HAGAN AND MEDLEN FORM SPECIAL BOND
Tue, 2010-04-13 17:00
John Medlen knows the look and sees it when he looks into Matt Hagan’s eyes.
“Ojo de la Tigre,” Medlen conveys.
In case your Spanish is a little rusty Ojo de la Tigre means Eye of the Tiger.
It’s been almost a month since Medlen, a longtime tuner with John Force Racing shocked the drag racing world with the news he was not only leaving the team but also joining the Don Schumacher Racing operation. John Medlen knows the look and sees it when he looks into Matt Hagan’s eyes.
“Ojo de la Tigre,” Medlen conveys.
In case your Spanish is a little rusty Ojo de la Tigre means Eye of the Tiger.
It’s been almost a month since Medlen, a longtime tuner with John Force Racing shocked the drag racing world with the news he was not only leaving the team but also joining the Don Schumacher Racing operation.
Don Schumacher, who has proven capable over the last decade of matching the right personnel, assigned his new free agent acquisition with the youngest member of the six-car nitro team – Matt Hagan.
The youthful Hagan, a 28 year old cattle farmer from Christiansburg, Va., has been non-stop in learning the many life’s lessons Medlen has to offer. His experience isn’t limited to being a better person as Hagan conveys, Medlen knows a thing or two about racing.
“He has so much to offer, the guy’s a computer,” Hagan explained. “You just have to sit down and talk to him, and every time he and I have a chance to chat I learn something new. Especially about the safety stuff, he brings a lot to the table with the Medlen Project. His concern is for the safety of the drivers and safety for the crew and everybody. I think that’s going to benefit our team a lot but, the guy is so knowledgeable and he’s very open to working with Tommy, and Tommy’s open to working with him. I just think it’s going to be a great fit for our team over here at DSR. He’s doing a lot of stuff behind the scenes with the R&D stuff.”
Luckily for Medlen, Hagan becomes a sponge around the master.
“I see a very encouraged, very eager and very hungry young man that’s driving himself really hard physically and mentally to do a great job,” Medlen said. “He is, he’s doing a great job. The applications he has are showing in the everyday race car. Come back after a horrific explosion and sit back in that car like nothing ever happened. He’s a fine rising star.”
Medlen’s energy is contagious for the team which has scored a quarter-final, semi-final and final round appearance in the three events since his appointment.
“I don’t know how old Medlen is but he sure is a lively guy,” Hagan said. “He’s always got a lot of positive comments and whenever you bring a positive person into your team it’s going to carry throughout everybody. You lead by example and I think that he does that. He’s a very positive guy even when the chips are down … he’s always got some good comment to say. I really feel that we’re going to have a very successful season this year. It’s one of those things where we’ve proven we can run fast and Tommy’s got a good handle on his race car and with Mr. Medlen over here hopefully he can bring some consistency to our program.”
The two connected at first introduction, and somewhere along the line it could be said Medlen sees a lot of Eric Medlen in Hagan.
Hagan, who looks like more of a football linebacker than a Funny Car driver, isn’t offended in the least if Medlen sees his son Eric in him.
Eric Medlen was killed in a testing accident in March 2007.
“I don’t think you can be out here with a lot of young drivers and not think back,” said Hagan. “It wouldn’t bother me at all if he felt that way. I’m just a big piece of clay waiting to be molded. I’m going to pay attention to anybody. With a guy that has his experience and reputation when he speaks you listen. That’s what I’m trying to do is just take in everything that he says and if he says it it’s for a reason.”
Medlen believes Hagan and Eric are comparable in many areas, especially in willingness to learn and dedication to achieving success. Hagan was driving a Pro Modified at the time the second-generation Medlen died.
“He wants to do well so bad that he continues to strive every day. He comes here every race and weights himself to make sure he’s continuing to lose weight. That’s a subject a lot of drivers would say, ‘oh well.”
“He is driven to improve day by day. A measure of an individual is how willing he is to make a personal sacrifice. Sometimes the comfort level takes precedence over what you really need to do. In that case what I see, I see the eye of the tiger like I saw in Eric. It gives me chills to talk about it because that’s huge. I think a lot of it comes from, in Eric’s case as well as Matt’s case they’ve viewed this from afar for so many years that their desire kept building and building until one day that seat becomes available all that waiting and anticipation comes to a focus and comes to reality.”
