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SCHUMACHER CLAIMS 50TH CAREER VICTORY AND EXTENDS WINNING STREAK TO FOUR AT LUCAS OIL NHRA NATIONALS
Local favorite Johnson, Pedregon and Smith also earn victories at Brainerd International Raceway
BRAINERD, Minn. -- Tony Schumacher raced to his fourth consecutive victory and ninth of the season Sunday at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway, and moved within two of all-time Top Fuel wins leader Joe Amato's longstanding record of 52 victories.
Tony Pedregon, Kurt Johnson and Matt Smith also earned victories in their respective categories at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event, the 16th of 18 events in the Countdown to 10, NHRA's regular season. The Countdown to 1, NHRA's six-race championship playoffs, begins Sept. 11-14 at zMax Dragway at Concord, near Charlotte, N.C.
Schumacher powered his U.S. Army dragster to a performance of 3.865 seconds at 310.05 mph to outrun Cory McClenathan's FRAM dragster, which trailed at 3.900 at 306.74 in the final round. Schumacher earned his third win at the scenic Minnesota dragstrip by defeating Rod Fuller and Doug Kalitta in the early rounds.
"These guys are amazing and this is the best team I've ever seen together, just like (John) Force and Amato's teams in their time," Schumacher said of his 50th career victory. "It's unbelievable. Not only have we won a lot of races, but we've won some of the most difficult races with so much pressure. And for whatever reason, I feel like I am driving my best right now. We've got a great team and a great car and the whole package has come together. I don't want to be the weak link in our team so I am working harder than ever. When you have the car that's supposed to win, that's a lot of pressure. I was even nervous in the first round today even though it was a bye run. Now we head to Reading (Pa.) and the pressure will be even bigger, with people asking how we are going to win five in a row."
Pedregon took his fourth Funny Car win of the season at the starting line in his Q-Horsepower Chevy Impala when final round opponent Jack Beckman fouled in his Valvoline/MTS Dodge Stratus. Pedregon's 40th career victory and first-ever at BIR moved him into second place in the season point standings, 141 behind series leader Tim Wilkerson.
"This is the toughest Funny Car era to be racing in, so bad luck on my part," said Pedregon, who beat veteran Jim Head, Melanie Troxel and 14-time world champ Force to advance to the final. "This is my first win at Brainerd and I'm really happy to win here. Every round today was a big challenge to me and the toughest was racing John Force. He's a great competitor and it was a tough race like I thought. There's never a dull moment racing him. Our car preformed well today and we had great conditions. I'm just happy to win a race here today and give great entertainment to all these great fans."
Local favorite Johnson, a native of Virginia, Minn., earned his third Pro Stock victory of the season and 39th of his career with a win over Dave Connolly. Johnson's ACDelco Chevy Cobalt ran 6.671 at 207.05 in the final to hold off Connolly's Charter Communications Cobalt, which clocked a 6.696 at 206.29. It was Johnson's fourth victory at BIR in front of his hometown fans. He in the first three rounds he beat Jim Yates, Mike Edwards and Jeg Coughlin to advance to the final.
"This was a super-great day today," said Johnson, who lived in Minnesota for 18 years before relocating to the Atlanta area. "We were a little behind at first and kept working on it and the car kept getting faster and faster. We had to make some small changes today but overall our Chevrolet was pretty flawless. We get pumped up to race here with all of our friends and family that come out and it does add some pressure, but you just have to perform. Once I get inside the car it's really easy to focus."
With the victory, Johnson moved within 56 of leader Greg Anderson, also a Minnesota native and the event's top qualifier who lost in the second round to Connolly.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Smith overcame a bout with Kidney Stones to claim his third win of the season and ninth of his career. He rode his NitroFish Wear Buell to a 6.973 at 188.60 in the final, but ran unopposed as Angelle Sampey's Rush Racing Products Buell broke on the starting line.
"To win the race was amazing," said Smith, who beat Jim Underdahl, Craig Treble and David Hope in earlier rounds. "We debuted a brand new bike this weekend and it ran great. To be the No. 1 qualifier and win the race, that says it all. It was a really fast bike. We'll get these kidney stones cleared up and be ready for Reading."
