[coverattach=1]Pomona, Saturday: U.S. Army Top Fuel pilot, Tony "The Sarge" Schumacher, grabbed the number one starting spot here Saturday after final qualifying for tomorrow's Auto Club of Southern California Finals at Auto Club Raceway.
Schumacher, who smoked the tires on Thursday and Friday, recorded a 3.827-second pass at 315.93 mph in round number four and as a result clinched his ninth pole of the year and the 56th of his career. The 315.93 mph is top speed for the meet so far.
"We certainly didn't leave anything on the table," said the six-time POWERade world champion. "You have to give this U.S. Army team so much credit. We went into today not qualified and with some pressure hanging over us, but we stayed focused and got the job done in spectacular fashion."
Schumacher's first round opponent on Sunday will be 16th-place qualifier, Tim Boychuk. This will be their first meeting of the season.
"It doesn't matter who will be in the other lane," he said. "We've got to go out there with intensity and do our deal. Like I've stated leading up to this weekend, we want to finish the year like we started - with a win."
Should the Chicago-area resident claim his 16th victory, it would be a new single season NHRA record. Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson won 15 races in 2004.
Additionally, Schumacher will be gunning for Anderson's single season round win record from '04 - 76. He needs to advance to the semifinals to set the new mark.
"We're only thinking about Tim Boychuk right now," he added. "We're not going to get caught looking ahead, I can guarantee you that."
Schumacher, who smoked the tires on Thursday and Friday, recorded a 3.827-second pass at 315.93 mph in round number four and as a result clinched his ninth pole of the year and the 56th of his career. The 315.93 mph is top speed for the meet so far.
"We certainly didn't leave anything on the table," said the six-time POWERade world champion. "You have to give this U.S. Army team so much credit. We went into today not qualified and with some pressure hanging over us, but we stayed focused and got the job done in spectacular fashion."
Schumacher's first round opponent on Sunday will be 16th-place qualifier, Tim Boychuk. This will be their first meeting of the season.
"It doesn't matter who will be in the other lane," he said. "We've got to go out there with intensity and do our deal. Like I've stated leading up to this weekend, we want to finish the year like we started - with a win."
Should the Chicago-area resident claim his 16th victory, it would be a new single season NHRA record. Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson won 15 races in 2004.
Additionally, Schumacher will be gunning for Anderson's single season round win record from '04 - 76. He needs to advance to the semifinals to set the new mark.
"We're only thinking about Tim Boychuk right now," he added. "We're not going to get caught looking ahead, I can guarantee you that."
