SCHUMACHER "IT'S NOT GOING AWAY"
Mon, 2008-08-18 18:28
The National Football League had the New England Patriots in 2007.
In 2008, drag racing has Tony Schumacher.
The Chicago-based driver, who drives the U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster, thundered to his 51st career victory by defeating Larry Dixon in the final round at Maple Grove this past weekend. His NHRA Toyo Tires Nationals triumph marked his fifth in a row and tenth of the season.
“This is incredible,” said the five-time world champion. “I could try to explain [the experience] all day long but this has been a gift of a season. You wake up every day and realize … we’ve been together for five years and we’ve already won nine races in a season and now ten. We’ve come back from ten races. Of all the season’s, this has been the most dominant.” The National Football League had the New England Patriots in 2007.
In 2008, drag racing has Tony Schumacher.
The Chicago-based driver, who drives the U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster, thundered to his 51st career victory by defeating Larry Dixon in the final round at Maple Grove this past weekend. His NHRA Toyo Tires Nationals triumph marked his fifth in a row and tenth of the season.
“This is incredible,” said the five-time world champion. “I could try to explain [the experience] all day long but this has been a gift of a season. You wake up every day and realize … we’ve been together for five years and we’ve already won nine races in a season and now ten. We’ve come back from ten races. Of all the season’s, this has been the most dominant.”
Schumacher is absolutely correct. The son of famed Funny Car icon and mega team owner Don Schumacher hasn’t lost in the first round since Richmond of 2007.
After beating Dixon in the Reading finals with a 3.845-second pass at 313.88 mph, Schumacher tied a couple of NHRA records that he had set previously in 2004 and 2005, respectively – most Top Fuel wins in a single season (10) and most consecutive Top Fuel victories (5).
Schumacher has some bad news for the competition.
“It’s not going away,” Schumacher said. “We seldom smoke the tires. We have an awesome car and it hasn’t been one of those cars that runs a tenth faster than everybody. Because it’s tight racing the driver has to do his job. I think it’s made me a better driver. We’re in constant suck-it-up moments.”
For Schumacher those moments came after his second consecutive first round bye run, when he was faced with the challenges of hard-hitters such as Brandon Bernstein and an upset-minded Clay Millican. Then he drew Dixon in the final round.
“At the beginning of the season, and I can’t remember who did the interview, I told the reporter it was going to be a good season because I was running Doug Kalitta first round,” Schumacher added. “Those kinds of races make you stand up and take notice all year long. In hindsight, we have done that.”
Schumacher admitted the one opponent that gets him the most nervous is the invisible man.
“The single runs make me nervous – when you’re out there by yourself,” Schumacher said. “All you can do is screw it up yourself. When you have to run a good car, it sets the tone for the whole day and the whole season. We have proven that to be a fact.”
In 2008, drag racing has Tony Schumacher.
The Chicago-based driver, who drives the U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster, thundered to his 51st career victory by defeating Larry Dixon in the final round at Maple Grove this past weekend. His NHRA Toyo Tires Nationals triumph marked his fifth in a row and tenth of the season.
“This is incredible,” said the five-time world champion. “I could try to explain [the experience] all day long but this has been a gift of a season. You wake up every day and realize … we’ve been together for five years and we’ve already won nine races in a season and now ten. We’ve come back from ten races. Of all the season’s, this has been the most dominant.” The National Football League had the New England Patriots in 2007.
In 2008, drag racing has Tony Schumacher.
The Chicago-based driver, who drives the U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster, thundered to his 51st career victory by defeating Larry Dixon in the final round at Maple Grove this past weekend. His NHRA Toyo Tires Nationals triumph marked his fifth in a row and tenth of the season.
“This is incredible,” said the five-time world champion. “I could try to explain [the experience] all day long but this has been a gift of a season. You wake up every day and realize … we’ve been together for five years and we’ve already won nine races in a season and now ten. We’ve come back from ten races. Of all the season’s, this has been the most dominant.”
Schumacher is absolutely correct. The son of famed Funny Car icon and mega team owner Don Schumacher hasn’t lost in the first round since Richmond of 2007.
After beating Dixon in the Reading finals with a 3.845-second pass at 313.88 mph, Schumacher tied a couple of NHRA records that he had set previously in 2004 and 2005, respectively – most Top Fuel wins in a single season (10) and most consecutive Top Fuel victories (5).
Schumacher has some bad news for the competition.
“It’s not going away,” Schumacher said. “We seldom smoke the tires. We have an awesome car and it hasn’t been one of those cars that runs a tenth faster than everybody. Because it’s tight racing the driver has to do his job. I think it’s made me a better driver. We’re in constant suck-it-up moments.”
For Schumacher those moments came after his second consecutive first round bye run, when he was faced with the challenges of hard-hitters such as Brandon Bernstein and an upset-minded Clay Millican. Then he drew Dixon in the final round.
“At the beginning of the season, and I can’t remember who did the interview, I told the reporter it was going to be a good season because I was running Doug Kalitta first round,” Schumacher added. “Those kinds of races make you stand up and take notice all year long. In hindsight, we have done that.”
Schumacher admitted the one opponent that gets him the most nervous is the invisible man.
“The single runs make me nervous – when you’re out there by yourself,” Schumacher said. “All you can do is screw it up yourself. When you have to run a good car, it sets the tone for the whole day and the whole season. We have proven that to be a fact.”
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