As the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series begins the second half to the 2019 season, the Mopar Dodge team of defending NHRA Funny Car event winner Matt Hagan is on fire. Hagan took care of business in the premier full-bodied Nitro class this weekend at Epping, New Hampshire. It was the third straight win at the track in Funny Car for Hagan. It was the thirty-first career Wally for Hagan and the second win of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Season.
In the final round, the two-time world champion posted a 4.014-second ET at 322.81 mph in his MOPAR Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat to beat Shawn Langdon's 4.946-second ET at 317.49 mph. On the way to the final tree, Hagan had eliminated his Don Schumacher Racing teammates Jack Beckman and Ron Capps, as well as back-to-back race winner in Funny Car, Bob Tasca III. It was Langdon's second career final round in Funny Car and he got there by eliminating Jim Campbell, Tim Wilkerson and points leader Robert Hight.
Defending NHRA World Top Fuel Champion and 2019 points leader Steve Torrence continued to dominant by capturing his seventh Wally in the past eight races in his CAPCO Contractors dragster. Torrence advanced to his 50th overall final round Top Fuel by beating Austin Prock, Terry McMillen and Richie Crampton. Scott Palmer set the stage for his second career final round ever with wins over Dan Mercier, Antron Brown and Number One Qualifier Clay Millican. Launching off the final tree of the day, Torrence proved he and CAPCO team were up for the challenge posting a 3.861 ET at 321.58 mph
To say that Steve Torrence is "ON FIRE" is an understatement. The victory at Sunday's NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway also gives Torrence his 13th win in the last 19 races dating back to last season playoffs. It earned the CAPCO driver his 26th Top Fuel Wally since 2017. In addition to clinching a spot in the Countdown to the Championship, Torrence is also nominated for the Best Driver Award at Wednesday night's 2019 ESPY Awards. The 2019 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series marks the start of the three-race western swing, when racing continues on July 19-21 with the 40th annual Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Bandimere Speedway in Denver CO.
