SCHUMACHER GOES OUT IN QUARTERFINALS |
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Topics: Tony Schumacher, NHRA SuperNationals
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U.S. Army Racing
June 13, 2010
ENGLISHTOWN, N.J., June 13, 2010 - U.S. Army Top Fuel driver Tony "The Sarge" Schumacher dropped a quarterfinal round race to Larry Dixon here Sunday in the NHRA SuperNationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.
Schumacher left the starting line before Dixon and was ahead at half track, but the number one driver in the standings was able to slide around the seven-time world champion as the pair approached the finish line.
"It was another great race between two great teams," said Schumacher. "We started spinning the tires just past the eighth-mile mark and that allowed him to catch up and go on by. There's not much you can say beyond that."
The Englishtown race marked the fifth straight time Schumacher and Dixon matched up in final eliminations. Thus far this season, Dixon has four wins in seven meetings with the Chicago-area resident.
"There's a reason we're one and two in the points," said Schumacher. "You're talking about two experienced teams who know how to win. That usually leads to some terrific racing for the fans."
Schumacher almost didn't make it to his confrontation with Dixon. He had to first win a "pedal fest" over Terry Haddock in the opening round.
"That was a little more excitement than I had planned for," he offered. "But, the main thing was we got the win light and were able to advance. It was a clear case of never giving up. Our Army Strong Soldiers have instilled that in me and the team."
Despite his second round departure, Schumacher will head for next weekend's E3 Spark Plugs Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tenn. still holding second-place in the points.
"That's a positive we can take down there," he said. "We'll let it fly for sure. As always, we'll never accept defeat. We're going to keep our heads up and jump right back into the fight."
At press time, Schumacher's U.S. Army Racing teammate, Antron Brown, had advanced to a rain-delayed final round against Dixon. It's a rematch of last year's finals in Englishtown.
Brown, who directs the Matco Tools/U.S. Army dragster, was seeking his first win of the season. He entered the 11th event of 2010 sitting in fifth-place in the standings.
Over in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Ryan Newman, who drives the #39 U.S. Army Chevrolet, finished 32nd in Sunday's Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400 at Michigan International Speedway. He will now travel to Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. next Sunday for the Toyota/Save Mart 350.
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