April 21, 2025 • 6 mins
Scott Stevens talks to 2023 NHRA Funny Car Champion and Virginia native, Matt Hagan. Hagan is a 4-time Funny Car champion! He is returning to zMAX Dragway in Charlotte as last year’s 4-wide winner and looking for his first win of the season as he prepares for the American Rebel Light 4-Wde Nationals at zMAX Dragway this weekend! (April 25th through 27th)
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
For iHeartRadio. I'm Scott Stevens, and we're talking racing and
we're talking about the American Rebel Light four Wide Nationals
coming up April twenty fifth through the twenty seventh at
Zmax Dragway and Charlotte, North Carolina. And we are talking
to an old friend of mine, funny car driver Matt Hagen.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
How you doing, Matt doing great, Glad to be on
the show. Man. I'll tell you what it's. We got
full wide and Charlotte. You know, American Rebel sponsoring the
whole event and then they're actually sponsoring the race car
this weekend, so so no pressure, right, like, we got it.
We need a win for American Rebel Light.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Well you do indeed, And we'll talk a little bit
about the race itself, but first I'd like to reintroduce
you to some of the listeners and talk a little
bit about Matt Hagen. Of course, growing up in Christiansburg, Virginia,
obviously knew about the Sheeler motor mile, knew you knew,
your dad hung out with you guys at many events.
But let's reflect on your success. What an incredible career
(00:56):
with the NHR, A funny car world championships, championships.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Right, yes, there are four championships, fifty two wins and
a handful of you know, world records. But it's it's
not it's not me, my man. It's just I love
to sit here and say this because I'm this great
race car driver, but just have a great team around me.
You know, Tony Stewart does a great job of putting
the parts and pieces and now the people needed to
(01:21):
go out here and win these championships.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
You know, well, no doubt about it. And you know,
it is a team sport. People don't realize that with racing,
whether you're talking about drag racing, stock car racing, it
is a team sport. Is way more than just that
driver behind the wheel.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
It really is, you know. And what's really cool about
the team side of things is every every tickets a
pit pass this weekend here in Charlotte. You know, your
GA ticket gets you into watch our teams work on
the car. Watch these guys tear it apart, put it
back together, drag it up there and run three hundred
and thirty miles an hour and under four seconds, and
there's gonna be four wide. So some seismologists came out
and on the Richter scale, it's at two point three
(01:55):
on the Richter scale. With just two cars leaving the line,
you're gonna have four, and you know it's it's going
to be one of those things where it is. It's incredible.
It's hard to explain to anybody. You just you know,
unbelievable amount of power. Each one of these cars have
twelve thousand horsepower over eighty thousand foot pounds of torque,
so just you know, line for those up it's bigger
than the whole field in Daytona five hundred.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
Hey, take us back to Charlotte in twenty eleven. You
were the first funny car driver to break into the
three second barrier. What did that feel like to you
when it happened?
Speaker 2 (02:26):
You know, that was a huge milestone of my career.
I was able to do that the first and the
threes and first in the three eighties, and I missed
the first and the three seventies by by one run,
you know, And it was just something that you kind
of put a little feather in your hat, and to
do it there as Charlotte, the Biloggio of drag ration
was was really cool. I mean they actually named the
(02:46):
lane number two after me, you know, Hagen's way and
just just a little bit of kind of you know,
while we got that done and set history there and
so it's got a special feeling to me for that
track and and you know, and just like I said,
we're uh, we're excited to be back there, you know.
And I want to do more than than anything is
drink some Rebel beer in the Winter Circle with everybody
(03:06):
that comes out to see us this weekend.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
You know, well I'll line some up at my house
as well. Now, speaking of going back to z Max
Dragway in Charlotte, you know, last year's for a wide winner.
I mean, what are you doing to try to get
ready to be a repeat two years in a row.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
Well, it's anybody's ball game, I tell you. It's it's
so so crazy up there. I've done everything in these
these funny cars as far as not stage the car
to red light to you know, win the race, you know,
and and those four wides make everything so crazy. I
think that's why so many fans like to watch it
is you never know what you're going to get and
you have to go to the finish line on Sunday.
So whether it's on fire or blowing up or doing
(03:42):
whatever you got to. You make these cars go to
the end because you don't don't know if those other
two cars left the starting line or not, so it
can be a hectic k out, a crazy you know event,
and uh with with all kinds of stuff going on.
