Schumacher Wins Top Fuel, Sets National Record
Written by Josh Katinger · April 10, 2005
Hight, Johnson and Stoffer round out winners at 18th O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals
BAYTOWN, Texas — Tony Schumacher strengthened his position atop the NHRA POWERade Series Top Fuel point standings by racing to victory Sunday at the 18th annual O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway ParkHeartland Park Topeka.
NHRA.com: Sunday Wrap Up
SFGate.com: Johnson Is Oldest to Win Pro Drag Race
Schumacher powered his U.S. Army dragster to a track record 334.15 mph in his semifinal win over Doug Kalitta and then he backed that up with a national-record 335.32 as he raced past Cory McClenathan in the finals to earn his second victory of the season and the 23rd of his career.
“That final is how it is supposed to be, the No. 1 guy racing the No. 2 guy in the final,” said Schumacher, who needed all the speed to outrun McClenathan’s FRAM Airhog dragster. “We had both been running great all day and it came down to a 4.50 beating a 4.51. That was just an awesome race.”
And it almost didn’t come to pass as just moments before the final race Schumacher’s oil pan began leaking and it soaked the entire clutch. “We had the car all set up and we had to take it apart,” said Schumacher, who defeated Scott Palmer in the first round and Rod Fuller in the second. “We made it up (to the start line) with a minute to go. With that kind of pressure, that intense of a situation, I was just thinking, ‘It doesn’t seem like there’s time,’ but (Schumacher’s crew) did it.”
The other winners of the $1.7 million race included rookie Robert Hight, veteran Warren Johnson and Karen Stoffer.
Hight earned his first Funny Car victory in just his fourth start. Hight powered his Auto Club Ford Mustang to a 4.786 at 326.16 to defeat Cruz Pedregon, who finished in 4.818 at 321.12 in his Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
Ladders
Top Fuel
Funny Car
Pro Stock
Pro Stock Bike
Final Results
TOP FUEL:
1. Tony Schumacher
2. Cory McClenathan
3. Doug Kalitta
4. Morgan Lucas
5. Larry Dixon
6. Rod Fuller
7. Doug Herbert
8. Scott Kalitta
9. David Grubnic
10. Scott Weis
11. T.J. Zizzo
12. Bruce Litton
13. David Baca
14. Scott Palmer
15. Clay Millican
16. Brandon Bernstein.
FUNNY CAR:
1. Robert Hight, Ford Mustang
2. Cruz Pedregon, Chevy Monte Carlo
3. Del Worsham, Monte Carlo
4. John Force, Mustang
5. Whit Bazemore, Dodge Stratus
6. Eric Medlen, Mustang
7. Tommy Johnson Jr., Monte Carlo
8. Tony Pedregon, Monte Carlo
9. Gary Scelzi, Stratus
10. Phil Burkart, Toyota Celica
11. Ron Capps, Stratus
12. Bob Gilbertson, Monte Carlo
13. Tony Bartone, Monte Carlo
14. Jeff Arend, Pontiac Firebird
15. Tim Wilkerson, Monte Carlo
16. Frank Pedregon, Stratus
PRO STOCK:
1. Warren Johnson, Pontiac Grand Am
2. Jason Line, Grand Am
3. Greg Anderson, Grand Am
4. Dave Connolly, Chevy Cavalier
5. Jeg Coughlin, Dodge Stratus
6. Greg Stanfield, Cavalier
7. Larry Morgan, Stratus
8. Allen Johnson, Stratus
9. Ron Krisher, Cavalier
10. Richie Stevens, Stratus
11. Mike Edwards, Grand Am
12. Rickie Smith, Cavalier
13. Kurt Johnson, Cavalier
14. Jim Yates, Grand Am
15. V. Gaines, Stratus
16. Erica Enders, Cavalier
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
1. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki
2. Kurt Matte, Suzuki
3. Steve Johnson, Suzuki
4. GT Tonglet, Harley-Davidson
5. Chip Ellis
6. Craig Treble, Suzuki
7. Mike Berry, Suzuki
8. Ryan Schnitz
9. Geno Scali, Suzuki
10. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson
11. Antron Brown, Suzuki
12. Chris Rivas
13. Angelle Sampey, Suzuki
14. Matt Smith, Suzuki
15. Shawn Gann, Suzuki
16. Scott Valetti, Kawasaki
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