Words by Mike Perry/IHRA
Photos by Mark Westfall
8/25/2008
When Matt Hagan did not qualify for the eight-car Nitro Funny Car field at the Northern Nationals in Martin three weeks ago, the prevailing thought was that his championship hopes flew out the window, but after he stopped Andy Kelley to claim the Ironman Sunday at Tulsa Raceway Park those title hopes came roaring back.
In the blistering heat at Tulsa Raceway Park Hagan stopped Kelley, the champion at US 131 Motorsports Park three weeks ago, in the final round to claim the Nitro Funny Car Ironman at the IHRA Skull Shine Sooner Nationals. The victory over Kelley capped a brilliant weekend for Hagan that saw him win 10 Last Man Standing bonus points, qualify #1 overall and end up pulling to within 51 points of Haddock at the top of the standings.
With John Smith tuning his 2008 Solera, Hagan knew the championship chase was far from over.