MORRISON — On Sunday afternoon, fans simply sat back and appreciated Bandimere Speedway’s final moments.
They crowded the bleachers while the sun beamed down on their heads as they consumed the fumes from the cars that sped down the track. Ear plugs were the only things between them and the thunderous roar of the engines.
On the last day that the NHRA Mile-High Nationals would be hosted at the 65-year-old racetrack, Matt Hagan gave a sold-out crowd, who waited hours in traffic and consumed countless bottles of water to stay hydrated, a moment to remember.
Hagan, a three-time NHRA Funny Car world champion, edged out Alexis DeJoria to win the Mile-High Nationals. Sitting inside the Dodge Direct Connection Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car, Hagan earned his second Wally Award at Bandimere Speedway in 4.135 seconds (304.25 miles per hour).
DeJoria finished second, crossing the line in 4.217 seconds (251.34 miles per hour).
“I need to go buy a lottery ticket,” Hagan said after picking up his 47th career win. “It was one of those weekends that was magical and super emotional.”
Hagan, who earned his fourth win of the season, capped off a strong weekend for the Tony Stewart Racing team. He entered the elimination round as the top qualifier before defeating Ron Capps in the semifinals.
“The Funny Car category is tough. It’s a dog fight,” he said. “You have your hands full out there in every race.”
Hagan struggled to describe the emotions of winning the last race at the Bandimere Speedway as he felt overwhelmed thinking about his accomplishment on the mountain.
“That type of stuff (is what) you process when you get home,” Hagan said. “You look at that trophy and know (it’s) the very last one. It’s incredible.”
Pro Stock Motorcycle: Gaige Herrera earned his first victory on the mountain, defeating Angie Smith in the final round. Herrera crossed the finish line in 7.103 seconds (187.73 miles per hour).
“I’m on cloud nine,” said Herrera, who has four career wins. “(In) the last few races, I’ve had some bad luck. To be able to bounce back here is an amazing feeling.”
Pro Stock: Troy Coughlin Jr. defeated Dallas Glenn in a nail-biter. Coughlin claimed the Mile-High Nationals championship in 6.933 seconds (196.64 miles per hour), while Glenn finished second in 6.949 seconds (195.62 miles per hour).
The win marked Coughlin’s second of the year and first at Bandimere.
“The guys at Elite Motorsports (gave me) a good car to drive,” Coughlin said. “It (has) got great power, and everything’s falling together. It’s just flying.”
Coughlin said moments like Sunday fuel his obsession with the sport.
“That’s the hook,” he said. “You practice situations like that in your mind all the time. You love it.”
Top Fuel: Clay Millican smoked Doug Kalitta. Millican, the No. 5 qualifier, stood victorious with the Wally Award in hand after placing first in 3.872 seconds at 299.60 miles per hour.
“The only way for me to lose this race was for me to do something wrong,” Millican said after claiming his fifth career win and first at Bandimere. “Thank the man upstairs that I didn’t do anything wrong. It’s awesome.”
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