Three drivers clinched their positions in the Countdown to 1, including Cruz Pedregon in Funny Car, Allen Johnson in Pro Stock and Chip Ellis in Pro Stock Motorcycle.
The NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series continues with the 24th annual Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals, Aug. 14-17 at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pa.
BRAINERD, Minn. -- Final finish order (1-16) for professional categories at the 27th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway. The race is the 16th of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
TOP FUEL:
1. Tony Schumacher; 2. Cory McClenathan; 3. Doug Kalitta; 4. Steve Torrence; 5. Morgan Lucas; 6. Rod Fuller; 7. Bob Vandergriff; 8. J.R. Todd; 9. Larry Dixon; 10. Bye; 11. Doug Herbert; 12. David Grubnic; 13. Hillary Will; 14. Antron Brown; 15. Brandon Bernstein; 16. Luigi Novelli.
FUNNY CAR:
1. Tony Pedregon, Chevy Impala; 2. Jack Beckman, Dodge Charger; 3. Tim Wilkerson, Impala; 4. John Force, Ford Mustang; 5. Bob Tasca III, Mustang; 6. Ron Capps, Charger; 7. Melanie Troxel, Charger; 8. Cruz Pedregon, Toyota Solara; 9. Mike Neff, Mustang; 10. Jim Head, Solara; 11. Del Worsham, Impala; 12. Ashley Force, Mustang; 13. Gary Scelzi, Charger; 14. Gary Densham, Impala; 15. Robert Hight, Mustang; 16. Jerry Toliver, Charger.
PRO STOCK:
1. Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cobalt; 2. Dave Connolly, Cobalt; 3. Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt; 4. Allen Johnson, Dodge Stratus; 5. Mike Edwards, Pontiac GXP; 6. Greg Anderson, GXP; 7. V. Gaines, Stratus; 8. Jason Line, GXP; 9. Justin Humphreys, Stratus; 10. Warren Johnson, GXP; 11. Ron Krisher, Cobalt; 12. Jim Yates, GXP; 13. Rickie Jones, Stratus; 14. Larry Morgan, Stratus; 15. Steve Spiess, Cobalt; 16. Richie Stevens, GXP.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
1. Matt Smith; 2. Angelle Sampey, Buell; 3. Chip Ellis, Suzuki; 4. David Hope, Buell; 5. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson; 6. Craig Treble, Suzuki; 7. Mike Berry, Suzuki; 8. Wes Wells, Suzuki; 9. Steve Johnson, Suzuki; 10. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson; 11. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki; 12. Chris Rivas, Buell; 13. Matt Guidera, Buell; 14. Junior Pippin, Buell; 15. Hector Arana, Buell; 16. Jim Underdahl, Suzuki.
BRAINERD, Minn. -- Sunday's final results from the 27th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway. The race is the 16th of 24 in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel -- Tony Schumacher, 3.865 seconds, 310.05 mph def. Cory McClenathan, 3.900 seconds, 306.74 mph.
Funny Car -- Tony Pedregon, Chevy Impala, 4.238, 288.89 def. Jack Beckman, Dodge Charger, foul.
Pro Stock -- Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cobalt, 6.671, 207.05 def. Dave Connolly, Cobalt, 6.696, 206.29.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- Matt Smith, Buell, 6.973, 188.60 def. Angelle Sampey, Buell, broke.
Top Alcohol Dragster -- Brandon Lewis, 5.292, 270.64 def. Aaron Tatum, 5.330, 263.36.
Top Alcohol Funny Car -- Mick Snyder, Ford Mustang, 5.614, 256.45 def. Paul Anderson, Dodge Charger, 7.555, 159.19.
Competition Eliminator -- Arnie Martel, Chevy Roadster, 8.300, 120.82 def. Frank Cervelli, Dragster, 7.265, 152.54.
