SCHUMACHER RETAINS NHRA TOP FUEL LEAD DESPITE LOSS TO DIXON
Sun, 2008-02-24 17:57
Tony Schumacher dropped a semifinal round encounter to Larry Dixon
Sunday in the Checker Schuck’s Kragen Nationals at Firebird
International Raceway.
Bidding for his second straight victory of the season, Schumacher posted a better elapsed time than Dixon in round three (4.529-seconds to 4.534-seconds), but the former departed the starting line a little later and was nipped at the finish line.
“That’s a tough one to swallow,” said Schumacher, a five-time world champion. “I thought I left pretty good, but he was clearly a lot better (Schumacher had a .098-second reaction time to Dixon’s .056-second reaction time). You have to tip your hat to him. That’s why he’s considered one of the better drivers out here.
“For sure, today’s race was exhausting, but just like our Army Strong Soldiers, we carried on and gave a great effort.” Tony Schumacher dropped a semifinal round encounter to Larry Dixon Sunday in the Checker Schuck’s Kragen Nationals at Firebird International Raceway.
Bidding for his second straight victory of the season, Schumacher posted a better elapsed time than Dixon in round three (4.529-seconds to 4.534-seconds), but the former departed the starting line a little later and was nipped at the finish line.
“That’s a tough one to swallow,” said Schumacher, a five-time world champion. “I thought I left pretty good, but he was clearly a lot better (Schumacher had a .098-second reaction time to Dixon’s .056-second reaction time). You have to tip your hat to him. That’s why he’s considered one of the better drivers out here.
“For sure, today’s race was exhausting, but just like our Army Strong Soldiers, we carried on and gave a great effort.”
Before meeting up with Dixon, Schumacher got past Doug Kalitta and his former U.S. Army Racing Pro Stock Motorcycle teammate, Antron Brown, in the opening two rounds.
“It was cool facing off with Antron,” offered Schumacher. “We knew it would happen sooner than later. I’m just happy that we were able to get by him. He’s already proven himself as a good driver and he’s just going to get better with time.”
Despite being ousted in the semis, Schumacher will carry the Top Fuel point lead to the ACDelco Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla. in three weeks.
“We’ve run well to open the season and I’m sure we’ll continue to improve,” he added. “We’re still adjusting to having more weight on the car (per NHRA rules) and we still have to move to 90 percent nitro. I’m really excited about our future.”
Having captured last year’s ACDelco Gatornationals, Schumacher wishes the trip to Florida was right around the corner.
“No question about it,” he said. “It was quite rewarding to win last year. The ‘Gators’ is one of the major events on our schedule, so you want to win one of them at some point in your career. I’m looking forward to heading down there.”
Bidding for his second straight victory of the season, Schumacher posted a better elapsed time than Dixon in round three (4.529-seconds to 4.534-seconds), but the former departed the starting line a little later and was nipped at the finish line.
“That’s a tough one to swallow,” said Schumacher, a five-time world champion. “I thought I left pretty good, but he was clearly a lot better (Schumacher had a .098-second reaction time to Dixon’s .056-second reaction time). You have to tip your hat to him. That’s why he’s considered one of the better drivers out here.
“For sure, today’s race was exhausting, but just like our Army Strong Soldiers, we carried on and gave a great effort.” Tony Schumacher dropped a semifinal round encounter to Larry Dixon Sunday in the Checker Schuck’s Kragen Nationals at Firebird International Raceway.
Bidding for his second straight victory of the season, Schumacher posted a better elapsed time than Dixon in round three (4.529-seconds to 4.534-seconds), but the former departed the starting line a little later and was nipped at the finish line.
“That’s a tough one to swallow,” said Schumacher, a five-time world champion. “I thought I left pretty good, but he was clearly a lot better (Schumacher had a .098-second reaction time to Dixon’s .056-second reaction time). You have to tip your hat to him. That’s why he’s considered one of the better drivers out here.
“For sure, today’s race was exhausting, but just like our Army Strong Soldiers, we carried on and gave a great effort.”
Before meeting up with Dixon, Schumacher got past Doug Kalitta and his former U.S. Army Racing Pro Stock Motorcycle teammate, Antron Brown, in the opening two rounds.
“It was cool facing off with Antron,” offered Schumacher. “We knew it would happen sooner than later. I’m just happy that we were able to get by him. He’s already proven himself as a good driver and he’s just going to get better with time.”
Despite being ousted in the semis, Schumacher will carry the Top Fuel point lead to the ACDelco Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla. in three weeks.
“We’ve run well to open the season and I’m sure we’ll continue to improve,” he added. “We’re still adjusting to having more weight on the car (per NHRA rules) and we still have to move to 90 percent nitro. I’m really excited about our future.”
Having captured last year’s ACDelco Gatornationals, Schumacher wishes the trip to Florida was right around the corner.
“No question about it,” he said. “It was quite rewarding to win last year. The ‘Gators’ is one of the major events on our schedule, so you want to win one of them at some point in your career. I’m looking forward to heading down there.”
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