Hi everyone!

I hope you are as excited about the upcoming season as I am! I’m looking forward to getting in the BrakeSafe hot rod and trying to get a few wins under my belt, but I’d like to tell you a little bit about myself before the season gets started.
 
As you can probably tell, I love driving a fast hot rod. I don't care if it’s a dragster, Funny Car or a Pro Mod -- I just want it to be fast and very competitive (I think the competitive part is the most important part of it – there’s nothing worse than being out there making laps just to make them!).
 
That’s why this BrakeSafe/DSR program is so exciting. Having a sponsor like BrakeSafe (Rear-end collision Avoidance System – gotta get the whole thing in there at least once… try saying that five times fast – especially when you’re live on the radio!) is great because they have a product that can really help people while they’re on the road – and that’s something I can get behind and support. Rich Battaglini and all the guys are incredibly supportive and have been really easy to work with – I can’t say thank you enough for the opportunity they’ve given me.
 
As far as DSR, they have everything in place to make me a front-runner in my first full year in NHRA. Their equipment is phenomenal, and the R&D program is especially beneficial -- it’s always great to think you have an edge on the guy beside you. Most of all, though, are the people around me. I truly believe that if you have good people around you good things will happen, and I can already see that this is going to be the case  -- we have been testing already and I can’t tell you how smart my crew chief, Tommy DeLago is! That guy can make this hot rod run! Oh, and all the guys on the crew are awesome, too… they really have their act together and that makes me even more excited to get out there and see what we can do with this BrakeSafe hot rod.
 
One of the things I like to do when I’m not racing is farming. I have a commercial cow/calf Angus farm and I enjoy working with the animals a lot, but I really enjoy growing crops and putting up hay in the summer. Some people might think it’s hard work, but it’s a stress reliever to me for the simple reason that I’m out there by myself on the tractor planting, cutting and bailing. It gives me time to think about racing and what I can do to be a better driver. It’s rewarding because at the end of the day you can look back at what you have done on the farm and see that you have accomplished something.

But the most important thing to me is family. At 26, I learn every day how blessed and grateful I am to have a beautiful wife and healthy son. No mater how bad of a day I am having, I can come home and that little guy always puts a smile on my face. Just knowing that they are there for me is a great feeling in itself.
 
I can’t wait to get out there and meet you! Please stop by the pit and say hi if you get a chance – you know where I’ll be!
 
Till next time,

Matt Hagan