NHRA NEWS: Excerpts from Tony Schumacher's Post Race Press Conference

These are some excerpts from Tony Schumacher's post event press
conference at the Auto Club NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona
on Nov. 12, 2006. Schumacher had the greatest comeback ever in NHRA
POWERade Series history after coming back from 336 points down in eighth
place after the Chicago event in June.  He accomplished the feat of
becoming 2006 POWERade Series Champion by winning the final event and
setting a national time record, 4.428 seconds, on the last run of the
season.  This was his third consecutive and fourth overall championship.

 

Feelings about the race overall - "That was a perfect run. We ended up
running our teammate. To have to go out and set the record you could not
have written any script or a book or wanted better than that outcome and
then to pull it off.  As I said a few days ago, 'Miracles don't come
from coming from ahead.' Forty-five points, 46 points back this morning
and a world record and everything.  There has never been a better run
than that one.  Maybe equal, I don't know.  Never bigger. "

 

Talking about the car - "My heart was pounding.  I could hear it over
the car.  It was hauling butt.  We were at 280 plus at half track.  My
visor and everything was moving on my helmet.  It got down near the end
and hit the rev limiter and you go oh no not now.  The early numbers had
to be big.  You don't set world records without them being big.  Perfect
timing, perfect situation, perfect outcome!"

 

About what he needed to do to over come Doug Kalitta - "Doug went out
there and set out one of the most amazing driving records.  Had he not
done that we would not need the record. That was exactly what we had to
do to set the stage.  Had we set the record Friday night it would have
eliminated everything that we just saw.  I can't wait to see the race.
I was the one guy to miss the race."

 

Thoughts about Doug Kalitta and what he told his team in preparation -
"If I couldn't win it I was praying for him to win it.  I felt so bad.
If Doug was out there going the rounds we couldn't do it.  If we didn't
do it I kept telling the guys to enjoy it.  

 

Schumacher and Kalitta family pre-race preparation - "We went to church.
I'll bet you the only other guy there from Top Fuel was Doug.  My wife,
his wife, my kids, his kids were at the end watching the race.  They
said a prayer before the run.  Great driver, great family."

 

Brian Hacker

Media Relations Manager, NHRA

(626) 250-2424

(626) 428-0280, cell