57th NHRA Winternationals: Hagan and Pritchett Dominate, Do The Double for Mopar and Dodge.
Mopar-powered machines of the Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) stable were the stars of the 57th NHRA Winternationals. Matt Hagan won the Funny Car portion of the event in his Mopar Express Lane Dodge Charger R/T, while Leah Pritchett claimed the Top Fuel crown in her Papa John's Pizza/Mopar Pennzoil Dragster. The win was the 23rd of Hagan's career, while Pritchett earned her second Top Fuel Wally.
Hagan, the No. 1 qualifier in Funny Car on Saturday, tying both his national elapsed time and top speed records. Hagan worked his way through the ladder on Sunday, defeating two Mopar Dodge teammates en route to facing Courtney Force in the final. Hagan laid down an elapsed time of 3.875 seconds at 330.07 mph in the left lane to win the title.
Four DSR Funny Cars advanced to the second round, with Hagan moving on to face defending event winner and 2016 champion Ron Capps in the semifinals. Hagan bettered his Mopar teammate after Capps redlit at the starting line. Hagan's run was not without drama, however, as his car broke loose and he nearly crossed the center line before getting the machine righted. Hagan beat Jeff Diehl in the first round, then won the matchup against teammate Jack Beckman in the Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T in round two. Beckman had defeated Cruz Pedregon in the first round. Tommy Johnson Jr. and his Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger R/T defeated Alexis DeJoria in the first round before being bested by John Force.
In Top Fuel, Leah Pritchett could not have scripted a better homecoming. A native-son of the Southern California town of Redlands, Pritchett won her second career national event in Top Fuel in her third career final round. She bested Doug Kalitta from the right lane with a pass of 3.711 seconds at 324.98 mph. Pritchett was also the first female No. 1 qualifier in Top Fuel at the Winternationals since the legendary Shirley Muldowney accomplished the feat in 1977.
Of 15 cars entered in the Top Fuel class, Pritchett earned a first round bye before topping Steve Torrence in the second round. She then defeated her Mopar and DSR teammate, eight-time champ Tony Schumacher, in the semis before winning the final matchup with Kalitta. Schumacher and his U.S. Army Top Fuel Dragster beat Scott Palmer in the first round and Brittany Force in the second before facing Pritchett.
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