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SCHUMACHER CONTINUES DREAM-TEAM SEASON AS BARTONE, LINE ALSO WIN IN SEATTLE
KENT, Wash. - After a shaky first half of the season that included six DNQs, Tony Bartone raced to his first NHRA POWERade Series victory Sunday at the 21st annual Schuck's Auto Supply NHRA Nationals after more than six years of professional racing.
Bartone defeated veteran driver Ron Capps, also looking to break out of a winless streak that dates back to Richmond 2007, in the final round. Bartone powered his Canidae Pet Foods Chevy Monte Carlo to a 4.454-second pass at 238.17 mph to get the long-awaited win, while Capps posted a 4.708 at 227.46 in his NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger R/T.
Tony Schumacher and Jason Line also were winners at scenic Pacific Raceways, the 14th of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Series.
Before beating Capps in the final, Bartone outran Gary Scelzi, Mike Neff and Tony Pedregon in earlier rounds.
"Looking back at last weekend in Denver, we had an extreme amount of trouble getting down the track," Bartone said. "We blew up and were on fire many times, and we were able to turn our program around and put together a pretty good racecar to race with today and we went the four rounds and brought home the bacon. We made the qualifying passes on Friday and we chose to sit out yesterday in the heat, and we were lucky enough to come up with a good race-day tune-up today. It wasn't perfect, but it went rounds."
A standout in the Lucas Oil Series, the developmental league for NHRA pros, Bartone won 25 events and one world championship title in Top Alcohol Funny Car in the 1990s. However, he said his win today for legendary team owner Jim Dunn tops his list.
"This is what you dream about - this is what you wait your whole career to do, is win in the pro ranks," Bartone said. "It's the old adage - you never say die, you never give up, you keep plugging and things like this happen."
Despite losing in the first round to No. 1 qualifier Robert Hight, Tim Wilkerson maintained his points lead and earned his spot in the Countdown to the Championship.
There was no less drama in Top Fuel, where Brandon Bernstein looked to unseat Schumacher as a regular resident in Seattle's winner circle. On Sunday Schumacher won his third consecutive event at Pacific Raceways, and his fourth out of the last five at the track. He had already qualified No. 1 with a solid performance on Friday and handily won in the final round, driving his U.S. Army dragster to a 3.902 at 309.98 to Bernstein's 4.056 at 291.19. Schumacher became the first driver to clinch his position in the Countdown to the Championship in Denver last week.
"It's a blast," said Schumacher, who defeated Steve Chrisman, Dave Grubnic and rival Rod Fuller in the opening rounds. "We've been a pressure team for years. Under pressure we step up; we do good. Right now, for whatever reason, we're just having a great time and the car is running good. When you get on a roll like this, watch out. You see those football teams, when they start smiling and start playing together really as a team, like we do, we're hard to beat. It's been outstanding."
Schumacher, who also won last weekend in Denver, could become the sixth driver in NHRA history to sweep the Western Swing with a victory at the FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals next weekend at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. Only Joe Amato, John Force, Cory McClenathan, Larry Dixon and Greg Anderson have accomplished the feat previously.
"We're setting records that nobody thought possible," Schumacher said. "We're doing amazing things together. It's hard to believe, but it's great to be part of."
In Pro Stock, Line earned his first victory in Seattle and his second win of the season and the 15th of his career, charting a 6.659-second run at 208.10 mph in his Summit Racing Pontiac GXP to better Allen Johnson's 6.664 at 207.78 mph in his Team Mopar/J&J Racing Dodge Stratus.
"It feels great to win, especially here in Seattle," said Line, who beat Warren Johnson, Kurt Johnson and Greg Stanfield in the first three rounds. "I've been out there before I don't know how many times. I've even been out here in my Stocker (Lucas Oil Series) and just never had any success whatsoever, so it feels really good to win here and feels even better to drive good. It's a good day for all of us. We did not have the greatest car. We had a lot of issues. We tested some parts along the way which was kind of cool, but you don't want to be testing parts at a national event. But it all worked out good."
On Saturday, Line's teammate Greg Anderson punched his playoff card by qualifying higher than 12 - and although Line is comfortably in the Top 10 at third place, he's anxious to seal his own invitation to the Countdown to 1.
KENT, Wash. -- Final finish order (1-16) for professional categories at the 21st annual Schuck's Auto Supply NHRA Nationals at Pacific Raceways. The race is the 14th of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
TOP FUEL: 1. Tony Schumacher; 2. Brandon Bernstein; 3. Rod Fuller; 4. Doug Herbert; 5. Morgan Lucas; 6. David Grubnic; 7. Bob Vandergriff; 8. Cory McClenathan; 9. Troy Buff; 10. J.R. Todd; 11. Doug Kalitta; 12. Larry Dixon; 13. Hillary Will; 14. Antron Brown; 15. Steve Torrence; 16. Steven Chrisman.