“Ojo de la Tigre,” Medlen conveys.
In case your Spanish is a little rusty Ojo de la Tigre means Eye of the Tiger.
It’s been almost a month since Medlen, a longtime tuner with John Force Racing shocked the drag racing world with the news he was not only leaving the team but also joining the Don Schumacher Racing operation. John Medlen knows the look and sees it when he looks into Matt Hagan’s eyes.
“Ojo de la Tigre,” Medlen conveys.
In case your Spanish is a little rusty Ojo de la Tigre means Eye of the Tiger.
It’s been almost a month since Medlen, a longtime tuner with John Force Racing shocked the drag racing world with the news he was not only leaving the team but also joining the Don Schumacher Racing operation.
Don Schumacher, who has proven capable over the last decade of matching the right personnel, assigned his new free agent acquisition with the youngest member of the six-car nitro team – Matt Hagan.
The youthful Hagan, a 28 year old cattle farmer from Christiansburg, Va., has been non-stop in learning the many life’s lessons Medlen has to offer. His experience isn’t limited to being a better person as Hagan conveys, Medlen knows a thing or two about racing.
“He has so much to offer, the guy’s a computer,” Hagan explained. “You just have to sit down and talk to him, and every time he and I have a chance to chat I learn something new. Especially about the safety stuff, he brings a lot to the table with the Medlen Project. His concern is for the safety of the drivers and safety for the crew and everybody. I think that’s going to benefit our team a lot but, the guy is so knowledgeable and he’s very open to working with Tommy, and Tommy’s open to working with him. I just think it’s going to be a great fit for our team over here at DSR. He’s doing a lot of stuff behind the scenes with the R&D stuff.”
Luckily for Medlen, Hagan becomes a sponge around the master.
“I see a very encouraged, very eager and very hungry young man that’s driving himself really hard physically and mentally to do a great job,” Medlen said. “He is, he’s doing a great job. The applications he has are showing in the everyday race car. Come back after a horrific explosion and sit back in that car like nothing ever happened. He’s a fine rising star.”
Medlen’s energy is contagious for the team which has scored a quarter-final, semi-final and final round appearance in the three events since his appointment.
“I don’t know how old Medlen is but he sure is a lively guy,” Hagan said. “He’s always got a lot of positive comments and whenever you bring a positive person into your team it’s going to carry throughout everybody. You lead by example and I think that he does that. He’s a very positive guy even when the chips are down … he’s always got some good comment to say. I really feel that we’re going to have a very successful season this year. It’s one of those things where we’ve proven we can run fast and Tommy’s got a good handle on his race car and with Mr. Medlen over here hopefully he can bring some consistency to our program.”
The two connected at first introduction, and somewhere along the line it could be said Medlen sees a lot of Eric Medlen in Hagan.
Hagan, who looks like more of a football linebacker than a Funny Car driver, isn’t offended in the least if Medlen sees his son Eric in him.
Eric Medlen was killed in a testing accident in March 2007.
“I don’t think you can be out here with a lot of young drivers and not think back,” said Hagan. “It wouldn’t bother me at all if he felt that way. I’m just a big piece of clay waiting to be molded. I’m going to pay attention to anybody. With a guy that has his experience and reputation when he speaks you listen. That’s what I’m trying to do is just take in everything that he says and if he says it it’s for a reason.”
Medlen believes Hagan and Eric are comparable in many areas, especially in willingness to learn and dedication to achieving success. Hagan was driving a Pro Modified at the time the second-generation Medlen died.
“He wants to do well so bad that he continues to strive every day. He comes here every race and weights himself to make sure he’s continuing to lose weight. That’s a subject a lot of drivers would say, ‘oh well.”
“He is driven to improve day by day. A measure of an individual is how willing he is to make a personal sacrifice. Sometimes the comfort level takes precedence over what you really need to do. In that case what I see, I see the eye of the tiger like I saw in Eric. It gives me chills to talk about it because that’s huge. I think a lot of it comes from, in Eric’s case as well as Matt’s case they’ve viewed this from afar for so many years that their desire kept building and building until one day that seat becomes available all that waiting and anticipation comes to a focus and comes to reality.”
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