Matt Hagan, center, was joined by Amy Martin, recipient of the Rising Star award, and Dick Jordan, representing the short-track winners, at the AARWBA dinner in Indianapolis Sunday.

NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series champs Matt Hagan and Del Worsham were named to the American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association (AARWBA) All-America Race Team at AARWBA's annual awards dinner held in Indianapolis Sunday evening. This honor was voted on by members of the media, and the two drivers were chosen as part of the prestigious First Team. This was the first time that both drivers have been named to the First Team and follows their championship seasons in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.

Hagan, in just his third full season of Funny Car competition for Don Schumacher Racing, was selected to the First Team because of his two wins, four No. 1 qualifying positions, and his national-record-setting pass of 3.995 at the second Charlotte race.

“It is such an honor to be recognized by members of the media and to be voted into the All-America Race Team by AARWBA members,” said Hagan. “To be included on a team with these champions from other major racing series in the U.S. is very humbling. This has been a whirlwind year for me and the DieHard/Shelor Motor Mile Dodge Funny Car team. We struggled early on, we kept our focus and came out on top. It’s great to be rewarded, and I’m happy to share this honor with crew chief Tommy DeLago and the rest of the DSR crew.”

Worsham, who recently stepped out of the driver’s seat to become the crew chief for Alexis DeJoria, added this award to his list of accomplishments in his 25-year driving career. His eight wins and three runner-up finishes during his return to Top Fuel with Al-Anabi Racing helped secure his first Full Throttle championship and his inclusion in this select group.

Hagan and Worsham join John Force, Tony Schumacher, Larry Dixon, Don Garlits, Don Prudhomme, Ronnie Sox, and many other NHRA racers to be honored by AARWBA since the inception of the organization in 1970.   

Antron Brown and Jason Line were named to the Second Team in the drag racing category, and Frank Manzo was named to the Second Team At Large category.

Also honored during the evening were Will Power and Dario Franchitti in Open Wheel; Bryan Clauson and Kyle Larson in Short Track; Austin Dillon and Andrew Davis in Touring Series; Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart in Stock Car Racing; the duos of Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas and Chris Dyson and Guy Smith in Road Racing; and Josef Newgarden and Patrick Long in At Large.
 

The 2012 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season kicks off Feb. 9-12 at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona with the 52nd annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals presented by Super Start Batteries. Click here to get your tickets.