Fri, 12 Nov 2004, 09:07 PM Schumacher Up for Fourth Quarter Driver of The Year Award

Courtesy of Chris Dirato

POMONA, Calif. -- After clinching the 2004 NHRA POWERade Top Fuel world championship, Tony "The Sarge" Schumacher has been nominated for SPEED Channel's fourth quarter Driver of the Year award.

The pilot of the United States Army Top Fuel dragster, who is wrapping up the 2004 season here this weekend in the Auto Club of Southern California Finals at Pomona Raceway, is among a group of candidates including Martin Truex, Jr. (NASCAR Busch Series), Sebastian Bourdais (Champ Car), Tony Kanaan (IRL), Ryan Newman (NASCAR Nextel Cup), Jimmie Johnson (NASCAR Nextel Cup), Steve Kinser (World of Outlaws) and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (NASCAR Nextel Cup).

The fourth quarter award will be determined by an independent vote of an 18-member panel of blue ribbon auto racing journalists and broadcasters as well as one vote based on a cumulative tally by fans voting at www.speedtv.com. Fan voting will take place online until Wednesday, November 24, at 12 noon ET. The winner will be announced on Speed News, Sunday, November 28, at 7 p.m. ET.

"Yet again, it's an honor to be considered for this award," said Schumacher, who was in the mix for first quarter Driver of the Year. "The U.S. Army team has worked extremely hard this year and winning the Top Fuel world title was the end result. Any honor we get at this point is just icing on the cake."

In addition to an award for each quarter, SPEED Channel will name a 2004 Driver of the Year at season's end. Since 1967, the only NHRA driver to win the overall award was John Force -- in 1996.