CONCORD – After going winless in 2011 – a feat hard to believe, given that he’s a seven-time NHRA champion – Tony Schumacher has found the winning touch again.

On Sunday, Schumacher captured drag racing’s most-prized trophy – the U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis – for a record-setting ninth time. That race wrapped up the regular season, and Schumacher begins NHRA’s Countdown to the Championship this weekend hoping to extend his winning streak to two in a row.

Qualifying for the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Nationals is scheduled today and Saturday at zMAX Dragway, with the eliminations slated to kick off at noon Sunday with the Top Fuel and Funny Car categories.

“For the next six races, all of which are of supreme importance, we absolutely will not accept defeat,” Schumacher said. “All the (regular-season) points have disappeared, and there are a lot of great cars and teams we’re up against, so this championship is going to be awesome.

“I truly believe you’re going to see the best finish of any season, ever. The number of cars that are good, quality racecars has never been seen before. And there are some great, veteran drivers and a lot of new blood coming up. Everybody buying tickets and coming to these races, they’re going to see the best there is.”

Schumacher trails only teammates Antron Brown and Spencer Massey, each of whom has won four times this season, in the standings. Other Top Fuel winners this season include Steve Torrence and Morgan Lucas with three each, and Australia’s David Grubnic was victorious at Topeka, Kan., in mid-May.

In the Funny Car ranks, it’s Don Schumacher Racing versus John Force Racing among the favorites. Schumacher’s Ron Capps, Jack Beckman and Johnny Gray rank first, third and fifth in the points, with Force’s Robert Hight and Mike Neff in second and fourth. The other winners on the tour this year include team owner John Force and his daughter, Courtney, as well as Kalitta Motorsports’ Jeff Arend.

In Pro Stock, Allen Johnson of Greeneville, Tenn., is the pacesetter. The owner-driver is up 30 and 40 points, respectively, on a pair of KB Racing stablemates, Jason Line and Greg Anderson. Other 2012 victors include Erica Enders (three wins), Vincent Nobile and Mike Edwards (two each), and Dave Connolly, who upended Enders in the finals at Indy.

“You can’t win the Countdown in that first race but you could lose it,” said Anderson, who has won the championship four times. “An early exit there, like I had last year, is tough to recover from.”

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, the only winners to date are the riders first and second in the points. Reigning NHRA titlist Eddie Krawiec has been to Victory Lane on six occasions, with three-time former titlist Andrew Hines claiming the gold at four events. Hector Arana Jr. and his father, Hector Sr., are third and fourth, with Karen Stoffer rounding out the top five.

Four of the eight current pro-category records have been set here. That includes the Top Fuel speed mark of 332.18 mph by Massey, and the Pro Stock speed standard of 213.91 mph by Line. Matt Hagan and Jack Beckman set the Funny Car benchmark here last fall at 3.995 seconds and 318.99 mph.

“The track is one of the best of the best of the best. … That thing is prepared,” Massey said. “It’s built to have speed, to have great numbers. That’s why whenever you see cars out there, there’s going to be speed records, there’s going to be (elapsed-time) records, it’s going to be spectacular.”

Today’s schedule includes Top Fuel and Funny Car qualifying at 4:30 and 6 p.m., and those cars will make their final time-trial runs Saturday at 1 and 3:30 p.m. Children age 13 and under get in free all three days.

By: Thomas Pope
Thanks to: www.fayobserver.com
http://www.fayobserver.com/articles/2012/09/13/1203591?sac=fo.sports
Main image thanks to: www.radicalcompetition.com
Other image thanks to: www.thatsracin.com