That “Indy magic” continues for U.S. Army Dragster driver Tony Schumacher at the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals.

The most successful Top Fuel racer in NHRA and U.S. Nationals history added to his riches Saturday night at Lucas Oil Raceway. He defeated talented class rookie Richie Crampton with a powerful 3.748-second, 328.54-mph run for the $100,000 winner’s share of the Traxxas Nitro Shootout for Top Fuel.

That “Indy magic” continues for U.S. Army Dragster driver Tony Schumacher at the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals.

The most successful Top Fuel racer in NHRA and U.S. Nationals history added to his riches Saturday night at Lucas Oil Raceway. He defeated talented class rookie Richie Crampton with a powerful 3.748-second, 328.54-mph run for the $100,000 winner’s share of the Traxxas Nitro Shootout for Top Fuel.

Crampton, driving the GEICO/Lucas Oil Dragster for Morgan Lucas Racing, challenged with a stellar 3.798, 318.24 on the 1,000-foot course.

Schumacher’s victory – a phrase that’s becoming commonplace here on Indianapolis’ West Side – gave a second custom-designed, 56-pound Traxxas trophy to Don Schumacher Racing for the second time in three years. Spencer Massey, the first of Schumacher’s three victims in the bonus race, won the inaugural Traxxas Nitro Shootout in 2012.

With that blast, Schumacher set the track speed record and came within eight-thousandths of a second of resetting the elapsed-time record Shawn Langdon owns at 3.740.

“The discussion was: What do we do? Do we want that No. 1 spot?” Schumacher said.

Crew chief Mike Green said, “We want the 100-thousand.”

And Schumacher, who long has contended that he’s a perfect fit for the U.S. Army sponsorship because he takes orders well, obeyed Green and delivered.

It was an extra-special day for Green, whose daughter sang the national anthem just before the Army-sponsored team fired up to start the Traxxas Nitro Shootout.

“I was nervous. I was like, ‘Oh, man, he’s going to be focused on that,’ But he’s a great guy, and he knows how to pay attention.” It’s just that Schumacher understands clearly how difficult it can be at this event to focus on matters at hand with genuine, hard-to-dismiss distractions.

“The first time I came to this racetrack, we lost Blaine Johnson,” he said, recalling that as No. 16 qualifier making his Top Fuel debut, he had to make a solo pass because Johnson had been No. 1. “I got buckled into the race car while the Purdue choir was singing ‘Amazing Grace.’ As much as you think you can focus, there are serious emotions going through you. Very intense race. Very intense times. So I understand. He was probably saying to himself, ‘Don’t pay attention to her. Focus.’ “

Schumacher said he was impressed with the quality of show the Top Fuel class gave the fans, who turned out in respectable numbers despite occasional sprinkles and discouraging weather forecasts.

“Two cars making 10,000 horsepower, different drivers, different crew chiefs, different parts and pieces – and inches and feet are deciding these races. What more can any fan ask? They’re paying too much money, spending hard-earned dollars, and they want to see a great race. I think what we’re giving them is just phenomenal.”          

And “just phenomenal” is how Schumacher and Green have been performing as the start of the Countdown looms in two weeks at Charlotte.

Schumacher, who’s seeking his 75th victory and his 10th at this oldest NHRA event, earned his second victory in an NHRA all-star bonus race. He said he thought what made the difference Saturday was “having a better car.” He said sometimes he has given a best effort at the time but lost to someone else with a better car that particular day.

But Saturday, with the top 11 in the order running 3.7-second E.T.s, Schumacher was the best of the best in the class. The top five – including Steve Torrence, Morgan Lucas, Crampton, and Shawn Langdon –  all had 3.77 or better. Bob Vandergriff, Brittany Force, Dom Lagana, Doug Kalitta, T.J. Zizzo, Spencer Massey, and Billy Torrence rounded out the top 12.

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