NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Matt Hagan scored in Funny Car the Magic Dry Organic Absorbent NHRA Arizona Nationals for the third time in five years, defeating world champ J.R. Todd in the final round for his 30th career win.

Hagan, who was 0-2 lifetime in final rounds against the world champ – both coming last year, in Indy and Las Vegas – easily reversed that trend when Todd’s DHL Toyota backfired just off the line, triggering the safety system. Hagan’s Sandvik Coromant Dodge raced to the title with a 3.890, his fourth straight three-second pass of eliminations and his sixth in seven runs at the event. 

Todd, who was appearing in his seventh final round in the last nine events stretching back into 2018, nonetheless gave team owner Connie Kalitta a great outing on the legend’s 81st birthday.

[Round 1 recap | Round 2 recap | Semifinal recap]