SCHUMACHER DEPARTS IN QUARTERFINALS |
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Topics: Tony Schumacher, SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals
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U.S. Army Racing
April 18, 2010
LAS VEGAS, Nev., April 18, 2010 - U.S. Army Top Fuel driver Tony "The Sarge" Schumacher dropped a quarterfinal round race to his Schumacher Racing teammate, Cory McClenathan, here Sunday in the SummitRacing.com Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
The Chicago-area resident beat McClenathan off the starting line, but the latter picked up the seven-time world champion by the 60-foot mark and moved on by after Schumacher began to smoke the tires.
"There's really not much you can say," said Schumacher. "We had another hot track to deal with today (which baked to more than 125 degrees) and we just couldn't lay down a clean pass against Cory. You have to tip your hat to them - they did what they had to do."
Prior to his match up with McClenathan, Schumacher leveled David Grubnic in the opening round with a solid 3.925-second run at 313.07 mph. But, he lost lane choice for the second round which proved to be a factor.
"There's no question it was a factor," he said. "We were in the left lane and it didn't seem to be as forgiving. The car went straight, but I guess we just overpowered the track and that was it."
Schumacher will hold on to fifth-place in the standings as the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series takes a weekend off before the AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals at Gateway International Raceway outside of St. Louis, April 30-May 2.
"We're going to be just fine," said Schumacher. "We're continually inspired by the mental, emotional and physical strength displayed by our Army Strong Soldiers. We owe them a win as soon as possible."
While Schumacher had to pack his belongings early on Sunday, so did his U.S. Army Racing teammate, Antron Brown, who also lost in the quarterfinals to Brandon Bernstein.
Brown, who had qualified number one in his Matco Tools/U.S. Army dragster, will hang on to fourth-place in the standings heading into the St. Louis event.
In the U.S. Army NASCAR Racing camp, Ryan Newman, who drives the No. 39 U.S. Army Chevrolet, will wait until Monday to compete at Texas Motor Speedway as rain forced the postponement of the Samsung Mobile 500. Newman will come out of the 10th starting spot when the green flag drops at 12 noon ET.
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