FUNNY CAR: 1. Tony Bartone, Chevy Monte Carlo; 2. Ron Capps, Dodge Charger; 3. Gary Densham, Chevy Impala; 4. Tony Pedregon, Impala; 5. Jack Beckman, Charger; 6. Cruz Pedregon, Toyota Solara; 7. Mike Neff, Ford Mustang; 8. Robert Hight, Mustang; 9. Bob Tasca III, Mustang; 10. Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger; 11. Tim Wilkerson, Impala; 12. Melanie Troxel, Charger; 13. Ashley Force, Mustang; 14. Del Worsham, Impala; 15. Jerry Toliver, Charger; 16. Gary Scelzi, Charger.
PRO STOCK: 1. Jason Line, Pontiac GXP; 2. Allen Johnson, Dodge Stratus; 3. V. Gaines, Stratus; 4. Greg Stanfield, GXP; 5. Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cobalt; 6. Mike Edwards, GXP; 7. Dave Connolly, Cobalt; 8. Jim Yates, GXP; 9. Greg Anderson, GXP; 10. Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt; 11. Ron Krisher, Cobalt; 12. Justin Humphreys, Stratus; 13. Warren Johnson, GXP; 14. Ben Watson, Pontiac GTO; 15. Larry Morgan, Stratus; 16. Johnny Gray, Stratus.
KENT, Wash. -- Sunday's final results from the 21st annual Schuck's Auto Supply NHRA Nationals at Pacific Raceways. The race is the 14th of 24 in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel -- Tony Schumacher, 3.902 seconds, 309.98 mph def. Brandon Bernstein, 4.056 seconds, 291.19 mph.
Funny Car -- Tony Bartone, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.454, 238.17 def. Ron Capps, Dodge Charger, 4.708, 227.46.
Pro Stock -- Jason Line, Pontiac GXP, 6.659, 208.10 def. Allen Johnson, Dodge Stratus, 6.664, 207.78.
Top Alcohol Dragster -- Mark Niver, 5.411, 260.81 def. Duane Shields, 6.118, 262.69.
Top Alcohol Funny Car -- Brian Hough, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.728, 253.52 def. Steve Gasparrelli, Ford Mustang, 5.721, 252.19.
Competition Eliminator -- Alan Freese, Pontiac Firebird, 7.489, 179.25 def. Rob Harrison, Chevy Cavalier, 7.821, 170.43.
Super Stock -- Mark Faul, Pontiac Grand Am, 10.282, 126.34 def. Brad Plourd, Chevy Cavalier, 9.062, 149.80.
Stock Eliminator -- Mike Lewis, Chevy Corvette, 10.509, 124.80 def. Toby Lang, Chevy Chevelle, 11.938, 108.35.
Super Comp -- Don Sefton, Dragster, 8.916, 171.99 def. Dennis Kooker, Dragster, foul.
Super Gas -- Curtis Geise, Pontiac Trans Am, 9.880, 161.50 def. Gene Heaton, '27-T Ford, 9.950, 146.30.
Super Street -- Jeff Jackson, Ford Mustang, 10.955, 146.51 def. Wayne Linder Jr, Chevrolet, foul.
KENT, Wash. -- Final round-by-round results from the 21st annual Schuck's Auto Supply NHRA Nationals at Pacific Raceways, the 14th of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series:
TOP FUEL: ROUND ONE -- David Grubnic, 4.136, 249.81 def. Hillary Will, 4.650, 195.73; Morgan Lucas, 3.887, 302.69 def. Doug Kalitta, 4.314, 258.96; Rod Fuller, 3.922, 300.13 def. Steve Torrence, 8.167, 102.15; Bob Vandergriff, 4.229, 269.19 def. Antron Brown, 6.784, 105.24; Tony Schumacher, 3.877, 310.05 def. Steven Chrisman, broke; Brandon Bernstein, 3.856, 310.77 def. Troy Buff, 3.879, 308.71; Doug Herbert, 3.919, 304.87 def. Larry Dixon, 4.423, 179.83; Cory McClenathan, 3.966, 276.52 def. J.R. Todd, 4.148, 254.52;
QUARTERFINALS -- Herbert, 4.419, 234.25 def. Vandergriff, 4.814, 158.50; Fuller, 3.924, 306.46 def. Lucas, 4.021, 293.60; Bernstein, 4.336, 233.52 def. McClenathan, 4.910, 197.65; Schumacher, 3.938, 305.77 def. Grubnic, 4.186, 245.99;
SEMIFINALS -- Bernstein, 4.262, 241.71 def. Herbert, 4.380, 240.85; Schumacher, 3.978, 287.90 def. Fuller, 4.316, 224.58;
FINAL -- Schumacher, 3.902, 309.98 def. Bernstein, 4.056, 291.19.
