Matt Hagan’s 98-Point Lead Makes Vegas A Title Lock
· Yahoo Sports
Matt Hagan holds a 98-point lead over Jordan Vandergriff with only two races remaining in the season. This massive gap makes a fifth world title highly probable for the Funny Car driver. He has won four races and reached the final round seven times in 18 events.
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This weekend, The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway hosts the race. It is the 19th event on the 20-race schedule for the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Hagan drives a 12,000-horsepower Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car. His team, Tony Stewart Racing, has been flawless so far. They have lost only two first-round races all year.
The Math Behind the Championship
He sits 119 points ahead of Dallas Glenn, the winner from the event in Dallas. Even if Hagan loses every remaining race, he would need a massive collapse to drop from first. The points system rewards consistency, and Hagan has delivered it every single week.
His record includes three final-round appearances in the Countdown to the Championship playoff races. One of those wins came in Rockingham. The other event in the playoffs saw him finish in the semifinals. These results show he can perform when the pressure is highest. The data from these tracks is what he will use to close out the season.
Vegas History and Team Goals
Hagan has a strong history at this specific track. He is the defending event winner in Las Vegas. The city and the race have been very kind to his team in the past. He knows the data from this track better than most because he has won here before. That familiarity gives his team a clear edge for the weekend.
The crew chief, Mike Knudsen, is chasing his first championship. Hagan has made it clear that the win is for the whole team, not just himself. He wants to solidify the leadership of a championship-caliber group. The pressure is on, but the driver feels ready for the marathon week ahead.
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectHagan described the busy schedule surrounding the race in an interview with Speedway Media. “The whole week in Vegas is out of control,” Hagan said. “I don’t care whether or not we’re partying, it’s just Vegas — the time change, the media, the sponsors that come out, all the dinners, MOPAR and Dodge sponsoring the event, then SEMA. It’ll be a marathon being out there.”
Despite the distractions, the driver plans to focus on the starting line and keeping the car stable. He noted that he just needs to do his job and keep the car in the groove. The goal is to get Knudsen his first title, which would be a major milestone for the crew.
The Race for the Title
In Vegas, Vandergriff and Todd aim to narrow the gap. They know they must perform well to set up a showdown in the final race in Pomona. Hagan will have to ward off back-to-back world champ Austin Prock, Jack Beckman, and Ron Capps. These drivers are dangerous, but Hagan’s lead gives him a buffer they cannot easily ignore.
This year’s race will be broadcast on FS1. On Sunday, Nov. 1, elimination coverage starts at 5 p.m. ET. The Countdown to the Championship playoffs feature this event as the fifth of six races. A fifth championship would put Hagan in rare company. Joining legendary John Force, he would become one of two Funny Car drivers with five or more titles.
Last year, Hagan, Brittany Force, Dallas Glenn, and Gaige Herrera all claimed victories in Las Vegas. The history of winners at this track is long and storied. Hagan knows he has work to do, but the numbers are on his side. He just needs to keep the car running and avoid early exits.
“I’m just proud of my guys,” Hagan said regarding the team’s performance. “That being said, Vegas has been really kind to us and Pomona’s definitely been kind to us, so we’re closing out the season at tracks where we have great data to work off of.”