Schumacher, Hight, Johnson and Schnitz Win at Scenic Bandimere Speedway
Written by Josh Katinger · July 18, 2005
MORRISON, Colo. - Funny Car rookie Robert Hight earned his second victory of the season Sunday at the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway and in the process moved atop the POWERade point standings for the first time in his 13-race career.
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Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel), Warren Johnson (Pro Stock) and Ryan Schnitz (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won their respective categories at the $1.8 million race, the 13th of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
The 35-year-old Hight covered the quarter-mile in his Auto Club Ford Mustang in 4.897 seconds at 316.60 mph, easily outrunning Phil Burkart’s Checker Schuck’s Kragen Toyota Celica, which rolled to the finish line in 5.650 at 187.57 after losing traction. Hight’s victory moved him 22 points ahead of his father-in-law, 13-time world champion John Force, in the race towards the POWERade world championship. Gary Scelzi dropped to third in the standings, 36 points behind Hight.
“This is unbelievable, and (crew chief) Jimmy Prock is just unbelievable,” Hight said. “We only run (at Denver) once a year, so Jimmy said he’s just going to put all these parts in a box and not pull them out until we come here next season.”
Bandimere Speedway has special meaning to Hight since it was the site of his first race where he served as the clutch specialist for Force Racing in 1995. Force went on to win that event and following the race he gave Hight his ‘Wally’ trophy.
“I’m going to give this ‘Wally’ trophy to John. In 1995 he gave me my first trophy when he won here and I was doing his clutch. Every time he wins he gives the trophy to a crew guy and that was my first. Now I’m going to give him my trophy. I don’t know if anyone’s ever done that, but for all he’s done for me it’s the least I can do.”
Schumacher outran Morgan Lucas in the final round for his 25th career victory and a category-best fourth win this season, shutting the clocks off in his U.S. Army dragster in 4.617 at a track record speed of 331.45. Schumacher’s performance moved the defending NHRA POWERade world champion back atop the POWERade standings, 20 points ahead of Doug Kalitta. Lucas is now winless in five career final round appearances, three coming this season, the last two consecutively. Lucas was the runner-up to Brandon Bernstein at St. Louis three weeks ago.
“Morgan’s a good driver and they’ve been running well over there,” Schumacher said. “When the numbers start stacking up of final rounds without a win, it makes you real nervous because you know it’s going to go their way at some point. I hope it happens against someone else.”
Ladders
Top Fuel
Funny Car
Pro Stock
Pro Stock Motorcycle
Final Finish Order (1-16)
TOP FUEL:
1. Tony Schumacher
2. Morgan Lucas
3. David Grubnic
4. Cory McClenathan
5. Larry Dixon
6. Doug Kalitta
7. Doug Herbert
8. Scott Weis
9. Scott Kalitta
10. Mitch King
11. Mike Strasburg
12. Melanie Troxel
13. Don Sosenka
14. John Smith
15. Brandon Bernstein
16. Rob Passey
FUNNY CAR:
1. Robert Hight, Ford Mustang
2. Phil Burkart, Toyota Celica
3. Tim Wilkerson, Chevy Monte Carlo
4. Gary Scelzi, Dodge Stratus
5. Tommy Johnson Jr., Monte Carlo
6. Ron Capps, Stratus
7. Whit Bazemore, Stratus
8. Del Worsham, Monte Carlo
9. Cruz Pedregon, Monte Carlo
10. John Force, Mustang
11. Bob Gilbertson, Monte Carlo
12. Tony Bartone, Monte Carlo
13. Jeff Arend, Monte Carlo
14. Gary Densham, Monte Carlo
15. Eric Medlen, Mustang
16. Tony Pedregon, Monte Carlo
PRO STOCK:
1. Warren Johnson, Pontiac Grand Am
2. Dave Connolly, Chevy Cobalt
3. Kurt Johnson, Cobalt
4. Jim Yates, Grand Am
5. Greg Anderson, Pontiac GTO
6. Ron Krisher, Cobalt
7. V. Gaines, Dodge Stratus
8. Jeg Coughlin, Stratus
9. Greg Stanfield, Chevy Cavalier
10. Jason Line, Grand Am
11. Allen Johnson, Stratus
12. Richie Stevens, Stratus
13. Ben Watson, Cavalier
14. Mike Thomas, Stratus
15. Mike Edwards, Grand Am
16. Erica Enders, Cobalt
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
1. Ryan Schnitz
2. Antron Brown, Suzuki
3. Craig Treble, Suzuki
4. Chip Ellis
5. GT Tonglet, Harley-Davidson
6. Matt Guidera
7. Shawn Gann, Suzuki
8. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson
9. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki
10. Angelle Sampey, Suzuki
11. Geno Scali, Suzuki
12. Mike Berry, Suzuki
13. Matt Smith, Suzuki
14. Steve Johnson, Suzuki
15. Michael Phillips, Suzuki
16. Chris Rivas
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