Mopar-powered Matt Hagan, the defending NHRA Funny Car champion, chased his first round win of the 2012 season on Sunday, February 19 in Phoenix, falling in the first round.

Hagan, who hails from Christiansburg, Va., qualified in the No. 4 position for the 28th Annual NHRA Arizona Nationals and faced Todd Lesenko in the opening stanza. Hagan got off the line first with a .081-second reaction time. He turned in a pass of 4.325/293.92 to his opponent’s 4.264/266.79.

Hagan’s Mopar-powered Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) teammate Jack Beckman advanced to the semifinals in Phoenix. The Californian used a 4.090/308.57 number in the opening round to dispatch Tony Pedregon. Beckman edged Jeff Arend in the quarterfinals with a pass of 4.172/282.24 to his opponent’s 4.322/294.43. The semifinals found Beckman up against Mike Neff. Beckman ran a 4.129/301.60, falling to Neff, who posted a 4.099/306.74.

via Mopar Speed - Mopar-Powered Hagan Bows Out in First Round at Phoenix.

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