Schumacher Tops NHRA Qualifying in Sonoma
Schumacher Tops Charts in NHRA Top Fuel Qualifying at Infineon Raceway SONOMA, Calif. - Tony Schumacher continued his recent surge in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, setting the pace Friday in qualifying for the 19th annual FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals, presented by Supercuts, at Infineon Raceway. Schumacher (U.S. Army), who has posted victories in two of the last three events, covered the quarter-mile drag strip in a track-record 4.486 seconds (326.48 mph) under breezy conditions in the Sonoma Valley. Brandon Bernstein (Budweiser) held the prior track record of 4.524, set in 2005. Four track records were broken overall Friday night, led by Schumacher, who is seeking his seventh No. 1 qualifying spot of the season in 15 events. "The adversity and hard times that we had early on are making the good times so good for us," said Schumacher, the two-time defending world champion in Top Fuel. "We got behind early (in the points standings) and we're doing our best to catch up. We've got a long way to go still." Schumacher is looking for his second consecutive victory, having won in Seattle last weekend. He entered the weekend in fourth place in Top Fuel points. Bernstein was second-fast at 4.557 (327.74), with rookie sensation J.R. Todd (Skull Shine/Torco) third at 4.586 (321.19). Todd won two weeks ago in Denver to become the first African-American to claim a Top Fuel event in history. Robert Hight (Auto Club Mustang) topped the charts in Funny Car with a track-record pass of 4.738 (325.30). The time bested the prior track record of 4.759, set by Tony Pedregon in 2005. "These night runs are important and that's what got this pass for me," Hight said. "I grew up north of here (Alturas) and always came here as a kid to watch the Autolite Nationals. I was here for the first race in1988. I never thought I'd ever be driving a car at my home track." Del Worsham (Checker Schuck's Kragen Monte Carlo) was second-fast at 4.803 (323.89), with Oakdale's Eric Medlen third (Castrol Syntec Mustang) at 4.804 (319.37). John Force (Castrol GTX Mustang) failed to qualify in two rounds on Friday. If he fails to make the final field Saturday, it would mark the first time that has happened since 1987 (383 races). Vieri Gaines (Kendall Oil Dodge) broke the track record for elapsed time to set the pace in Pro Stock with a run of 6.651 (206.86). The run broke the record set by Kurt Johnson (6.676) in 2005. In all, six Pro Stock drivers bettered the previous elapsed-time record in qualifying. Greg Anderson (Summit Racing Pontiac) reset the speed record at 207.24 - he had owned the prior mark of 206.95, set in 2005. "We're pretty excited about this," said Gaines, who is seeking his first-ever top qualifying spot. "We've had a great car for the last six or seven races, we've just been making little mistakes and missing the setup. But we've got a great car and we proved it today." Points leader Jason Line (Summit Racing Pontiac) was second-fast (6.656, 207.02), with Anderson third (6.657). Antron Brown (U.S. Army) qualified in the top spot for Pro Stock Motorcycle with a pass of 6.983 (191.51). It was the second-quickest pass in Pro Stock Motorcycle history, just behind Andrew Hines' world-record run of 6.968 at Infineon Raceway in 2005. Brown also became just the third rider in Pro Stock Motorcycle history to break the seven-second barrier. "I was real stoked for my team because they've been working so hard on our Suzukis," said Brown, who entered the weekend third in Pro Stock Motorcycle points. "Running in the six-second range is huge for us, and to be the first Suzuki to do it is a big deal. We can make a lot of horsepower here because the track is at sea level and it's in great condition." Hines (Screamin' Eagle V-Rod) was second-fast at 7.00 (192.69), with Chip Ellis (Drag Specialties S&S Buell) third at 7.013 (189.84). Action resumes on Saturday at Infineon Raceway with two final rounds of qualifying, 10 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. Final eliminations will begin on Sunday at noon. For ticket information, visit www.infineonraceway.com.