CONCORD, N.C. -- Matt Hagan raced to the first 3-second Funny Car run in NHRA history during Friday night qualifying at the O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at zMAX Dragway.
With the run Hagan joined Larry Dixon, Jason Line and Eddie Krawiec, as the provisional No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories at the 17th of 22 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.
It is the first of six races in the NHRA Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship, the six-race playoffs to determine the world championships.
Hagan made NHRA history when he powered his Dodge Charger to a 3.995-second run, the quickest in NHRA Funny Car history, at 316.23 mph Friday night to take the provisional No. 1 spot.
If it stands, it would be his third No. 1 qualifier of the season and ninth of his career.
"To be a part of history and be the first person in the 3-second range, that's something that they can never take away from you," Hagan said.
"I just can't say enough about Tommy DeLago (crew chief). What a mad scientist that guy is to put a race car like that underneath me. My guys just do such a great job and it's incredible. It's just a real testimony to how good of a job they do."
The previous quickest run in NHRA history was a 4.005-second pass set by Robert Hight in 2008 in Richmond.
While Hagan made the quickest Funny Car pass in NHRA history, his Don Schumacher Racing teammate Jack Beckman made the fastest, posting a 318.92 mph qualifying run in his Dodge Charger. Beckman sits in the provisional third spot in the field.
Dixon raced his dragster to the top of the Top Fuel field. His run of 3.784 at 324.83 mph was strong enough to take the provisional No. 1 qualifier. If it stands, it would be his third No. 1 qualifier of the season and 51st of his career.
Dixon's teammate and points leader Del Worsham sits in the provisional third spot, while Mac Tools U.S. Nationals winner Antron Brown holds the provisional second spot in the field.
In Pro Stock, Line powered his Pontiac GXP to the provisional top spot in Pro Stock, followed closely by KB Racing teammate and points leader Greg Anderson, who sits in the second provisional spot.
Line took the provisional No. 1 with a run of 6.520 at 212.66. If it stands, it would be his third No. 1 qualifier in a row, fifth of the season and 22nd of his career.
Krawiec rode his Harley-Davidson to the top of the field in Pro Stock Motorcycle with a run of 6.833, a track record, at 196.70.
If it stands, it would be Krawiec's third No. 1 qualifier of the season and ninth of his career.
Qualifying will continue tomorrow with sessions at 11:15 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. Eliminations will begin Sunday at noon.