Hagan Scores 50th Career Pole in Dodge//SRT Direct Connection Funny Car at Dodge Power Brokers NHRA Mile-High Nationals
MORRISON, CO – Matt Hagan, the current NHRA Camping World Funny Car point leader, captured his 50th career No. 1 qualifying 
position Saturday in his Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) Dodge//SRT Direct Connection Hellcat Funny Car at the final Dodge Power Brokers NHRA Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway.
Hagan, the three-time NHRA Funny Car World Champion from Christiansburg, Virginia, drove his nitro-burning machine to a 3.895-second pass at 324.59 miles per hour in recording his fourth Mile-High Nationals pole position, just six thousands off the track record Hagan also took top qualifying honors in 2010, 2021 and 2022.
This weekend’s race is the final NHRA national event at the popular Colorado racing facility, as the racetrack will conclude operation at the end of the 2023 racing season. Hagan is hoping to add another Mile-High Nationals trophy to his collection after taking the 2021 Funny Car crown at Bandimere.
Hagan also won the Mission Food #2Fast2Tasty Funny Car Challenge title Saturday over Bob Tasca.
“It’s an emotional weekend with Dodge having a long, continuous sponsorship here at Bandimere, and the thought of not coming back here is kind of tough,” said Hagan, following the end of qualifications. “But we’re putting on a strong showing at the Dodge-sponsored event and we just have to finish strong throughout the whole weekend, not just in qualifying. At the end of the day, [crew chief] Dickie Venables put a great tune-up underneath me, and my guys put together a great car, and I got to drive the wheels off of it.
“It was a great crowd out here, and it was unbelievable to do a burnout, back up, and look up and see everybody up against the fence and in the stands. It was just a special moment. At the end of the day, I’m just excited to be here. I’m trying to take in every lap and every moment. You want to make it count this weekend, and that’s what we’re out there trying to do.”
Hagan’s TSR teammate, Leah Pruett, the defending Mile-High Nationals Top Fuel champion, recorded the seventh quickest time in the 16-car Top Fuel division in her TSR Dodge//SRT Direct Connection dragster with a 3.812 run at 323.89 m.p.h.
The final eliminations for the 43rd Dodge Power Brokers NHRA Mile-High Nationals will begin Sunday, July 16, at 11 a.m. MDT. The Fox Network will televise the final eliminations on Sunday starting at 4 p.m. EDT.
