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LAS VEGAS - U.S. Army Top Fuel driver, Tony "The Sarge" Schumacher, captured his fourth win of the year here Sunday in the ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
With his 34th career victory, Schumacher moved back into second-place in the standings and is now 45 points behind leader Doug Kalitta with one race to go in the 2006 season.
In Pro Stock Motorcycles, U.S. Army pilots Antron Brown and Angelle Sampey both lost in the second round.
Top Fuel
Schumacher, who is the defending NHRA POWERade world champion, beat J.R. Todd in the finals with a 4.469-second pass at 313.58 mph. Just prior to the finals, he disposed of Kalitta in a huge semifinal match up.
"Obviously, we had to win this race to still have a shot at the title," said the Chicago native. "We were actually trying to set the national (elapsed time) record against Todd but we blew up just before the finish line.
"It would have been great to get those extra 20 bonus points for the record. But, all in all, we had a terrific day and I can't wait to get to the last race of the year."
To win his third straight crown and the fourth of his career, Schumacher's mission at the Auto Club NHRA Finals, November 9-12, will be to go a couple of extra rounds and earn more qualifying points than Kalitta.
"We're going to go there and just do our usual deal," he added. "We can only control our own business, so that's what we'll concentrate on. Hopefully, it will be enough to put us over the edge.
"No matter how it all ends up, this U.S. Army team has staged one of the greatest comebacks in NHRA history. With any kind of luck, we'll make it all the way back."
Pro Stock Motorcycles
With his second round red light loss to defending champion Andrew Hines, Brown dropped out of the point lead and into second-place with just one race remaining at Pomona (Calif.) Raceway in two weeks.
"I'm extremely disappointed," said Brown, who is now 37 points behind Hines. "We really could have padded our lead today but I gave it away at the starting line. We'll just have to regroup for the season finale. We're still very much in contention for the title, so I guarantee you we're not quitting."
Brown entered the Las Vegas event 27 points ahead of Hines and 64 points up on Sampey.
For Sampey, her second round red light loss to Ryan Schnitz may have ended her dream for a fourth world championship. While she remained in third-place in the standings, she's now 98 points in back of Hines.
"Like Antron, I'm not very happy right now," said the Louisiana native. "We're still in the hunt, mathematically, but we definitely have an uphill battle ahead of us. We'll show up in Pomona and give it our best shot and see what happens."
Schumacher Wins, Cuts Into Point Lead
Brown, Sampey Beaten in Second Round
LAS VEGAS - U.S. Army Top Fuel driver, Tony "The Sarge" Schumacher, captured his fourth win of the year here Sunday in the ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
With his 34th career victory, Schumacher moved back into second-place in the standings and is now 45 points behind leader Doug Kalitta with one race to go in the 2006 season.
In Pro Stock Motorcycles, U.S. Army pilots Antron Brown and Angelle Sampey both lost in the second round.
Top Fuel
Schumacher, who is the defending NHRA POWERade world champion, beat J.R. Todd in the finals with a 4.469-second pass at 313.58 mph. Just prior to the finals, he disposed of Kalitta in a huge semifinal match up.
"Obviously, we had to win this race to still have a shot at the title," said the Chicago native. "We were actually trying to set the national (elapsed time) record against Todd but we blew up just before the finish line.
"It would have been great to get those extra 20 bonus points for the record. But, all in all, we had a terrific day and I can't wait to get to the last race of the year."
To win his third straight crown and the fourth of his career, Schumacher's mission at the Auto Club NHRA Finals, November 9-12, will be to go a couple of extra rounds and earn more qualifying points than Kalitta.
"We're going to go there and just do our usual deal," he added. "We can only control our own business, so that's what we'll concentrate on. Hopefully, it will be enough to put us over the edge.
"No matter how it all ends up, this U.S. Army team has staged one of the greatest comebacks in NHRA history. With any kind of luck, we'll make it all the way back."
Pro Stock Motorcycles
With his second round red light loss to defending champion Andrew Hines, Brown dropped out of the point lead and into second-place with just one race remaining at Pomona (Calif.) Raceway in two weeks.
"I'm extremely disappointed," said Brown, who is now 37 points behind Hines. "We really could have padded our lead today but I gave it away at the starting line. We'll just have to regroup for the season finale. We're still very much in contention for the title, so I guarantee you we're not quitting."
Brown entered the Las Vegas event 27 points ahead of Hines and 64 points up on Sampey.
For Sampey, her second round red light loss to Ryan Schnitz may have ended her dream for a fourth world championship. While she remained in third-place in the standings, she's now 98 points in back of Hines.
"Like Antron, I'm not very happy right now," said the Louisiana native. "We're still in the hunt, mathematically, but we definitely have an uphill battle ahead of us. We'll show up in Pomona and give it our best shot and see what happens."
