SONOMA, Calif. – Matt Hagan raced to the qualifying lead Friday night in the NHRA Sonoma Nationals with a run that matched the second-quickest and sixth-fastest passes in Funny Car history.
Hagan finished in 3.986 seconds at 320.51 mph in a Dodge Charger.
"The only word to describe it is awesome," Hagan said. "Dickie (Venables, crew chief) went back and put a new (fuel) pump on it and said, 'Hey, kid. Hold on.' Dickie was swinging for the fence, and it stuck. I wish everyone could feel how it feels to go that fast. It's one of the coolest things on earth. As soon as the clutch went one to one, it put me back in the seat and just kept climbing."
David Grubnic led the Top Fuel field, Mike Edwards was the Pro Stock leader, and Hector Arana Sr. was fastest in Pro Stock Motorcycle.
Grubnic had a track-record time of 3.765 at 324.28. Edwards finished in 6.526 at 212.23 in a Chevy Camaro, and Arana had a 6.894 at 190.86 on a Buell.
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