TULSA, Okla. — When Matt Hagan did not qualify for the eight-car Nitro Funny Car field at the Northern Nationals in Martin, Mich., three weeks ago, the prevailing thought was that his championship hopes flew out the window. After he stopped Andy Kelley to claim the Ironman Sunday at Tulsa Raceway Park, those title hopes, which seemed so slim in Michigan, roared back to life.
In the blistering heat at Tulsa Raceway Park, Hagan stopped Kelley, the champion at US 131 Motorsports Park three weeks ago, in the final round to claim the Nitro Funny Car Ironman at the Skull Shine Sooner Nationals. The victory over Kelley capped a brilliant weekend for Hagan that saw him win 10 Last Man Standing bonus points, qualify No. 1 overall and end up pulling to within 51 points of Terry Haddock at the top of the standings.
“I felt like someone ripped my guts out and was stomping on them,” Hagan said about his DNQ in Martin. “To be in the position we were in, having done so well and having won two races, that DNQ it felt like someone took a stick and hit me in the head.”
Hagan turned in  a career-best 4.994 run at 306.26 mph during Saturday evening qualifying. He followed that up with a string of steady runs in the 5.100-second range to march through eliminations. He knocked off Kelley in the final by clocking a 5.113 at 301.81 mph to topple Kelley’s 5.194/285.83 pass.
Spencer Massey won his fourth Top Fuel Ironman of the season, giving himself some breathing room atop the national standings, when he defeated Terry McMillen in the final at Tulsa Raceway Park. The win, coupled with his semifinal victory over Bruce Litton, gave him a 73-point advantage in Top Fuel.
Pro Modified contender Kenny Lang defeated points leader Mike Castellana in the final round to “hold serve” and keep control of his own destiny in the chase for the championship. Lang ran a 6.272 at 230.96 mph to drive past Castellana’s tire-shaking 7.060/158.73 in the final.
Dale Brand was able to derail the Alcohol Funny Car train that is Laurie Cannister, handing her only her third round-loss of the season in the final. Cannister has all but clinched the 2008 AFC world championship, but for one day Brand was at the top of the heap. He set a track record in the final round, clocking a 5.764 at 247.29 mph, to win his first Ironman of the season.
In Pro Stock, Pete Berner knocked off John Montecalvo in the finals.
The results:
Top Fuel: Spencer Massey, 4.891 seconds, 304.94 mph  def. Terry McMillen, 8.186 seconds, 104.39 mph.
Nitro Funny Car: Matt Hagan, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.113, 301.81  def. Andy Kelley, Chevy Camaro, 5.194, 285.83.
Pro Modified: Kenny Lang, Chevy Corvette, 6.272, 230.96 def. Mike Castellana, Pontiac Firebird, 7.060, 158.73.
Alcohol Funny Car: Dale Brand, Chevy Camaro, 5.764, 247.29  def. Laurie Cannister, Camaro, 5.824, 242.80.
Pro Stock: Pete Berner, Pontiac GXP, 6.402, 218.58  def. John Montecalvo, Chevy Cobalt, 6.411, 219.36.
Top Sportsman: Scooter Hampton, Pontiac Firebird, 7.718, 173.18  def. Bob Storie, Chevy Corvette, 6.973, 201.61.
Top Dragster: Brian Folk, Dragster, 7.573, 155.67  def. Steve Evans, Dragster, broke.
Super Stock: Tony Cowell, Chevy Camaro, 10.729, 123.80 def. Paul Blackmon, Oldsmobile Calais, 10.648, 123.52.