
Teammates to win before him were the late Eric Medlen and John Force in 2006 and 2007, respectively.
All the team members are particularly motivated to win for Medlen, who considered Infineon his home track. The Oakdale native perished after injuries suffered during a 2007 test session in Gainesville, Fla.
Besides Neff and Force Hood, John Force (4.138, 298.40) is No. 8 and Hight (4.184, 290.38), the leader after the first round, is No. 10.
“Things couldn’t have gone any better for our team on the first day,” Force Hood said. “It was a great day of racing for us.”
There was good news and bad news for season leader Ron Capps, who was the first Funny Car driver to clinch a spot in the Countdown to 1 playoffs during his first qualifying run (4.215 288.95).
That was the good news.
"Obviously, it feels great,” he said after the first run. “We have a lot of unfinished business. We want to stay No. 1 going into the Countdown. But to know that you're already going to be involved in the Countdown takes a little bit of pressure off, for sure.”
Unfortunately for Capps, he had to sit and watch the night session when he was pushed off the line because of engine troubles. He’s currently the No. 13 qualifier.
In Top Fuel, Todd had his career best run at 1,000 feet going 3.811 (312.06). He beat out Larry Dixon (Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing dragster, 3.816, 313.44) and Cory McClenathan (FRAM Tough Guard dragster, 3.831, 314.68), who recorded the top speed.
Todd, a part-time driver for the part-time David Baca team, was just happy to be competing let alone score the best run of the day. He rode his Mach 1 Global Services dragster to the fastest 1,000-foot run in team history as well.
“All I know is that I’m not home on the couch but back in the seat,” he said. “It feels great. … This is good medicine to relieve any pain. … I think this time should hold up through the weekend.”
Season leader Antron Brown (Matco Tools dragster) is No. 4 (3.844, 311.05) and defending champion Tony Schumacher (U.S. Army dragster) is No. 8 (3.880, 308.92).
In Pro Stock, Krisher rode his Cobalt to top-qualifying pass of 6.573 (208.84), bettering Mike Edwards (ART Pontiac, GXP, 6.574, 209.82) and birthday boy Jason Line (Summit Racing Pontiac GXP, 6.574, 209.52).
Krisher, seventh in the season standings, actually used an engine supplied by Edwards to gain the top spot.
“We made some big changes in Seattle and it appears to be working,” Krisher said. “Mike really helped out.”
So did the weather after a long delay due to an oil spill. A cloud cover floated in, cooling the track.
“It was a little unfair to some of the earlier cars, but it is what it is,” Krisher said.
Edwards, No. 2 in the season standings, set a track speed record during the first run. Line, No. 3 on the season, celebrated his 40th birthday.
Season leader Jeg Coughlin qualified seventh (6.596, 209.23).
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, 2009 leader Eddie Krawiec continued his amazing season with the top pass (6.973) and speed (190.48) on his second run.
Krawiec is going after his seventh straight finals and fourth win of the season. He came in with 739 points followed by Andrew Hines (651) and Matt Smith (559).
"I couldn't be any happier about the way my season has gone," Krawiec said. "There's a lot to be said for going to six finals in a row. It says a lot about the team and these Harley-Davidson V-Rods. We're making nice, straight laps, both Andrew (Hines) and me, and it's showing on the scoreboards."
Hines also broke the magic 7-second barrier at 6.986 (188.52), followed by Hector Arana (7.002, 190.35), Karen Stoffer (7.019, 189.04) and Michael Phillips (7.066, 188.99).
Defending champion Matt Guidera (7.149, 179.85) is in the 16th and final qualifying spot. Smith is ninth at 7.092 and 187.29.
Action returns on Saturday with two final rounds of qualifying, beginning at 11:30 a.m. Gates open at 8 a.m. and tickets are available at the gate.
