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NHRA: Disheartening day in Dallas for Exide Top Fuel team; Schumacher gives up point lead

31 May 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

ENNIS, TX -- From the rainy 50 degree weather of Englishtown, NJ to the 95 degree heat of Dallas TX, the NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series is a challenging one.

Tony Schumacher and the Exide Batteries Top Fuel Racing Team headed into the Castrol Nationals with high hopes of extending their points lead before traveling to Schumacher's hometown, Chicago. By virtue of their second round loss, the day was an uncharacteristically short one.

Team Exide qualified fifth for Sunday's eliminations with a 4.62 Elapsed Time at a speed over 322 mph. This paired Schumacher up with Andrew Cowin for the first round of competition. The Winston Champion was ready, as he defeated Cowin with his best pass of the weekend, a 4.61 E.T.

Round two brought on Cory McClenathan and his MBNA-backed dragster. When the dust settled, "Cory Mac" had outrun Schumacher, with a 4.64 E.T. to a trailing 4.70 E.T., thus ending the day prematurely.

"We were just too soft," said Crew Chief Dan Olsen. We didn't think the track would hold any more than we gave it since the weather was hotter than the first round. We just missed the tune up."

Team Exide now trails Gary Scelzi and Team Winston, who went on to win the event, by 39 points.

"We knew it would be nearly impossible to keep the points lead all season," said Schumacher. "There are too many good cars out there."

Next up is the Prestone Nationals at Route 66 Raceway in Chicago, June 1-4.

Text provided by Dave Engelman

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