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BRISTOL, Tenn., July 7, 2007 - Tony "The Sarge" Schumacher will start tomorrow's O'Reilly Thunder Valley Nationals here at the Bristol Dragway from the pole, the sixth time during this season's first 12 races he has driven the U.S. Army NHRA Racing Top Fuel dragster to the top qualifying position.
A 4.54-second run at 321.1 miles per hour during yesterday's second qualifying session cemented the pole, but Schumacher was more impressed with his 4.58-second pass at 322.5 mph - best quarter-mile run for any of the 17 competitors today - duringthe final round.
"It's great to qualify well in a night session, but we need to get down the track under similar conditions to race day," explained the 37-year-old reigning NHRA POWERade Top Fuel Champion. "We need the data from running in the heat of the day to prepare the car for final eliminations on Sunday.
"Just like our soldiers, we need solid intelligence to achieve victory; today's last run should provide (crew chief) Alan Johnson with this information."
Schumacher, hunting for his fourth consecutive NHRA POWERade Top Fuel Championship (and fifth over all), earned the 41st pole of his career.
SCHUMACHER PUTS ARMY DRAGSTER ON POLE FOR THE O'REILLY THUNDER VALLEY NATIONALS
BRISTOL, Tenn., July 7, 2007 - Tony "The Sarge" Schumacher will start tomorrow's O'Reilly Thunder Valley Nationals here at the Bristol Dragway from the pole, the sixth time during this season's first 12 races he has driven the U.S. Army NHRA Racing Top Fuel dragster to the top qualifying position.
A 4.54-second run at 321.1 miles per hour during yesterday's second qualifying session cemented the pole, but Schumacher was more impressed with his 4.58-second pass at 322.5 mph - best quarter-mile run for any of the 17 competitors today - duringthe final round.
"It's great to qualify well in a night session, but we need to get down the track under similar conditions to race day," explained the 37-year-old reigning NHRA POWERade Top Fuel Champion. "We need the data from running in the heat of the day to prepare the car for final eliminations on Sunday.
"Just like our soldiers, we need solid intelligence to achieve victory; today's last run should provide (crew chief) Alan Johnson with this information."
Schumacher, hunting for his fourth consecutive NHRA POWERade Top Fuel Championship (and fifth over all), earned the 41st pole of his career.
