Schumacher Clinches NHRA POWERade World Championship; Ties Record for Wins In A Season In Top Fuel
Written by Josh Katinger · October 10, 2004
Scelzi, Line and Savoie also earn victories in their categories at Maple Grove Raceway
MOHNTON, Pa. - Tony Schumacher won his second NHRA POWERade Series Top Fuel world championship Sunday and in the process raced to victory in the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway.
Gary Scelzi, Jason Line and Angelle Savoie also were winners in their respective categories at the $1.7 million race, the 21st of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
NHRA.com: Sunday Recap
Schumacher clinched the $400,000 NHRA POWERade Top Fuel season title with a second round win over rival Brandon Bernstein, then later tied the record for most victories in a season in his category by outrunning veteran driver Bob Vandergriff in the final round.
Schumacher took his ninth win of the season and 20th of his career by clocking a 4.475 second run at 329.99 mph in the U.S. Army dragster, while Vandergriff’s machine lost traction at mid-track and limped to the finish in 8.206 at 99.48. With the victory, he tied Scelzi (2000) and Larry Dixon (2002) for most Top Fuel wins in a season.
“What an unbelievable day,” Schumacher said. “To win the POWERade world championship and tie the record for wins in a season on the same day, it’s awesome. I was joking with some people that I should just retire after today because how will I be able to top this.”
Scelzi’s second victory of the season delayed John Force from clinching a record 13th NHRA world championship in Funny Car. Scelzi’s Hemi Oakley Dodge Stratus R/T covered the distance in 4.853 at 308.23, while Force’s Castrol GTX Start Up Ford Mustang lost traction at the start and posted an 11.507 at 86.39.
Ladders
Top Fuel
Funny Car
Pro Stock
Pro Stock Bike
Final Finish Order (1-16)
TOP FUEL:
1. Tony Schumacher
2. Bob Vandergriff
3. Scott Kalitta
4. Rhonda Hartman-Smith
5. Doug Herbert
6. Brandon Bernstein
7. Doug Kalitta
8. David Grubnic
9. Scott Weis
10. Morgan Lucas
11. Larry Dixon
12. Bobby Lagana Jr.
13. John Smith
14. Cory McClenathan
15. Todd Paton
16. Mitch King
FUNNY CAR:
1. Gary Scelzi, Dodge Stratus
2. John Force, Ford Mustang
3. Tony Pedregon, Chevy Monte Carlo
4. Del Worsham, Monte Carlo
5. Tim Wilkerson, Monte Carlo
6. Eric Medlen, Mustang
7. Ron Capps, Monte Carlo
8. Gary Densham, Mustang
9. Johnny Gray, Stratus
10. Jim Head, Toyota Celica
11. Jeff Arend, Chevy Corvette
12. Cruz Pedregon, Monte Carlo
13. Whit Bazemore, Dodge Stratus
14. Tommy Johnson Jr., Monte Carlo
15. Jerry Toliver, Celica
16. Phil Burkart, Monte Carlo
PRO STOCK:
1. Jason Line, Pontiac Grand Am;
2. Greg Anderson, Grand Am;
3. Kenny Koretsky, Dodge Stratus;
4. V. Gaines, Stratus;
5. Mike Edwards, Grand Am;
6. Allen Johnson, Stratus;
7. Dave Connolly, Chevy Cavalier;
8. Rickie Smith, Cavalier;
9. Steve Johns, Cavalier;
10. Jeg Coughlin, Cavalier;
11. Mark Whisnant, Cavalier;
12. Larry Morgan, Stratus;
13. Ron Krisher, Cavalier;
14. Bruce Allen, Grand Am;
15. Mark Pawuk, Grand Am;
16. Kurt Johnson, Cavalier.
PRO STOCK BIKE:
1. Angelle Savoie, Suzuki
2. Antron Brown, Suzuki
3. Steve Johnson, Suzuki
4. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson
5. Geno Scali, Suzuki
6. Craig Treble, Suzuki
7. Chip Hunter, Suzuki
8. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki
9. Michael Phillips, Suzuki
10. Shawn Gann, Suzuki
11. Matt Smith, Suzuki
12. Paul Gast, Suzuki
13. Mike Berry, Suzuki
14. Kurt Matte, Suzuki
15. Chip Ellis
16. GT Tonglet, Harley-Davidson
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