Whether it was coincidence or not, John Medlen’s timing with Don Schumacher Racing’s Diehard Funny Car could not have been any better.

Shortly after joining DSR in mid-March to serve as co-crew chief with Tommy Delago on the car driven by Matt Hagan, the team started winning.

Hagan reached the winner’s circle at O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Spring Nationals in April at Houston and then he won again at the United Association Route 66 Nationals in June in Chicago.

“Anytime you bring a guy in like John Medlen, your team is going to benefit from it, and we saw the benefit from him,” said Hagan, who is competing in the Mile-High Nationals in Morrison, Colo., Friday through Sunday. “We won two races and the first day he was onboard we set a mph record. John, though, really didn’t change anything in our program; he just massaged it a little bit. The biggest thing I saw personally was that John was helping us with calls on the race track. He was really reading the race track and stuff like that.”

Whether it was coincidence or not, John Medlen’s timing with Don Schumacher Racing’s Diehard Funny Car could not have been any better.

Shortly after joining DSR in mid-March to serve as co-crew chief with Tommy Delago on the car driven by Matt Hagan, the team started winning.

Hagan reached the winner’s circle at O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Spring Nationals in April at Houston and then he won again at the United Association Route 66 Nationals in June in Chicago.

“Anytime you bring a guy in like John Medlen, your team is going to benefit from it, and we saw the benefit from him,” said Hagan, who is competing in the Mile-High Nationals in Morrison, Colo., Friday through Sunday. “We won two races and the first day he was onboard we set a mph record. John, though, really didn’t change anything in our program; he just massaged it a little bit. The biggest thing I saw personally was that John was helping us with calls on the race track. He was really reading the race track and stuff like that.”

Hagan set the national (1,000-foot) top-speed record at 316.15 mph in Gainesville, Fla., in March. It has since been eclipsed by Ashley Force Hood at 316.38 mph. At Chicago, he established a new elapsed-time record at 4.022 seconds.

Medlen spent 15 years at John Force Racing before joining DSR in mid-March. Medlen was the crew chief for former JFR driver Tony Pedregon when he won the 2003 world championship.

To Hagan’s surprise, on June 20, Don Schumacher moved Medlen from Hagan’s car and made him the crew chief of the NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Funny Car driven by Ron Capps. Medlen replaced Ed “Ace” McCulloch. McCulloch stayed at DSR and is assisting Medlen and the NAPA team.

“It has kind of been Tommy Delago’s combination the whole time, so when Don (Schumacher) came in and said he’s (Medlen) off your team and he’s going to be on the NAPA car, yeah I was disappointed,” Hagan said. “You take a set of eyes like that and a mind behind it, you hate to lose somebody like that.”

Capps won his first race of the season this past Sunday at the Fram-Autolite Nationals at Sonoma, Calif. Meanwhile, in the last three races since Medlen switched teams, Hagan has made it to the semis twice at Seattle and Sonoma.

“I hated to see John go, and obviously he and Ace are working well together over at the NAPA car,” Hagan said. “Sure, would I love to have him (Medlen) back on my team? Absolutely. I think anytime you have a guy like John on your team, you’re going to do better. Do I think we’ve struggled because he (Medlen) is gone? Not really. We’ve been really trying to work with our confidence on hot weather tracks, and Tommy (Delago) is getting a handle on that. For me, I’m just trying to keep in a groove when we’re running hard out there. It is a whole combination of different stuff and I really think you’re going to see our third win really soon. I really feel in my heart it is right around the corner.”

Although this is only Hagan’s second season competing fulltime in the NHRA Funny Car ranks, he understands the business side of Schumacher’s decision.

“Don has a reason for doing that stuff,” the 27-year-old Hagan said. “I’m an employee here and I do what he says. There’s a method to his madness and we’re just kind of watching it unfold.”

Hagan believes once the temperatures start dropping, Delago and his team will be a force.

“When tracks get cool again, like they will be in the Countdown, you better hang on because he (Delago) swings for the fence, and it’s going to get exciting,” Hagan said. “We went out there and set the national record in Chicago, and there’s so much left in the bank, it is not even funny. I have so much confidence when we roll into the Countdown, I’m really looking forward to seeing what is going to happen. The crew chiefs are like mad scientists in there, they’re trying so many combinations and different stuff, and to each car his own. Just because it works for the NAPA car doesn’t mean it will work for our car. We tried some new stuff and it didn’t always work, so right now, we’re still rubbing that same combination we had last year and Tommy is doing a good job with it. It is his deal and he has a pretty good handle on it and our assistant crew chief Glen Huszar, he is doing a good job as well.”

According to Hagan, Huszar has had to handle more duties with Medlen’s departure.

“Glen (Huszar) has kind of had to step in and take Medlen’s place as far as reading the track,” Hagan said. “I used to sit in the car and Medlen would come on the radio four or five times and he would say I think the track is better here or it is a little greasy here, we need to watch it at this place. Tommy Delago is sitting under the car and he’s making the calls. Now, Tommy can’t be both places at once, so it has kind of been up to our assistant crew chief (Huszar) to make those calls. I think he is doing a good job stepping up. He has some big shoes to fill there, but we’re getting there slowly but surely. I have a lot of confidence in both of the guys.”

Unlike last season, when Hagan was knocked out at the U.S. Nationals for a chance to be in the Countdown 1 championship playoff, Hagan has no such worries this year. Hagan is fourth in the point standings and he has secured a spot in the 10-driver Countdown.

“Last year we were on the ground on our hands and knees trying to scratch and fight and kick to get in there,” Hagan said. “It means a lot to be locked into the Countdown because last year it so disappointing not to be able to run for a championship when we knew we had a good car. This year being locked in early is a great feeling. It’s kind of like some pressure is off of you a little bit. We do not get a lot of test days, so I really think you’re going to see at these next couple of races (the Mile-High Nationals, and the Lucas Oil Nationals in Brainerd, Minn.) maybe these crew chiefs trying some new stuff. Obviously, they want to win the race, but everything starts over in the Countdown (at the U.S. Nationals) and they’re getting their game plans together. Who knows, you might see some wild stuff take place. I’m not saying it will, but these crew chiefs are always thinking outside the box.”

Hagan is anxious to see what he and Delago can accomplish in the thin air at the Mile-High Nationals.

“After talking to Tommy (Wednesday night), he’s probably going to go to the combination we had here (at the Mile-High Nationals) last year,” Hagan said. “We went to the second round and the only reason we didn’t win it was because the air bottle that feeds the car was low on pressure and it didn’t set the timers and stuff off. We have a good combination and I’m looking for us to do well. Tommy has a good handle on it.”