Funny Car champ Hagan nominated for ESPY's Best Driver award

INDIANAPOLIS — Reigning NHRA Funny Car world champion Matt Hagan has been nominated for the 2024 ESPYS Best Driver Award for his stellar performance during a standout 2023 NHRA championship season. Hagan — who will be in Norwalk this weekend at the Summit Nationals — picked up his fourth career title and the first-ever NHRA world championship for Tony Stewart Racing in his Dodge//SRT Hellcat. This is the first time Hagan has been nominated for the illustrious Best Driver Award, as he entered select Funny Car company in 2023 with his fourth world title. With the championship, Hagan joined legends John Force, Kenny Bernstein and Don Prudhomme as the only Funny Car drivers in NHRA history with four or more world titles. He also gave Tony Stewart Racing its first world title in just its second year. "I'm blown away to be nominated for the ESPYS," Hagan said. "It just goes show what you can do when you're surrounded by a great group of guys who are motivated and work hard. It takes a small army to do what we do, and it does take everyone. It's a huge opportunity, but it's not just me, it's the entire team. "It's a humbling sport and it's a humbling car to drive, and this is a group that just works hard. We're thankful for all the fans who support us and hopefully they'll go out and vote for us, but at the end of the day, I'm just very honored to be nominated." Fans can vote for Hagan until 5 p.m. July 11, three hours before the ESPYS will air at 8 p.m. on ABC. Hagan enjoyed an incredible 2023 season in the Funny Car ranks, picking up six victories and advancing to eight final rounds in the loaded category. He held the points lead for the bulk of the regular season and then got hot at a key time in the Countdown to the Championship, winning back-to-back playoff races in St. Louis and Dallas to take the points lead for good. Other highlights of his banner title season included victories at Gainesville, Pomona 1 and Denver, as well as qualifying No. 1 at Bandimere Speedway. This year, Hagan recorded another milestone, earning his 50th career Funny Car win at the four-wide race in Charlotte, joining Force, Ron Capps and Robert Hight as the only drivers in Funny Car history with 50 or more wins. Hagan and Force are the only Funny Car drivers with four or more world titles and 50 or more wins. Hagan also earned his 51st career victory last month in Chicago and is currently third in points. Joining Hagan on the ESPY Best Driver ballot is NASCAR's Ryan Blaney, IndyCar's Alex Palou and Formula One's Max Verstappen. Hagan — currently third in the season points standings — will be making two qualifying runs at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Friday, and two more at 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday in Norwalk. Final eliminations for the top 16 cars are set for 11 a.m. Sunday. Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 2 p.m. Sunday, with eliminations coverage beginning at 4 p.m. on Sunday on FS1, then moving to FOX at 5 p.m.