Matt Hagan would prefer to have been one of the first seven NHRA Funny Car drivers to win a national event title this year to earn spots in the Sept. 2 Traxxas Nitro Shootout during qualifying for the U.S. Nationals near Indianapolis.
The popular driver of the Mopar/Aaron's Dodge Charger R/T for Don Schumacher Racing, however, fell short and now must rely on his legion of fans and then a lucky lottery draw to get the eighth and final spot in the Traxxas Funny Car field that will pay the winner $100,000.
A new website, Vote4Hagan.com, was introduced tonight at the Mopar Block Party in Golden that kicks of this weekend's Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at nearby Bandimere Speedway.
Vote4Hagan.com is the first cog in the political machine that's ready to fire up this weekend to gain support for the 29-year-old father of two in Christiansburg, Va.
Those wanting to vote for Hagan will have to wait until August 19 on NHRA's Facebook page that will open once that day's racing in the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals is completed at Brainerd, Minn.
"I'm not really a political guy," Hagan says in a soon-to-be released campaign video. "I don't go left, I don't go right ... I just go straight ... really, REALLY fast.
"And I NEED your vote!"
The vote tally will not solely determine who gets the No. 8 spot in the Shootout, but the more votes he gets will gives him more chances of winning the weighted-lottery drawing.
Voting closes on NHRA's Facebook.com page on Aug. 28 at noon (EDT) and the winner will be announced the following day at noon during the NHRA Fan Fest at Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis.
There will be some unique aspects to the Vote4Hagan.com campaign so keep going to the website for the latest news.
And as the reigning NHRA Funny Car world champion, Hagan insists on saying:
"I'm Matt Hagan, and I endorse this message."
