Tony Schumacher has more championships than any other driver in Top Fuel history. He has more wins than any other driver in Top Fuel history. He has achieved a lifetime’s worth of accolades in his nearly two decades behind the wheel.

Yet when asked about the upcoming NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season, Schumacher says he is more excited about 2016 than any other year in his illustrious career.

That is quite a statement for a man who has done it all in the sport.

“In the old days, when we had the car to beat and everyone else was just playing for second, it wasn’t nearly as gratifying as it is right now,” Schumacher said. “There are just so many great cars today. You really have to step it up. For these fans, you are seeing the best racing in the world out there today.”

With a new car and a renewed fire in his belly, it is no surprise that Schumacher took an early grasp on the Top Fuel field with the provisional number one spot to open the Circle K Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway Friday in Pomona.

The eight-time world champion was quickest in Top Fuel with a 3.722-second run at 323.66 mph in the U.S. Army dragster.

“The second run was great. We actually shut it off at 930 feet when the blower belt came off and still earned the number one spot, so we know the car is good,” Schumacher said. “I am excited. My crew chief is excited. We earned the number one spot and a few extra points to start the year.”

Schumacher, a two-time winner at the famed Winternationals, is coming off of a headline-grabbing test session one week ago in Phoenix. He raced to some pretty incredible numbers in his Don Schumacher Racing backed ride ahead of this weekend’s season opener and is excited to see what awaits in the year ahead.

“We had to make a change. We knew at the end of last season that we had to change substantial stuff in our clutch and we did that over the winter,” Schumacher said.

But even with such a strong showing in testing and an early edge over the field this weekend, Schumacher is hesitant to call these “statement” runs so early in the game.

“I have made it a point not to call it a ‘statement.’ All we do is our absolute best and when we are running really good we are happy. But when you start to make statements and the cars turn on you, and they do all of the time, it tends to bite you. So we are focused on doing our best every run.”

Clay Millican qualified second after two sessions on Friday with a 3.746 at 324.36. Richie Crampton was third with a 3.748 at 322.65, while Steve Torrence and Brittany Force round out the top five.

Schumacher was third in qualifying after round one with a season-opening 3.822 at 317.34.

“It was 60 degrees last week when we were testing and then we came here and it was a bit warmer. We talk about these kinds of changes all of the time with the ARMY, about being able to adapt and have a crew capable of looking at numbers and being able to evolve with the situations we are given,” Schumacher said. “They are doing a great job so far here this weekend.”

Looking for his 80th career top qualifier award, Schumacher hopes his number will stick, but knows that Saturday brings with it a new wave of challenges to his comfy perch.

“Friday night is generally when conditions are the best for Top Fuel, but I think we will go faster tomorrow,” Schumacher said. “There are some great guys out here. We don’t show up thinking we are the only car out here that is fast.

“We show up knowing there are some bad dudes and we are going to have to race them.”

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