Rocky adds more races with Hagan’s DSR Funny Car team

BROWNSBURG, IN – Rocky Brands announced today that its role is expanding with NHRA Funny Car world champion Matt Hagan, currently ranked No. 3 in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.

Teamwork is paying off at Don Schumacher Racing for Hagan, who has one title in three championship-round appearances this year.

Nothing is better at the racetrack for Hagan than winning again, and he’s received more good news off track with Rocky’s announcement. Rocky has added two NHRA events where Rocky will be prominent on Hagan’s Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car.

After a successful marketing effort with Hagan at the NHRA Spring Nationals near Houston in late April, the black-and-red Rocky paint scheme now will be featured at the June 14-16 Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol, Tenn., and at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the Fall. Rocky previously had committed to be Hagan’s primary sponsor for NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events at Houston and later this season at Norwalk, Ohio, over the Fourth of July weekend and in September near Charlotte, N.C.

Hagan, a cattle farmer and avid outdoorsman who won the 2011 Funny Car championship, is back to feeling as comfortable in his 320-mph Funny Car as any of his Rocky boots.

With new crew chief Dickie Venables, a two-time NHRA world champion, and a reinvigorated crew, Hagan is on the hunt for his second world title.

“Our relationship with Rocky is another reason why I’m enjoying this year so much,” said Hagan, 30, who owns a 1,000-acre farm in his hometown of Christiansburg, Va.

“This year was off to a great start even before we hit the track because Rocky came aboard with us. There isn’t a better sponsor in the world for me. My Rocky boots make it easier for me to work on the farm, and Rocky outdoor gear makes hunting that much more fun.”

Rocky, a world leader in rugged outdoor and occupational footwear headquartered in Nelsonville, Ohio, joined Hagan’s DSR team this year with a commitment as his primary sponsor for three NHRA national events and the total now will be for five of the 24 NHRA Mello Yello events

“One of the main objectives with this program is to increase our presence on Hagan’s Funny Car and strengthen our overall brand awareness,” said Seann Anderson, Sponsor Manager at Rocky Brands Inc. “Everyone at Rocky is ecstatic with the rapid progress we have made toward these goals this year. We couldn’t be happier with Matt, his team or the staff at DSR.”

In addition to Hagan and his crew sporting the black and red colors for those five events, Rocky will have a product and retail presence on the NHRA Midway where fans can meet Hagan and get an autograph. He also will appear at pre-race events at Rocky retailers in those markets.

Watch for a major upcoming announcement that involves Hagan and Rocky