Hagan surprised but not rattled by first-round loss, ready to win for Aaron’s as Funny Car reigning champ

February 15

Matt Hagan was adamant before the season that winning the NHRA Funny Car championship last season wasn't worth any free points when the 2012 Full Throttle Drag Racing Series opened.

He also didn't expect to have such an abrupt start to the new season.

Hagan and the Aaron's Dream Machine Dodge Charger R/T lost in the first round to Don Schumacher Racing teammate Ron Capps on Sunday in the NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, Calif.

It didn't help that rain washed out the fourth and final qualifying session on Saturday when Hagan and crew chief Tommy DeLago were confident they'd be able to run quickly enough to move up from the No. 9 qualifying spot. Any improvement would have kept them from facing a teammate and also allow them to select which dragstrip lane they wanted in the first round.

After never being lower than fifth in championship points last year, the Aaron's team rests in the 12th spot heading to Phoenix this week in the second of 23 events.

"We have to put this one behind us and learn and move on with our Aaron's Dodge," he said.

While the Aaron's team was preparing the car near Los Angeles before heading for Firebird International Raceway and the NHRA Arizona Nationals, Hagan headed for Scottsdale, Ariz., with Top Fuel teammate Antron Brown to spend a few days with Aaron's vendor partners.

He also looked forward to being with his Aaron's racing brethren on the NASCAR side: Michael Waltrip and Mark Martin.

"I've been looking forward to spending time with them and get to know more about Aaron's from the corporate side," Hagan said. "And I know we're going to have fun doing it."

FUNNY CAR STANDINGS (after first of 23 events)
1. John Force 114
2. Mike Neff 95
3. Ron Capps 73
3. Gary Densham 73
5. Jack Beckman 62
6. Courtney Force 52
7. Todd Lesenko 51
7. Tim Wilkerson 51
8. Robert Hight 41
10. Robert Tasca III 39
11. Johnny Gray 38
12. Matt Hagan 34

THIS WEEK
NHRA Arizona Nationals, Firebird International Raceway, Chandler, Ariz.
Friday: Pro qualifying, 1:30 and 4 p.m.
Saturday: Pro qualifying, 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Sunday: Pro eliminations, 11 a.m.


About Aaron's
Aaron's, Inc. (NYSE: AAN), the nation's leader in the sale and lease ownership of residential furniture, computers, consumer electronics, home appliances and accessories. Aaron's Inc., which celebrates its 57th anniversary this year, has over 1,940 company-operated and franchised stores in 48 states and Canada. Founded in 1955 by entrepreneur and current Chairman R. Charles Loudermilk Sr. and headquartered in Atlanta, Aaron's has been publicly traded since 1982. For more information, visit www.aarons.com.

About Don Schumacher Racing
Don Schumacher Racing, headquartered in Brownsburg, Ind., consists of seven professional NHRA teams: in Top Fuel, the U.S. Army dragster driven by seven-time world champion Tony Schumacher, the FRAM/Prestone dragster of Spencer Massey and the Matco Tools dragster of Antron Brown; and in Funny Car, 2011 NHRA Funny Car champion Matt Hagan in the Aaron's Dream Machine/Mopar Dodge Charger R/T, Valvoline NextGen Dodge piloted by Jack Beckman, the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge of Ron Capps and the Service Central Dodge of Johnny Gray. DSR has won 174 NHRA national event titles and nine world championships.