FUNNY CAR

Dickie Venables, crew chief on Matt Hagan’s Mopar/Rocky Boots Funny Car team, had to stay back in Indianapolis after having successful intestinal surgery on Wednesday. He was released from the hospital on Sunday.

Hagan and his crew, led at the Auto Club Finals by first-year assistant crew chief, Michael Knudsen, delivered an unbelievable weekend to the recuperating Venables that culminated with Hagan beating 2013 Funny Car world champion John Force in the championship round Sunday.

"I'm on cloud nine that our assistant crew chief stepped up and was able to fill some big shoes," Hagan said. "Mike Knudsen has never tuned a race car by himself before. There hasn't been another crew chief in our lounge all weekend.

"This guy has done a phenomenal job. It just shows you how smart the people are that this DSR organization puts around you. When something happens they can step up and take the reins and run with it. My guys have worked so hard. I'm so proud of them."

Although Hagan finished second in the Funny Car standings, it was a major turnaround season under Venables' guidance with assistance from Knudsen. In 2012, the year after Hagan won the NHRA world championship, he didn't win an event title, a No. 1 qualifying position and didn't qualify for the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoff.

This season ends with Hagan and his team winning a series-best five titles in nine championship rounds with five No. 1 qualifying performances.

"My season has just been phenomenal. How can you be upset about this many race wins and final rounds? Don (Schumacher) has done such a phenomenal job of putting core people around us and giving us the parts that we need. Don has been very gracious to me and my career. This guy loves our sport and loves what we are doing out here."

The victory by the Mopar/Rocky team lifted DSR's season total to 23 titles during the 24-race season. It broke the organization's previous record of 22.

"I'm just proud of our guys for working so hard and stepping up. Dickie is probably at home wishing he could be here but he can put a feather in his cap for knowing he trained these boys to do what they did today."