Reigning event champion Tony "the Sarge" Schumacher is not yet in the field for the 55th annual Mac
Tools U.S. Nationals following a disappointing first qualifying session today here at O'Reilly
Raceway Park (ORP).
But the six-time world champion is not overly concerned about earning one of the 16
starting positions for Monday's eliminations in the most historic and prestigious race on the NHRA
drag-racing tour; a race he has won seven times.
"We've got more than enough race car to get down the track," said the Chicago-area
resident. "We were very aggressive tonight, which we wanted to be. This track usually gets better
as the weekend progresses and I know Mike (crew chief Green) and the U.S. Army team will get
everything figured out. The Friday night run is not as critical here as at other tracks."
Schumacher should understand ORP's behavior having been to nine final rounds -
including the last seven - at this event. One more win would tie him with the legendary Don Garlits
for the most Top Fuel U.S. Nationals victories - eight.
"And we will go hard tomorrow and in each subsequent qualifying run," he said.
The U.S. Nationals is unique on the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing schedule with its
five qualifying - instead of the normally scheduled four - sessions. Schumacher expects to better
today's 5.477-second run at 124.29 miles per hour beginning with tomorrow's first run.
"We did much better in testing here last week, so I am confident we'll get the job
done," he said.
