Predictably Alan Johnson has put Schumacher in the left lane for the last race of the event. The Amato car has eaten up a couple of bullets today but crew chief Wayne Dupuy is ready to win this event after making it to the final round with Jim Epler in 1999. Amato has a small group of supporters watching while the multi car Schumacher operation has a cast of thousands in their lane. Russell left first but the Army car was trucking, running quicker to every increment as Schumacher was about 38 feet ahead in the traps on his way to his first 4.4 which is also low elapsed time of the event by a mere one thousandth. Schumacher joins an elite group of three time top fuel winners as only Gary Beck, Don Prudhomme and Don Garlits are prior members of that club.