Just making it to the Top Fuel Dragster semifinals is a disappointment for some drivers.

Troy Buff, however, was ecstatic about advancing that far at the NHRA Northwest Nationals before losing to five-time world champion Tony Schumacher last Sunday in Kent, Wash.

That was Buff's inaugural appearance in the semis in the Top Fuel Dragster class at an NHRA national event in 27 career starts.

"We're the underdog and we know that," said Buff, who pilots the Bill Miller-owned dragster. "But, Bill and all the guys on our crew believe we can win races. If we didn't believe that, we wouldn't go."

Just making it to the Top Fuel Dragster semifinals is a disappointment for some drivers.

Troy Buff, however, was ecstatic about advancing that far at the NHRA Northwest Nationals before losing to five-time world champion Tony Schumacher last Sunday in Kent, Wash.

That was Buff's inaugural appearance in the semis in the Top Fuel Dragster class at an NHRA national event in 27 career starts.

"We're the underdog and we know that," said Buff, who pilots the Bill Miller-owned dragster. "But, Bill and all the guys on our crew believe we can win races. If we didn't believe that, we wouldn't go."

Buff made his Top Fuel Dragster debut in 2006 and he had only made it as far as the quarterfinals four times -- three last season -- before this past weekend.

The 46-year-old Buff began his memorable day by shocking Cory McClenathan in the first round. Buff clocked a 3.921-second elapsed time, just nipping McClenathan, who came in at 3.929 seconds.

"I didn't see the win light come on and all I could hear on the radio was my crew hollering," Buff said. "I didn't even know I won until one of the NHRA officials at the end of the track gave me the thumbs up sign. That was very exciting."

In second round, Buff upset rookie Shawn Langdon. Buff had a 3.999-second run to best Langdon's 4.083 effort.

"I remember thinking to myself, we just won second round, that's pretty amazing," Buff said. "That's when I really felt we could win the race."

Buff's dream ended when he lost to Schumacher. Buff made an 11.75-second pass, while Schumacher came in at 5.115 seconds.

"The announcer on TV said that my dragster shook the tires and that's why my dragster shut off, but that was not the case," said Buff, whose dragster triggered its automatic shut-off system mandated by the NHRA and the parachute came out. "The car was hooked up and running great, but then the fuel line broke and knocked the burst panels out, which set off the safety device. The next thing I knew, fuel was spraying into the cockpit and I was catching on fire. I knew I had to jump out of the car. Fortunately, the (NHRA) safety crew was right there and extinuished the fire and we had minimal damage to our car and I wasn't hurt."

Buff has definitely paid his dues to enjoy a little time in the spotlight.

He drove a Top Alcohol Dragster from 1982-2002. During that stint, Buff won three national event titles and was a perennial Top-10 finisher in the national points standings.

"On the plane ride home (from Seattle), I was still thinking that I really wanted to beat Schumacher," Buff said. "Then, I thought, we did beat two great drivers in Cory and Shawn who drive for two outstanding teams, and that made me feel good."

Up next for Miller, who also serves as the team's crew chief, and Buff is a trip to the Fram-Autolite NHRA Nationals in Sonoma, Calif., this weekend. The team will then sit out the next two races, before returning for the U.S. Nationals Sept. 2-7 in Indianapolis.

"I've talked with Bill and we would love to go to Sonoma and do at least as good as we did in Seattle, if not better," Buff said."In my days of racing alcohol dragsters, it seemed liked when I had a good race and got to the semis, then I would get momentum going and start winning races. That's what I hope happens this time."

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