So us drivers, you know, we definitely for me, I'm
put my mouth, he's in, pull my hammet on type,
make sure the visor's type.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
That's what it takes right there. And you know, more
and more fan base for drag racing, even old oval
track guys like myself been getting into watching drag racing
and certainly following your careers and others. It's such an
exciting sport.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Well, it really is, you know. And just to see
a lot of our fans that have followed me all
the way through, you know, i mean, being you know,
almost two hours away, it's almost like a home track
for me. And you know, the folks that come out
that root force all the hagen t shirts that they've
bought and supported over the years. I mean, it's just
it's really cool to get back there and have that
hometown feel and everybody's rooting for the hometown guy. You
(04:33):
know what I mean. So for me, it's a really
special event and I can't wait to kick it off
this weekend. For wide's always crazy, We're always excited to
get out there. Hopefully the weather holds out. But like
I said, bring your kids, bring your family, bring everybody's invited,
and it's just it's such a great, you know, interaction
and we get to engage with our fans like like
no other motorsport. Most places you have to be hot
(04:54):
passed up and pay thousands of dollars to get close
to a driver or see the crew guys. And you know,
your general mission ticket will get you in right there
and you can see the guys, tear the car apart,
put it back together, get autographs from all the drivers.
It's just we really do a great job. But the
NHR is engaging the fans, there.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
No doubt about it. And as far as aspiring racers,
you know a lot of youngsters listen to this podcast
that might be interested in racing. What advice would you
give young drivers aspiring to reach the heights that you
have in NHR A racing.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
Well, I started off on a full wheeler, you know,
in bracket racing, a full Wheeler. So if anybody can
do that and go up to where you're driving for
Don Schumacher and now Tony Stewart, anything's possible, you know.
I think the biggest thing for me a lot of
times was those at the right place at the right
time and and uh, you know, went out here and
had a little bit of sponsorship to bring to the
table and stuff. So just believe in yourself, put good
(05:46):
packages together, and honestly, I think the biggest thing is
just finding a way for you to take a partner
that you do have, no matter how big or small,
and figure out a way to do business with another
another companies. The B to B side of things is
really how you're going to end up with sponsorship, longevity
and able to be able to do this for a
long time. Is just finding one sponsor that will work
(06:07):
with another that will save money or make money between
the two, and then it doesn't become so much about
what the race car does. Is it becomes about them
making money and then wanting to be on the car
because they have a relationship there.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
A short drive down the road this weekend will take
you to the American Rebel Right four wide Nationals in Charlotte,
North Carolina at Zmax Dragway. Matt Hagen, it's always a
pleasure talking to you and catching up. Bud.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Hey, that's straight some rebel beer in the winter server, Buddy,
all right, sounds great
For iHeartRadio. I'm Scott Stevens, and we're talking racing and
we're talking about the American Rebel Light four Wide Nationals
coming up April twenty fifth through the twenty seventh at
Zmax Dragway and Charlotte, North Carolina. And we are talking
to an old friend of mine, funny car driver Matt Hagen.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
How you doing, Matt doing great, Glad to be on
the show. Man. I'll tell you what it's. We got
full wide and Charlotte. You know, American Rebel sponsoring the
whole event and then they're actually sponsoring the race car
this weekend, so so no pressure, right, like, we got it.
We need a win for American Rebel Light.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Well you do indeed, And we'll talk a little bit
about the race itself, but first I'd like to reintroduce
you to some of the listeners and talk a little
bit about Matt Hagen. Of course, growing up in Christiansburg, Virginia,
obviously knew about the Sheeler motor mile, knew you knew,
your dad hung out with you guys at many events.
But let's reflect on your success. What an incredible career
(00:56):
with the NHR, A funny car world championships, championships.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Right, yes, there are four championships, fifty two wins and
a handful of you know, world records. But it's it's
not it's not me, my man. It's just I love
to sit here and say this because I'm this great
race car driver, but just have a great team around me.
You know, Tony Stewart does a great job of putting
the parts and pieces and now the people needed to
(01:21):
go out here and win these championships.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
You know, well, no doubt about it. And you know,
it is a team sport. People don't realize that with racing,
whether you're talking about drag racing, stock car racing, it
is a team sport. Is way more than just that
driver behind the wheel.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
It really is, you know. And what's really cool about
the team side of things is every every tickets a
pit pass this weekend here in Charlotte. You know, your
GA ticket gets you into watch our teams work on
the car. Watch these guys tear it apart, put it
back together, drag it up there and run three hundred
and thirty miles an hour and under four seconds, and
there's gonna be four wide. So some seismologists came out
and on the Richter scale, it's at two point three
(01:55):
on the Richter scale. With just two cars leaving the line,
you're gonna have four, and you know it's it's going
to be one of those things where it is. It's incredible.
