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POMONA, Calif. -- U.S. Army NHRA pilots Tony "The Sarge" Schumacher, Antron Brown and Angelle Sampey will head for the 2006 season finale here this weekend with championship hopes still very much within reach.
Schumacher, who handles the controls of the U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster, will likely have to take away the maximum number of points from the Auto Club Finals at Auto Club Raceway if he's to overcome Doug Kalitta for the world title.
In Pro Stock Motorcycles, Brown has a 37-point deficit to erase if he's going to swipe his first career world crown, while Sampey has a bigger obstacle to deal with (98 points) if she plans on banking her fourth career world championship.
Top Fuel
After making up 44 points on Kalitta following a win in Las Vegas two weeks ago, Schumacher has positioned himself to potentially claim his third straight POWERade crown and the fourth of his career.
"We still have a lot of work to do in Pomona," he said. "We know that it's definitely going to be a tough chore, but this U.S. Army team is clearly up for the challenge. I can guarantee you that we're not going to go quietly into the night. We're going to keep slugging it out until the bell rings."
The Chicago native believes he will have to pocket the maximum number of points that can be had at a given event - 138 points - if he's going to three-peat. That means the U.S. Army team has to qualify number one, win the race and set a new national elapsed time record along the way for an additional 20 bonus points.
"It can be done," he added. "We've had those type weekends before, so it shouldn't surprise anyone if we do it in Pomona. All I can tell you is that we're going to go up to the plate and take a full swing. Hopefully, we'll connect for a grand slam and make some history by completing the biggest comeback in NHRA history."
Pro Stock Motorcycles
Having absorbed a second-round loss to defending world champ Andrew Hines in Las Vegas, Brown suddenly finds himself holding second-place in the standings going into the final round of the '06 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
"I would much rather have maintained the lead going to Pomona, but with that said we can still win this thing with a good performance out there," offered the Indianapolis resident. "Hines is a tough customer, but so is this U.S. Army team. We're not going to accept defeat."
For Brown, his route to the title is fairly simple - he needs to out qualify Hines and then advance two rounds further on race day.
"That's not a big hill to climb at all," he added. "Hopefully, the elimination ladder will shake out like we want it to for Sunday."
While Brown is within arm's length of the top spot, Sampey is more within ear shot of same as the last race of the year fast approaches.
"That's probably the best way to describe my position," said the three-time world champion. "Being almost five rounds of racing behind Andrew, I'll be the first to say that we'll need a miracle of sorts to win the championship. But, stranger things have happened in sports."
Sampey knows she can only control what she can control.
"We'll just go out to Pomona and do the very best that we can," she said. "If it's meant to be, well, then it's meant to be."
U.S. Army Team Focused on Big Finish to 2006 Season
POMONA, Calif. -- U.S. Army NHRA pilots Tony "The Sarge" Schumacher, Antron Brown and Angelle Sampey will head for the 2006 season finale here this weekend with championship hopes still very much within reach.
Schumacher, who handles the controls of the U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster, will likely have to take away the maximum number of points from the Auto Club Finals at Auto Club Raceway if he's to overcome Doug Kalitta for the world title.
In Pro Stock Motorcycles, Brown has a 37-point deficit to erase if he's going to swipe his first career world crown, while Sampey has a bigger obstacle to deal with (98 points) if she plans on banking her fourth career world championship.
Top Fuel
After making up 44 points on Kalitta following a win in Las Vegas two weeks ago, Schumacher has positioned himself to potentially claim his third straight POWERade crown and the fourth of his career.
"We still have a lot of work to do in Pomona," he said. "We know that it's definitely going to be a tough chore, but this U.S. Army team is clearly up for the challenge. I can guarantee you that we're not going to go quietly into the night. We're going to keep slugging it out until the bell rings."
The Chicago native believes he will have to pocket the maximum number of points that can be had at a given event - 138 points - if he's going to three-peat. That means the U.S. Army team has to qualify number one, win the race and set a new national elapsed time record along the way for an additional 20 bonus points.
"It can be done," he added. "We've had those type weekends before, so it shouldn't surprise anyone if we do it in Pomona. All I can tell you is that we're going to go up to the plate and take a full swing. Hopefully, we'll connect for a grand slam and make some history by completing the biggest comeback in NHRA history."
Pro Stock Motorcycles
Having absorbed a second-round loss to defending world champ Andrew Hines in Las Vegas, Brown suddenly finds himself holding second-place in the standings going into the final round of the '06 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
"I would much rather have maintained the lead going to Pomona, but with that said we can still win this thing with a good performance out there," offered the Indianapolis resident. "Hines is a tough customer, but so is this U.S. Army team. We're not going to accept defeat."
For Brown, his route to the title is fairly simple - he needs to out qualify Hines and then advance two rounds further on race day.
"That's not a big hill to climb at all," he added. "Hopefully, the elimination ladder will shake out like we want it to for Sunday."
While Brown is within arm's length of the top spot, Sampey is more within ear shot of same as the last race of the year fast approaches.
"That's probably the best way to describe my position," said the three-time world champion. "Being almost five rounds of racing behind Andrew, I'll be the first to say that we'll need a miracle of sorts to win the championship. But, stranger things have happened in sports."
Sampey knows she can only control what she can control.
"We'll just go out to Pomona and do the very best that we can," she said. "If it's meant to be, well, then it's meant to be."
