Leaders Get Big Mo at the Big Go
Written by Sheila Scarborough · September 3, 2006
The prestige event for drag racing is the traditional Labor Day weekend blow-out in Indianapolis: the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. This speedfest classic is spread over more days than the usual Thurs-Sun, and it brings us eliminations on Monday, plus high-profile additional action like the Skoal Showdown in Funny Car.
With Sunday qualifying rounds still to go, the pole positions are currently held by Tony Schumacher in Top Fuel, John Force in Funny Car, Greg Anderson in Pro Stock and Matt Smith in Pro Stock Motorcycle.
NHRA.com Friday recap
NHRA.com Saturday recap
Low qualifiers did some musical chairs between Friday and Saturday rounds, with Schumacher knocking back Doug Kalitta’s 4.497 at 322.65 from Friday, John Force climbing out of the not-qualified pile to take first, Greg Anderson topping Jason Line (despite Line’s track ET set Friday) and Karen Stoffer’s time as #1 qualifier was sweet but short-lived as Matt Smith took over the PSM lead.
Schumacher knows that winning the season championship against a guy like Doug Kalitta isn’t going to be easy.
“We don’t want [Kalitta] to be No. 1 because we need every single point we can get,” Schumacher said. “That’s a world-class team over there. They haven’t won a championship yet, but they’re that caliber of team. He beat us in Memphis, but we’d beat him a few times in a row before that. I always say we don’t just come for the trophy we come for the challenge, and it’s a big one right now.
“We ran a 4.46 here last week in testing and it was hot, so I’m sure Alan [Johnson, crew chief] was looking for more than a 4.47. He wants to set a national record and get those bonus points. He hasn’t mentioned it and I’m not going to say anything to him, but we also know it’s the 10-year anniversary of [his brother] Blaine’s death here, so this race obviously means a great deal to him.”
Funny Car’s John Force had a scare as a Not Qualified guy, but he and crew chief Austin Coil seem to have figured it out with a 4.691 at 328.54 mph in the Castrol GTX Ford Mustang (and maybe a conversation with the Big Tuner upstairs.)
“It’s funny because we’re low e.t. now, but right before that run I was as nervous as can be,” Force said. “We’d been pushed down to the bump, and I was about to get knocked out. I looked at [crew chief Austin] Coil and said, ‘Well, what do you think?’ He said, ‘I think I’m gonna be sick.’ Then it was our turn to go, and he said, ‘Well, no guts, no glory.’
“This sport can bring you to your knees. I don’t care how many championships you’ve won. Coil was talking to God when we were 16th, and he never talks to God. It was a big deal because we’re racing for $100,000 tomorrow [in the Skoal Showdown], and we didn’t want to go into that race without getting down the track. We were both nauseous worrying about it; now we look smart.”
Greg Anderson has won the Pro Stock Wally at the last three Indy races in a row, and his 6.681 at 206.23 mph has him at the pole this year.
“This place is magic to me and always has been,” Anderson said. “For a drag racer, it just doesn’t get any better to have this track and this race be the one where you always seem to shine. It’s so special because it means so much to do well here in so many ways.
“I guess I gotta start worrying about the championship even though I really don’t like thinking about it. Jason [Line, teammate and points leader] is just so steady now, and he’s running so well. Dave Connolly is breathing down my neck for second place. The bottom line is I need to win one race before I can start a winning streak, and I need a winning streak to get back in front. As clich
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