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Matt Hagan Loses By Inches To Austin Prock At NHRA Arizona Nationals While Tony Stewart Advances
Matt Hagan's Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car, part of Tony Stewart Racing (TSR), reached speeds over 320 mph at the NHRA Arizona Nationals. Despite this, he narrowly lost to Austin Prock, the defending World Champion. Hagan's teammate, Tony Stewart, advanced to the quarterfinals in the Top Fuel class. Hagan, a four-time NHRA Funny Car World Champion from Virginia, had previously won at the Arizona Nationals.
Hagan's performance was strong in the first round, defeating Bobby Bode. However, in the second round against Prock, both drivers left the starting line simultaneously and raced side-by-side for 1,000 feet. The decision went to Prock by mere inches. Hagan was edged out at the finish line by just 0.0036 seconds with a run of 4.005 seconds compared to Prock’s slower 4.010.
The difference in reaction times was crucial; Prock had a starting line advantage of 0.070 seconds compared to Hagan’s 0.078 seconds. This slight edge prevented Hagan from advancing to the semifinals. "It was a tough weekend to go out second round when we’re used to going some more rounds," said Hagan.
He added that the loss was due to his performance: "The loss fell on the driver today. We got beat on a little baby ‘holeshot.’ We got to the stripe before he did as far as the ET (elapsed time) says." Despite this setback, Hagan expressed pride in his team and their efforts.
Tony Stewart, a NASCAR Hall of Famer now in his second season in Top Fuel racing, qualified seventh with his TSR Direct Connection Dodge//SRT dragster. He defeated Shawn Reed in the first round but faced Brittany Force in round two. Unfortunately, Stewart's dragster lost traction at the start, forcing him to shut down.
Stewart remains optimistic about his car’s progress as they prepare for the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals this weekend (March 28-30). "It’s disappointing to go out in the second round," said Stewart. He noted that despite unique conditions causing issues, they have made significant strides since testing began.
Zetterström and DeJoria's Performances
Ida Zetterström from Sweden competed in her JCM/Dodge//SRT dragster but lost narrowly to Justin Ashley with times of 3.805 and 3.818 respectively. Zetterström felt they had a strong weekend overall: "We ran well in qualifying and found a lot of good things." She remains confident heading into Pomona.
Her teammate Alexis DeJoria qualified sixth with her Bandero Café Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car but was eliminated by Cruz Pedregon in round one. The NHRA Mission Drag Racing Series now moves to Los Angeles County Fairgrounds for the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals at In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip.
Upcoming Events and Broadcast Details
Nitro qualifying for this event begins on Friday, March 28 at 1:30 p.m., continuing Saturday with final eliminations on Sunday at 11 a.m PDT. The finals will be televised on Fox Sports 1 on March 30 at 6:30 p.m EDT/3:30 p.m PDT.
Dodge Brand Legacy and Future
The Dodge brand has been synonymous with performance for over a century since John and Horace Dodge founded it. Today, Dodge continues its legacy with powerful vehicles like the all-new electric Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack and other high-performance models such as the Durango SRT Hellcat SUV.
Dodge is part of Stellantis' portfolio of brands offering innovative mobility solutions globally (NYSE: STLA). Mopar represents Stellantis' genuine parts and accessories division providing exceptional service worldwide since its inception during the muscle-car era of the 1960s.
Mopar's Evolution Over Time
Mopar began as an antifreeze product line but evolved into a comprehensive vehicle care provider offering authentic performance parts globally today through integrated service operations enhancing customer support worldwide via platforms like www.mopar.com or blog.mopar.com.
{INSTAGRAM_1}The Direct Connection portfolio offers modern performance products for Dodge vehicles online or through dealers backed by Mopar warranties ensuring peace-of-mind ownership experiences while enthusiasts can access technical support via hotline (800)998-1110 or visit DCPerformance.com for more information about available options tailored specifically towards enhancing street-strip-track performances alike!
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