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SONOMA, Calif. --
Just as he did in Denver 14 days ago, the 24-year-old Todd simply outran Schumacher, earning this win in 4.619 seconds at 309.27 mph to Schumacher's 4.679 at 316.01 mph. Eric Medlen, Jason Line, and Chip Ellis joined Todd in Infineon Raceway's winner's circle. Medlen took the Funny Car crown against fellow Californian Tony Pedregon, 4.854 to 5.021. Pro Stock points leader Line got a holeshot victory over veteran Vieri Gaines, and Ellis benefited greatly from Pro Stock Motorcycle finalist Antron Brown's red-light start for his second win of the year.
"You couldn't write it any better than this," Todd said. "Beating Tony and that team once for your first trophy ever is like a dream. To do it twice in three races is unreal. I can't even believe this is happening. You work so hard just to get to this level and you don't even think what it will be like to actually win." This was Schumacher's fourth final in a row and he moved up another spot in the championship standings to third place overall. He now trails POWERade leader Doug Kalitta by 106 points. He entered the race 150 points back. After her third first-round loss in a row, former points leader Melanie Troxel is now 82 points behind Kalitta and just 44 ahead of Schumacher.
"People ask me how aggravating it is to go a year without winning but I don't even think like that," Medlen said. "I'm out here having fun and we have a car that could have and should have won several times so you feel like you're right in there any way. Man, it's hard to win these things; that's the deal. It's not for lack of trying." Ron Capps still leads John Force at the top of the standings, although Force did trim his deficit down to 70 points. Both Force and Capps lost to teammates Sunday, Capps to Whit Bazemore in Round 1, and Force to Medlen in the quarterfinals.
"This is a very, very satisfying win for me," Line said. "Especially doing it on a holeshot. Both of our cars ran great all weekend and between our two cars and V.'s car, I think we probably had the three best cars on the property. To be the one standing here [in the winner's circle] is probably the best feeling I've had as a driver." Line's victory helped him increase his lead in the POWERade points to 64 over his Summit Racing teammate Greg Anderson.
"To go into the sixes is a big honor and it used to just be me and Andrew [Hines]," Ellis said. "Now there are two more in that six-second deal and that just tells you how competitive everyone else has become out here. Man, it's tough to win a round, let alone a race." The win lifted Ellis past Brown and into third place in the POWERade points. Andrew Hines is still the leader by 33 points over Angelle Sampey. Both Hines and Sampey lost in the quarterfinals. Sunday's final results from the 19th annual FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway. The $1.3 million race is the 15th of 23 in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series: Top Fuel -- J.R. Todd, 4.619 seconds, 309.27 mph def. Tony Schumacher, 4.679 seconds, 316.01 mph. Funny Car -- Eric Medlen, Ford Mustang, 4.854, 316.30 def. Tony Pedregon, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.021, 271.62. Pro Stock -- Jason Line, Pontiac GTO, 6.672, 207.15 def. V. Gaines, Dodge Stratus, 6.668, 207.05. Pro Stock Motorcycle -- Chip Ellis, Buell, 8.863, 88.41 def. Antron Brown, Suzuki, foul. Top Alcohol Dragster -- Morgan Lucas, 5.400, 261.72 def. Duane Shields, 5.396, 263.31. Top Alcohol Funny Car -- Clint Thompson, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.628, 255.00 def. Roger Bateman, Chevy Camaro, 5.682, 249.39. Competition Eliminator -- Glen Treadwell, '23-T Ford, 8.102, 158.58 def. Dean Carter, Dragster, 6.986, 176.33. Super Stock -- Brad Rounds, Chevy S-10, 9.652, 116.81 def. Frank Grossi, Pontiac Sunfire, foul. Super Comp -- Sheldon Gecker Sr., Dragster, 8.901, 168.66 def. Keith Downing, Dragster, 8.924, 161.36. Super Gas -- Mike Blodgett Sr, '27-T Ford, 9.956, 145.00 def. Eric Reyes, Chevy Corvette, broke.
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