<img src="http://gallery.nitromater.com/files/6/5/t_schumacher06.jpg" alt="t_schumacher06" align="right"borders="0"/>
Memphis, TN (8/19/06) -- U.S. Army NHRA drivers, Tony "The Sarge" Schumacher, Angelle Sampey and Antron Brown, all secured top three starting positions here today for Sunday's O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals at Memphis Motorsports Park.
Schumacher, in his familiar black and gold U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster, held on to the second slot following final qualifying. Brown also claimed the number two position in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class, while Sampey finished up in third.
Top Fuel
After making two more error free quarter-mile passes on Saturday, Schumacher immediately began concentrating on his first-round opponent for race day - 15th-place qualifier, Clay Millican.
"We'll have to have an even better effort tomorrow when we line up against Millican," said Schumacher. "They're a tough team over there. You can't overlook anyone in Top Fuel these days."
While air temperatures are expected to back off from 100 degrees to the low 90's prior to the beginning of final eliminations at 3 p.m. CDT, Schumacher still believes weather conditions will be a factor by the time an event champion is crowned.
"No question about it," he added. "Even though it may be a bit cooler than what we faced in qualifying, the track will still be challenging and slippery. We'll certainly be prepared for that."
Pro Stock Motorcycles
Brown actually knocked Sampey down a notch in the final order after registering a 7.083-second run at 187.05 mph in the third qualifying session. He will square off with Chris Rivas, the 15th-place qualifier, in round one.
"It was nice to move up a couple of spots from Friday, although Angelle and I are now on the same side of the ladder," related Brown. "We'll just have to deal with it. Hopefully, we can meet in the semifinals to guarantee a U.S. Army Suzuki in the finals."
Sampey posted low elapsed time in the final qualifying session on Saturday, but she couldn't slide past Brown or eventual pole sitter, Matt Smith. She will take on 14th-place qualifier, Shawn Gann, in opening round action.
"We got down the track just fine today," said the three-time world champion. "I'm looking forward to getting going tomorrow. Given what happened in Brainerd (Minn.) last weekend with the disqualification, we need to leave Memphis in a happy state of mind."
Schumacher Stays Second, Brown Moves Into Second Spot, Sampey Third
Memphis, TN (8/19/06) -- U.S. Army NHRA drivers, Tony "The Sarge" Schumacher, Angelle Sampey and Antron Brown, all secured top three starting positions here today for Sunday's O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals at Memphis Motorsports Park.
Schumacher, in his familiar black and gold U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster, held on to the second slot following final qualifying. Brown also claimed the number two position in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class, while Sampey finished up in third.
Top Fuel
After making two more error free quarter-mile passes on Saturday, Schumacher immediately began concentrating on his first-round opponent for race day - 15th-place qualifier, Clay Millican.
"We'll have to have an even better effort tomorrow when we line up against Millican," said Schumacher. "They're a tough team over there. You can't overlook anyone in Top Fuel these days."
While air temperatures are expected to back off from 100 degrees to the low 90's prior to the beginning of final eliminations at 3 p.m. CDT, Schumacher still believes weather conditions will be a factor by the time an event champion is crowned.
"No question about it," he added. "Even though it may be a bit cooler than what we faced in qualifying, the track will still be challenging and slippery. We'll certainly be prepared for that."
Pro Stock Motorcycles
Brown actually knocked Sampey down a notch in the final order after registering a 7.083-second run at 187.05 mph in the third qualifying session. He will square off with Chris Rivas, the 15th-place qualifier, in round one.
"It was nice to move up a couple of spots from Friday, although Angelle and I are now on the same side of the ladder," related Brown. "We'll just have to deal with it. Hopefully, we can meet in the semifinals to guarantee a U.S. Army Suzuki in the finals."
Sampey posted low elapsed time in the final qualifying session on Saturday, but she couldn't slide past Brown or eventual pole sitter, Matt Smith. She will take on 14th-place qualifier, Shawn Gann, in opening round action.
"We got down the track just fine today," said the three-time world champion. "I'm looking forward to getting going tomorrow. Given what happened in Brainerd (Minn.) last weekend with the disqualification, we need to leave Memphis in a happy state of mind."