It's hard to explain to anybody. You just you know,
unbelievable amount of power. Each one of these cars have
twelve thousand horsepower over eighty thousand foot pounds of torque,
so just you know, line for those up it's bigger
than the whole field in Daytona five hundred.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
Hey, take us back to Charlotte in twenty eleven. You
were the first funny car driver to break into the
three second barrier. What did that feel like to you
when it happened?
Speaker 2 (02:26):
You know, that was a huge milestone of my career.
I was able to do that the first and the
threes and first in the three eighties, and I missed
the first and the three seventies by by one run,
you know, And it was just something that you kind
of put a little feather in your hat, and to
do it there as Charlotte, the Biloggio of drag ration
was was really cool. I mean they actually named the
(02:46):
lane number two after me, you know, Hagen's way and
just just a little bit of kind of you know,
while we got that done and set history there and
so it's got a special feeling to me for that
track and and you know, and just like I said,
we're uh, we're excited to be back there, you know.
And I want to do more than than anything is
drink some Rebel beer in the Winter Circle with everybody
(03:06):
that comes out to see us this weekend.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
You know, well I'll line some up at my house
as well. Now, speaking of going back to z Max
Dragway in Charlotte, you know, last year's for a wide winner.
I mean, what are you doing to try to get
ready to be a repeat two years in a row.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
Well, it's anybody's ball game, I tell you. It's it's
so so crazy up there. I've done everything in these
these funny cars as far as not stage the car
to red light to you know, win the race, you know,
and and those four wides make everything so crazy. I
think that's why so many fans like to watch it
is you never know what you're going to get and
you have to go to the finish line on Sunday.
So whether it's on fire or blowing up or doing
(03:42):
whatever you got to. You make these cars go to
the end because you don't don't know if those other
two cars left the starting line or not, so it
can be a hectic k out, a crazy you know event,
and uh with with all kinds of stuff going on.
So us drivers, you know, we definitely for me, I'm
put my mouth, he's in, pull my hammet on type,
make sure the visor's type.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
That's what it takes right there. And you know, more
and more fan base for drag racing, even old oval
track guys like myself been getting into watching drag racing
and certainly following your careers and others. It's such an
exciting sport.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Well, it really is, you know. And just to see
a lot of our fans that have followed me all
the way through, you know, i mean, being you know,
almost two hours away, it's almost like a home track
for me. And you know, the folks that come out
that root force all the hagen t shirts that they've
bought and supported over the years. I mean, it's just
it's really cool to get back there and have that
hometown feel and everybody's rooting for the hometown guy. You
(04:33):
know what I mean. So for me, it's a really
special event and I can't wait to kick it off
this weekend. For wide's always crazy, We're always excited to
get out there. Hopefully the weather holds out. But like
I said, bring your kids, bring your family, bring everybody's invited,
and it's just it's such a great, you know, interaction
and we get to engage with our fans like like
no other motorsport. Most places you have to be hot
(04:54):
passed up and pay thousands of dollars to get close
to a driver or see the crew guys. And you know,
your general mission ticket will get you in right there
and you can see the guys, tear the car apart,
put it back together, get autographs from all the drivers.
It's just we really do a great job. But the
NHR is engaging the fans, there.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
No doubt about it. And as far as aspiring racers,
you know a lot of youngsters listen to this podcast
that might be interested in racing. What advice would you
give young drivers aspiring to reach the heights that you
have in NHR A racing.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
Well, I started off on a full wheeler, you know,
in bracket racing, a full Wheeler. So if anybody can
do that and go up to where you're driving for
Don Schumacher and now Tony Stewart, anything's possible, you know.
I think the biggest thing for me a lot of
times was those at the right place at the right
time and and uh, you know, went out here and
had a little bit of sponsorship to bring to the
table and stuff. So just believe in yourself, put good
(05:46):
packages together, and honestly, I think the biggest thing is
just finding a way for you to take a partner
that you do have, no matter how big or small,
and figure out a way to do business with another
another companies. The B to B side of things is
really how you're going to end up with sponsorship, longevity
and able to be able to do this for a
long time. Is just finding one sponsor that will work
(06:07):
with another that will save money or make money between
the two, and then it doesn't become so much about
what the race car does. Is it becomes about them
making money and then wanting to be on the car
because they have a relationship there.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
A short drive down the road this weekend will take
you to the American Rebel Right four wide Nationals in Charlotte,
North Carolina at Zmax Dragway. Matt Hagen, it's always a
pleasure talking to you and catching up. Bud.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Hey, that's straight some rebel beer in the winter server, Buddy,
all right, sounds great
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