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2012 NHRA: Matt Hagan Pomona II Qualifying Results: No 13
Matt Hagan and the Mopar/Aaron's Dream Machine team will have to start from the bottom half of the quickest field in history for Sunday's Auto Club NHRA Finals eliminations at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, Calif.
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For Hagan a 13th-place starting position is just a small object to overcome compared to his 2012 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season. The team struggled during the first half of the season, never making it past the second round until things turned around in July at Sonoma, Calif.
Since that time, Hagan's team has been to the final round four times but has not been able to close the deal and come away with a Wally trophy.
"To us, it doesn't really matter where you start," said Hagan. "That's the beauty of NHRA drag racing. As long as you're in, you can win. Tomorrow is our last shot at getting a win and we're going to go all out."
Crew chief Tommy DeLago led the team to a win at this event last year while also winning the Funny Car championship.
"We're in a different position points-wise than we were last year but as far as making it to the Winner's Circle, that's what Tommy and these guys are shooting for."
Hagan struggled in three of the four qualifying sessions, but feels that DeLago will have the 8,000-horsepower machine turned around for Sunday's eliminations. Hagan will face rookie Courtney Force in the opening round.
"The last thing I want to do is send these guys home without anything to show for all of their hard work this season. It's been a tough one and we're definitely ready to hit the reset button and come out swinging next year."
The following are Hagan's qualifying results and other event information.
FUNNY CAR
Provisional No. 1 qualifier: Ron Capps, DSR, 4.007, 319.29 mph
Matt Hagan, Mopar/Aaron's Dodge Charger R/T
Qualifying position: No. 13
First round opponent: Courtney Force
THURSDAY QUALIFYING
Session 1: 8.279 sec., 79.89 mph
FRIDAY QUALIFYING
Session 2: 4.100 sec., 308.50 mph
SATURDAY QUALIFIYNG
Session 3: 6.946, 99.66
Session 4: 4.574, 180.89
48TH ANNUAL AUTO CLUB NHRA FINALS AT POMONA, CALIF. SCHEDULE
Sunday: 11 a.m., championship eliminations
WEATHER.COM FORECAST
Sunday: High 69, 0 percent of rain
ON ESPN2
Sunday: 6-9 p.m. (EST), championship eliminations
PaddockTalk Perspective
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