FUNNY CAR

Matt Hagan with crew chief Dickie Venables and assistant Michael Knudsen got back into the championship hunt with an outstanding weekend.

The first seven runs by the Pennzoil/Mopar Dodge were in the 3.8-second range. The only run it missed the magic bracket was in his final race against teammate Ron Capps when Hagan's quicker reaction time won on a holeshot to beat Capps quicker Dodge.

"That's a huge (final) round," Hagan said. "Unfortunately we faced him (Capps) late in the race. In Reading, we had him in the semis and he left on me and spanked me on the tree. This time I got to leave on him and get a little payback. He's a great guy, great individual and one of those guys that took me under his wing when I first came out here. I have lots of respect for him and I know he's digging deep and working hard but we have a job to do for Pennzoil, Mopar, Freightliner and all those folks that support us."

Hagan ran 3.888/320.63 against John Bojec’s 4.023/288.95 in the first round. He got a gift in the second when Courtney Force turned on the red light and got the semifinal win over Robert Hight, who lost traction.

Although Capps lost in the final to DSR teammate Matt Hagan, the NAPA team was able to extend its championship points lead to 64 points with two races left in the Mello Yello season.

Capps, who seeks his first NHRA championship after being the runner-up a record four times, won his quarterfinals and semifinals races with better reactions at the starting line to post holeshot wins.

But that's not what he wanted to talk about most at the conclusion of the final round.

"I'm sure later tonight we'll reflect on the weekend and the amazing things we accomplished," he said. "Right now it bothers me that I had the quicker car against Matt in the final and he beat me on a holeshot. I guess if you live by the sword you die by the sword."

What Capps said the series of events he'll remember most about Sunday began at the end of his win in the quarterfinals when his Funny Car burst into a fireball at the finish line. He was not injured but his gloves and firesuit were singed.

"I'm on fire and I look over and see the win light. I couldn't believe it."

It became more surreal when he returned to his pit area.

"I get back and fans are pulling out my parachute and starting to untangle it for me. Then I see three guys from our Make-A-Wish team and some of our Army team already there helping our NAPA guys get ready to work on the car.

"We've been battling with Make-A-Wish for the championship and they lost right before I ran. And they're in our pits helping us get ready for the semis. We almost didn't get up there in time and we probably wouldn't have without their help.

"That's why I love being part of Don Schumacher Racing."