This weekend, the National Hot Rod Association will hit the ignition switch on their 2011 season with the 51st running of the Winternationals in Pomona, CA. One competitor who will be assaulting the drag strip is Matt Hagan driving an 8,000 horsepower fire-breathing, HEMI®-Powered Dodge Charger Funny Car. However, when he’s not tearing up the strip on the weekends, he is behind the wheel of a Ram truck.
Matt Hagan and his Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car have been giving the brand X guys a run for their money in highly competitive NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. Matt even managed a runner-up finish in the championship chase in 2010. Along the way, Matt took down some heavy hitters who have been racing since before he was born. Oh, and did we mention this is only Matt’s third year behind the wheel? When Matt’s not traveling the grueling NHRA circuit, he can be found on his family’s 500-acre Angus cattle farm in Virginia where his ride of choice is his Ram 5500 Chassis Cab.
Matt recently purchased this brand-new Ram 5500 Chassis Cab to assist him in his duties on the family farm, far away from the bright lights and the deafening roar of the NHRA circuit. The 28-year-old NHRA star raved about his new Ram 5500 the way his growing legions of fans rave about him.
“I use the Ram 5500 to unload and roll out hay on the farm,” said Hagan. “That 5500 is a real truck. It would flat pull a house down if you hooked it up to it. The Cummins Turbo Diesel power gets it done at home on the farm and everywhere else.”
Hagan bought the truck from Shelor Motor Mile, his family’s dealership in Christiansburg, Va. The facility sells vehicles for a number of manufacturers, giving Hagan the opportunity to choose from a wide range of trucks and the Ram stood out head and shoulders above the competitors.
“I had the opportunity to drive any truck that I wanted. I tried them all out, and the Ram was the one I liked,” said Hagan of his purchase. “I haul a lot of hay and a lot of cattle, and it’s one of those things where you have to have a dependable truck. You can’t have a load of cattle brake down on the side of the road. That’s why I chose the Ram 5500, and it’s been a great truck so far. I’m very happy with it.”