Stock Eliminator -- Brett Speer, Chevy Nova, 10.498, 119.10 def. Gene Mosbek, Plymouth Savoy, 10.186, 128.43.
Super Gas -- Brina Splingaire, Chevy Corvette, 9.882, 156.06 def. Bill Goldammer, Olds Cutlass, 9.841, 162.45.
Super Comp -- Rick Bowman, Chevy Corvette, 8.920, 173.09 def. Brina Splingaire, Dragster, 8.936, 176.84.
BRAINERD, Minn. -- Final round-by-round results from the 27th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway, the 16th of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series:
TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE -- Rod Fuller, 3.942, 306.46 def. Brandon Bernstein, foul; Morgan Lucas, 3.926, 298.21 def. Antron Brown, 4.234, 247.47; Doug Kalitta, 3.972, 305.22 def. Doug Herbert, 3.980, 280.66; J.R. Todd, 3.964, 289.07 def. Larry Dixon, 3.970, 304.39; Tony Schumacher, 3.900, 309.70 was unopposed; Cory McClenathan, 3.897, 309.84 def. Luigi Novelli, 11.368, 84.36; Steve Torrence, 3.887, 307.16 def. Hillary Will, 3.993, 305.56; Bob Vandergriff, 3.910, 310.70 def. David Grubnic, 3.989, 276.86;
QUARTERFINALS -- Kalitta, 3.968, 303.91 def. Todd, 4.980, 157.74; Schumacher, 3.920, 306.46 def. Fuller, 3.982, 301.07; McClenathan, 3.939, 304.74 def. Vandergriff, 4.296, 245.40; Torrence, 3.885, 307.72 def. Lucas, 3.925, 302.35;
SEMIFINALS -- Schumacher, 3.885, 310.13 def. Kalitta, 4.222, 229.90; McClenathan, 3.951, 305.36 def. Torrence, 7.992, 78.90;
FINAL -- Schumacher, 3.865, 310.05 def. McClenathan, 3.900, 306.74.
FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE -- Tony Pedregon, Chevy Impala, 4.219, 278.86 def. Jim Head, Toyota Solara, 4.244, 292.96; Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 4.257, 288.70 def. Del Worsham, Impala, 4.252, 291.51; John Force, Mustang, 4.229, 293.15 def. Gary Scelzi, Dodge Charger, 4.291, 289.69; Ron Capps, Charger, 4.247, 288.21 def. Ashley Force, Mustang, 4.277, 282.30; Tim Wilkerson, Impala, 4.204, 294.05 def. Mike Neff, Mustang, 4.237, 293.35; Melanie Troxel, Charger, 4.685, 246.57 def. Robert Hight, Mustang, 5.603, 128.70; Cruz Pedregon, Solara, 4.302, 261.07 def. Jerry Toliver, Charger, 5.658, 125.69; Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.249, 290.88 def. Gary Densham, Impala, 4.380, 237.63;
QUARTERFINALS -- T. Pedregon, 4.190, 292.01 def. Troxel, 4.294, 282.54; Wilkerson, 4.162, 293.73 def. Tasca III, 4.263, 290.94; J. Force, 4.294, 275.22 def. C. Pedregon, 4.314, 265.48; Beckman, 4.216, 292.52 def. Capps, 4.264, 288.39;
SEMIFINALS -- T. Pedregon, 4.369, 257.63 def. J. Force, 4.373, 233.08; Beckman, 4.207, 295.40 def. Wilkerson, 4.203, 287.60;
FINAL -- T. Pedregon, 4.238, 288.89 def. Beckman, foul.
PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE -- Dave Connolly, Chevy Cobalt, 6.685, 206.04 def. Richie Stevens, Pontiac GXP, 12.859, 66.48; Mike Edwards, GXP, 6.677, 206.57 def. Ron Krisher, Cobalt, 6.674, 205.79; Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt, 6.663, 206.54 def. Justin Humphreys, Dodge Stratus, foul; Kurt Johnson, Cobalt, 6.648, 207.62 def. Jim Yates, GXP, 6.704, 205.32; V. Gaines, Stratus, 6.708, 205.98 def. Warren Johnson, GXP, 6.668, 207.75; Allen Johnson, Stratus, 6.669, 206.61 def. Rickie Jones, Stratus, 6.718, 204.91; Greg Anderson, GXP, 6.654, 207.56 def. Steve Spiess, Cobalt, 7.577, 130.25; Jason Line, GXP, 6.668, 207.11 def. Larry Morgan, Stratus, 6.738, 206.13;
QUARTERFINALS -- A. Johnson, 6.703, 206.48 def. Line, 10.561, 84.62; Coughlin, 6.683, 206.04 def. Gaines, foul; Connolly, 6.684, 206.26 def. Anderson, 6.688, 207.56; K. Johnson, 6.664, 206.48 def. Edwards, 6.674, 206.23;
SEMIFINALS -- Connolly, 6.680, 205.82 def. A. Johnson, 6.688, 206.51; K. Johnson, 6.657, 206.83 def. Coughlin, 6.679, 205.94;
FINAL -- K. Johnson, 6.671, 207.05 def. Connolly, 6.696, 206.29.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
ROUND ONE -- Mike Berry, Suzuki, 7.129, 184.50 def. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 7.037, 187.96; Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 7.001, 189.82 def. Matt Guidera, Buell, 7.102, 184.50; Wes Wells, Suzuki, 7.180, 186.30 def. Chris Rivas, Buell, 7.051, 188.49; Angelle Sampey, Buell, 6.951, 188.81 def. Junior Pippin, Buell, 7.102, 185.05; David Hope, Buell, 7.067, 184.17 def. Hector Arana, Buell, 7.157, 187.47; Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.017, 189.55 def. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.011, 188.96; Chip Ellis, Suzuki, 6.994, 189.95 def. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 7.050, 189.76; Matt Smith, Buell, 6.954, 190.14 def. Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, broke;
QUARTERFINALS -- Hope, 7.180, 180.55 def. Berry, foul; Ellis, 7.028, 188.25 def. Wells, 7.175, 182.58; Smith, 7.018, 187.86 def. Treble, foul; Sampey, 7.058, 185.28 def. Hines, foul;
SEMIFINALS -- Sampey, 7.005, 186.82 def. Ellis, foul; Smith, 6.978, 189.36 def. Hope, 7.142, 182.97;
FINAL -- Smith, 6.973, 188.60 def. Sampey, broke.
BRAINERD, Minn. -- Point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional categories following the 27th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway, the 16th of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series -
Top Fuel
1. Tony Schumacher, 1,532; 2. Antron Brown, 1,051; 3. Larry Dixon, 988; 4. Cory McClenathan, 987; 5. Rod Fuller, 958; 6. Brandon Bernstein, 922; 7. Hillary Will, 874; 8. Doug Herbert, 807; 9. Doug Kalitta, 701; 10. David Grubnic, 685.
Funny Car
1. Tim Wilkerson, 1,154; 2. Tony Pedregon, 1,013; 3. Robert Hight, 969; 4. Cruz Pedregon, 880; 5. Ashley Force, 868; 6. Gary Densham, 828; 7. John Force, 817; 8. Ron Capps, 808; 9. Jack Beckman, 725; 10. Mike Neff, 720.
Pro Stock
1. Greg Anderson, 1,164; 2. Kurt Johnson, 1,108; 3. Jason Line, 1,054; 4. Jeg Coughlin, 1,017; 5. Allen Johnson, 933; 6. Mike Edwards, 834; 7. V. Gaines, 830; 8. Dave Connolly, 775; 9. Ron Krisher, 761; 10. Greg Stanfield, 739.
Pro Stock Motorcycle
1. Andrew Hines, 816; 2. Matt Smith, 804; 3. Chip Ellis, 717; 4. Chris Rivas, 606; 5. Matt Guidera, 595; 6. Eddie Krawiec, 588; 7. Angelle Sampey, 574; 8. Craig Treble, 501; 9. Steve Johnson, 467; 10. Hector Arana, 443.
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