SCHUMACHER COLLECTS FIFTH WIN OF THE YEAR |
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Topics: Tony Schumacher, O'Reilly Auto Parts Super Start Batteries NHRA Fall Nationals
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U.S. Army Racing
September 26, 2010
ENNIS, Tex., September 26, 2010 -- U.S. Army Top Fuel driver Tony "The Sarge" Schumacher grabbed his fifth victory of the season here Sunday in the O'Reilly Super Start Batteries Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex.
Schumacher, who is the defending world champion, disposed of Shawn Langdon in the final round with a 3.838-second pass at 320.43 mph.
"It's great to be back in victory lane," said a smiling Schumacher, who last won at Bristol (Tenn.) Dragway in June. "We're still celebrating the 10th anniversary of the partnership between the U.S. Army and Schumacher Racing so this trophy is for all of our Army Strong Soldiers."
On the way to his 66th career win, Schumacher had to navigate around a group of tough competitors including his teammate, Cory McClenathan, in the semifinals.
Schumacher took out McClenathan on what's known as a "holeshot." Despite McClenathan posting a quicker elapsed time, Schumacher got to the finish line first based off a quicker reaction time at the starting line.
"That was a huge round for us," said Schumacher. "Cory sits between us and Larry Dixon in the standings, so we needed to beat him to close the gap to second as well as to Larry in first."
Still holding third-place in the standings, Schumacher is now just 25 points behind McClenathan and 94 points in back of Dixon. The Chicago-area resident sliced 54 points off Dixon's lead over the last three days.
"We're not out of championship contention by any means," added Schumacher. "We've got three more races to go and anything can happen. If we can have another couple of races like we did here in Texas, the season finale will suddenly become very interesting."
The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series will take a weekend off before heading to Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pa., Oct. 7-10, for the Toyo Tires Nationals. Following that event, the tour will then go to The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway before finishing at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, Calif.
"We're going to stay in this battle right to the very end," added Schumacher. "Like our Army Strong Soldiers, we'll never quit."
While Schumacher hoisted the winner's trophy, his U.S. Army Racing teammate, Antron Brown, was not quite as fortunate. The pilot of the Matco Tools/U.S. Army dragster was beaten in the second round of eliminations by Brandon Bernstein.
Brown will join Schumacher at Maple Grove Raceway in two weeks sitting in seventh place in the points.
Over in the U.S. Army NASCAR Racing camp on Sunday, Ryan Newman brought his No. 39 Haas Automation/U.S. Army Chevrolet home in eighth-place at Dover (Del.) International Speedway.
For Newman, who remains 13th in the driver standings, it was his fourth top-10 finish in the last five races.
Newman's teammate and team owner, Tony Stewart, finished 21st at the "Monster Mile" and is 10th in the Chase standings.
The next Sprint Cup race is Sunday, Oct. 3, at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan.
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