SCHUMACHER LOSES TO DIXON IN SEMIFINALS |
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Topics: Tony Schumacher, Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals
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U.S. Army Racing
June 27, 2010
NORWALK, Ohio, June 27, 2010 - Tony "The Sarge" Schumacher dropped a semifinal round race to Larry Dixon here Sunday in the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park.
The driver of the U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster posted a tire-hazing 4.111-second pass at 235.51 mph to Dixon's 3.911-second run at 306.53 mph. It was the fifth time in eight match ups this year that Schumacher was beaten by the points leader.
"We were right with him until about half track but then the tires started to lose traction," said the seven-time world champion. "I really thought we had a good shot at Larry - I guess the track just rose up and bit us."
Entering the semis, the track temperature was 127 degrees which didn't allow for a lot of tune up wiggle room.
"At certain points on the track, you just couldn't put the power down," said Schumacher. "It would've been nice to see what the outcome would have been if we were able to have a clean lap.
"Despite the outcome, I know we're going to be just fine. Like our Army Strong Soldiers, failure is never an option for us. We'll regroup over the next week and intently prepare for the upcoming Western Swing."
After enjoying the July 4th holiday weekend, Schumacher and his U.S. Army team will travel to Seattle, Sonoma, Calif. and Denver on successive Sundays. He swept the Western Swing in 2008.
"We seem to run well at all of those tracks, so we always look forward to that part of the schedule," he said. "With the Countdown to 1 drawing nearer, we need to make a big statement over the next few weeks by collecting some wins."
Schumacher's U.S. Army Racing teammate, Antron Brown, advanced to his fourth final round of the year, but also lost to Dixon.
The driver of the Matco Tools/U.S. Army dragster, who was attempting to pocket his first win of the season, recorded a 3.907-second trip at 307.65 mph to Dixon's 3.880-second pass at 313.29 mph.
With the NHRA tour heading west in two weeks, Schumacher will retain his hold on second-place in the standings, while Brown moved around Doug Kalitta into fourth-place.
In NASCAR Sprint Cup Series action, Ryan Newman, in the No. 39 Haas Automation/U.S. Army Chevrolet, finished sixth in Sunday's Lenox Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. He will take to Daytona International Speedway next Saturday night for the Coke Zero 400.
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