Following a dominant run that included three victories in the first four NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship events, Tony Schumacher holds a commanding 134-point lead in Top Fuel with two playoff races remaining.
But after making two of the most amazing comebacks in NHRA history in 2006 and 2007 to win world championships, Schumacher is determined not to let it happen to him and his 10,000-horsepower U.S. Army dragster this season.
That is reason enough for Schumacher to stay focused heading into this weekend’s 14th annual NHRA Toyota Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, despite the impressive lead over Doug Kalitta. The event is the penultimate race of the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship and nothing would please Schumacher more than to close out his eighth world championship early.
“The way we look at it, there are eight (elimination) races to go,” Schumacher said. “All we can do, without knowing what else is going to happen, is to go out and win those races. That’s all we can count on. We don’t know what the other guys are going to do. They’re a ways behind us in the points, but not so far back that it’s unattainable. I’ve been that car that needed eight rounds and did it, so I’m at least one guy who knows for sure that it can be done.
“So I’m not taking it lightly. We want to show up, go out and absolutely show what a great team, what a championship organization this U.S. Army team truly is. And then we can go away for two months and come back and do it all over again next year.”
Antron Brown (Top Fuel), John Force (Funny Car), Shane Gray (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year’s winners of the event that will once again be televised nationally on ESPN2.
It would be hard to bet against Schumacher closing it out in Las Vegas considering the dominant stretch he and his U.S. Army team, led by crew chief Mike Green, have put together during the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship.
He fired off an incredible opening statement by winning back-to-back races to open the Countdown and hasn’t looked back against a star-studded Top Fuel field. After a minor hiccup in St. Louis, Schumacher responded by winning the last event in Reading, knocking off Kalitta and Steve Torrence, who is third in points, in the process to cement his lead.
Factor in Schumacher’s eight career victories at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and it is obvious to see that things are coming together for the longtime star at the perfect time.
“What attributes to our success when we have it is timing,” said Schumacher, who has 77 career wins. “All the cars run really well a lot of the time. One factor is having the right reaction time with the right car at the right time, and that wins championships. The bottom line is, when you need it, can you get it? This year, the answer has been yes. We’ve done it by winning some very difficult races. If we can hold on for two more race weekends and win this thing, it’ll be incredibly gratifying.”
It could be one of the most satisfying championships of Schumacher’s career if he is able to close it out, in part because of the struggles he went through a year ago to find a championship combination. But the major factor is clinching a championship when the Top Fuel field is as talented and competitive as it has been in 2014.
“It’s been probably as gratifying a season as any I’ve had to date,” Schumacher said. “We worked so hard to get through the adversity of this six-disc clutch program, and so many people criticized us for taking the stand. I was getting fed up with people not knowing and appreciating the awesomeness of Mike Green and Neal Strausbaugh and this U.S. Army team. So, to be in this position, I couldn’t be more proud and I wouldn’t want to do it with any other group of guys in the world.”
But Schumacher knows that closing out the championship won’t be easy against a field that includes the likes of Kalitta, Torrence, Brown, reigning world champion Shawn Langdon, Spencer Massey, reigning Auto Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award winner Brittany Force, Khalid alBalooshi, Richie Crampton and J.R. Todd.
Getting refocused after an extended three-week break between playoff races will also be a challenge, but Schumacher knows what awaits if he repeats his earlier Countdown success at the NHRA Toyota Nationals.
“What we have in our favor is that we were great at Vegas and we were great at Pomona at the start of the season,” said Schumacher, who won the spring race in Las Vegas. “So the last thing we’ll be doing this weekend, in my opinion, is being defensive. We need to be going fast from the get-go. We’ve all seen it in the past where people try to get conservative and they end up shaking the tires and that’s the end of it. Our goal is to win these last two events and leave absolutely nothing on the table.”
In Funny Car, Force locked up his 16th world championship in Las Vegas last season but he is chasing points leader Matt Hagan with two races to go. Hagan, searching for his second world title, won in Reading to jump to first and is trying to hold off a field that also includes Courtney Force, three-time season winner Alexis DeJoria, Tommy Johnson Jr., Robert Hight, Ron Capps, Tim Wilkerson, Del Worsham and three-time Las Vegas winner Cruz Pedregon.
In Pro Stock, one of the most intense playoff battles is brewing between as many as five drivers. Jason Line leads the pack while Erica Enders-Stevens, Dave Connolly, Gray and Allen Johnson are all within striking range of a championship. Jonathan Gray, Jeg Coughlin, V Gaines, Vincent Nobile and Chris McGaha round out the Countdown field.
Smith was victorious in Pro Stock Motorcycle last season en route to his second championship ring. But the 2014 season has belonged to Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson teammates Andrew Hines and Eddie Krawiec. Both have won this event three times and Hines holds a 25-point advantage over Krawiec. Hector Arana Jr. is in third and other marquee challengers in the two-wheeled category are Steve Johnson, Angie Smith, Scotty Pollacheck, John Hall, Hector Arana Sr. Michael Ray, Jerry Savoie and Angelle Sampey.
The event will also feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and one driver will be crowned world champion at the season finale in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.
As always, fans will have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers as they’re granted an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. This unique opportunity in motorsports gives fans direct access to the teams, allowing them to see firsthand the highly-skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds, and enjoy some cherished face time and get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers.
Fans also will want to visit NHRA’s popular Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create a carnival atmosphere, with interactive displays, simulated competitions, merchandise, food and fun for the entire family.
Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying begins Friday, Oct. 31, with sessions at 1 and 4 p.m. The final two qualifying sessions will take place Saturday, Nov. 1, at 1 and 4 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 2.
To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, call The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway at (800) 644-4444 or visit www.LVMS.com. For more information about the NHRA visit www.NHRA.com.
About Me: Adam has been a race fan since the first time he went through the tunnel under the Daytona International Speedway almost 30 years ago. He has had the privilege of travelling to races all across the state of Florida (as well as one race in Ohio), watching nearly everything with a motor compete for fame and glory, as well as participating in various racing schools to get the feel of what racecar drivers go through every week. Adam has spent the last three years covering motorsports for Examiner.com., where he had the opportunity to see the racing world from behind the scenes as well as the grandstands. He invites everyone to follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and Google Plus, and looks forward to sharing his enthusiasm for all things racing with the readers of SpeedwayDigest.com.Be sure to tune in for his weekly sports talk program, Thursday Night Thunder, where he discusses the latest in motorsports news with drivers, crew members, and fans. The show takes place every Thursday at 8:00 pm EST on the Speedway Digest Radio Network.
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