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Matt Hagan Dominates Regular Season, Secures Runner-Up at U.S. Nationals
Highlights
- Matt Hagan won 2026 NHRA regular season championship
- Hagan defeated Ron Capps with a 4.020-second semifinal run
- Team earned $150,000 prize for regular season title
- Hagan lost final round to Jack Beckman with 4.030 seconds
- Countdown playoffs start September 25-27 at US 131 Motorsports Park
- Hagan will enter playoffs with No. 1 position
Matt Hagan clinches the 2026 Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series regular season title on Sunday at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, during the Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals.
The Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car driver secures the No. 1 seed for the Countdown after beating Ron Capps in the semifinals with a 4.020s at 327.35 mph.
Capps spins the tires in the right lane and clocks 9.500s at 69.72 mph, underlining how punishing the window is when track grip narrows late in the day.
Hagan credits engineering discipline and execution across the Mike Knudsen and Alex Conway-led group, with Phil Shuler and Tony Stewart shaping strategy and setup calls.
Hagan clinches the regular-season crown with a 4.020s, 327.35 mph semifinal over Ron Capps.
The team’s $150,000 regular-season bonus is a tangible reward for consistency and turn‑round efficiency, and it strengthens resource allocation heading into six playoff events.
The final proves a step too far. Jack Beckman delivers 3.965s at 327.35 mph to Hagan’s 4.030s at 318.84 mph, a margin built in the first half of the run.
Beckman takes the final with 3.965s to Hagan’s 4.030s as conditions tighten in the right lane.
Hagan notes the right lane “is a bear” from the semifinals onward. The crew trims aggression to keep it safe, banking on pouncing if Beckman falters; the opportunity never comes.
This marks Hagan’s 102nd career final and his third at the U.S. Nationals. Combined with event runner-up, the outfit’s weekend earnings approach $180,000.
The Countdown opens at the Dodge NHRA Great Lakes Nationals presented by MOPAR at US 131 Motorsports Park, September 25–27, where Hagan starts P1.
Countdown opens September 25–27 at US 131 Motorsports Park; Hagan begins as the No. 1 seed.
Translating seeding into a title will hinge on repeatable launches, lane-flexible tune-ups, and the same mistake-free execution seen across this summer’s form and earlier-season momentum.
Visual Summary
HAGAN #1 REGULAR SEASON CHAMP
Secures the 2026 NHRA Drag Racing Series lead
🚗💨
Weekend Earnings
$180,000
Finals
Hagan
Hagan
4.030
318.84 mph
318.84 mph
vs
Beckman
3.965
327.35 mph
327.35 mph
🔥
Semifinals: Hagan 4.020s beats Capps (9.500s – tire spin!)
Semifinals: Hagan 4.020s beats Capps (9.500s – tire spin!)
Playoff Countdown Next Stop: Great Lakes Nationals (Sep 25-27)
Hagan starts playoffs #1 seed — 6-race chase for the world title
“
This Funny Car field is one of the toughest I’ve ever seen.
– Matt Hagan
Nicholas Rivera delivers NHRA Top Fuel and Funny Car news, including eliminator-round results and reaction-time stats. He brings track-side interviews, contender profiles, and championship-point breakdowns straight from drag-racing’s biggest national events.