FUNNY CAR: ROUND ONE -- Tony Bartone, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.181, 298.01 def. Gary Scelzi, Dodge Charger, 10.406, 69.77; Mike Neff, Ford Mustang, 4.205, 293.54 def. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.160, 298.60; Ron Capps, Charger, 4.173, 298.21 def. Del Worsham, Chevy Impala, 4.422, 241.97; Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.163, 297.94 def. Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 4.189, 298.54; Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.135, 296.76 def. Tim Wilkerson, Impala, 4.204, 298.14; Gary Densham, Impala, 4.774, 216.13 def. Jerry Toliver, Charger, 6.111, 115.32; Cruz Pedregon, Toyota Solara, 4.211, 292.71 def. Ashley Force, Mustang, 4.420, 229.74; Tony Pedregon, Impala, 4.155, 300.40 def. Melanie Troxel, Charger, 4.289, 282.72;
QUARTERFINALS -- Capps, 4.230, 285.65 def. C. Pedregon, 4.369, 225.07; Densham, 4.243, 287.41 def. Beckman, 4.269, 290.19; T. Pedregon, 4.197, 294.43 def. Hight, 5.986, 111.55; Bartone, 4.367, 241.58 def. Neff, 5.236, 172.01;
SEMIFINALS -- Capps, 4.264, 284.56 def. Densham, 4.273, 284.93; Bartone, 4.252, 287.29 def. T. Pedregon, 4.376, 246.84;
FINAL -- Bartone, 4.454, 238.17 def. Capps, 4.708, 227.46.
PRO STOCK: ROUND ONE -- Allen Johnson, Dodge Stratus, 6.647, 207.98 def. Larry Morgan, Stratus, 6.747, 206.67; Mike Edwards, Pontiac GXP, 6.638, 207.98 def. Jeg Coughlin, Chevy Cobalt, 6.641, 208.14; Kurt Johnson, Cobalt, 6.617, 209.39 def. Justin Humphreys, Stratus, 6.646, 207.75; V. Gaines, Stratus, 6.688, 206.16 def. Johnny Gray, Stratus, 6.962, 191.81; Jason Line, GXP, 6.652, 207.11 def. Warren Johnson, GXP, 6.663, 208.88; Dave Connolly, Cobalt, 6.640, 208.17 def. Ben Watson, Pontiac GTO, 6.743, 203.65; Greg Stanfield, GXP, 6.670, 207.05 def. Greg Anderson, GXP, 6.638, 208.55; Jim Yates, GXP, 6.662, 206.89 def. Ron Krisher, Cobalt, foul;
QUARTERFINALS -- Gaines, 6.702, 206.39 def. Yates, 10.008, 93.31; A. Johnson, 6.637, 208.20 def. Connolly, 9.731, 88.85; Stanfield, 6.677, 206.48 def. Edwards, 6.656, 207.66; Line, 6.639, 208.04 def. K. Johnson, 6.625, 209.20;
SEMIFINALS -- Line, 6.657, 207.82 def. Stanfield, 7.102, 151.31; A. Johnson, 6.647, 208.04 def. Gaines, 6.744, 205.04;
FINAL -- Line, 6.659, 208.10 def. A. Johnson, 6.664, 207.78.
KENT, Wash. -- Point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional categories following the 21st annual Schuck's Auto Supply NHRA Nationals at Pacific Raceways, the 14th of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series -
Top Fuel 1. Tony Schumacher, 1,297; 2. Antron Brown, 940; 3. Larry Dixon, 901; 4. Rod Fuller, 852; 5. Cory McClenathan, 840; 6. Brandon Bernstein, 834; 7. Hillary Will, 751; 8. Doug Herbert, 738; 9. David Grubnic, 617; 10. Doug Kalitta, 598.
Funny Car 1. Tim Wilkerson, 1,009; 2. Tony Pedregon, 822; 3. Robert Hight, 821; 4. (tie) Ashley Force, 772; Cruz Pedregon, 772; 6. Ron Capps, 723; 7. John Force, 705; 8. Gary Densham, 704; 9. Mike Neff, 655; 10. Jack Beckman, 581.
Pro Stock 1. Greg Anderson, 1,033; 2. Kurt Johnson, 954; 3. Jason Line, 944; 4. Jeg Coughlin, 851; 5. Allen Johnson, 803; 6. V. Gaines, 728; 7. Mike Edwards, 724; 8. Greg Stanfield, 698; 9. Ron Krisher, 696; 10. Warren Johnson, 596.
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