They call him ‘Sarge’ for a reason.
For the last four seasons, Tony Schumacher has been in charge of the NHRA POWERade Series Top Fuel division.
And given his start to the 2008 season, the U.S. Army dragster doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon.
After winning his NHRA record fourth consecutive Top Fuel title, Schumacher picked up where he left off with two consecutive wins to start the current year.
He’s made two additional final round appearances and has maintained the points lead since the opening weekend at Pomona, California — his best start since his 2004 championship season when he won a Top Fuel record 10 races.
After seven races in 2004, Schumacher had totaled 613 points and four wins. This year, he’s picked up 608 points on two wins.
“It’s been a great start,” Schumacher, a five-time series champion, said Monday. “I think we’ve only had one year that we’ve had a better start and we won ten races that year. So it’s been fantastic. The cars and the crew have really gelled. We haven’t made the mistakes and really haven’t spent the beginning of the year like we usually do, we’re trying to win some races.”
Despite walking away with their fourth consecutive title, the U.S. Army team didn’t slow down in preparation for the 2008 season. A lot of work in the offseason went into the great start.
Schumacher gave credit to crew chief Allen Johnson and his team for getting everything ready off the bat.
“Everything was perfect and they gave us what we needed to go out and start winning,” he said. “We didn’t have to figure combinations out. Allen Johnson was really good in getting that car to react right away to a new chassis and new fuel. It was perfect. Just really good timing for a successful year.”
Of course, the driver had a little momentum on his side as well winning the first Top Fuel title in the Countdown to the Championship format.
“It was awesome. It feels good. On the last run of the season, bottom of the ninth, full count and to put one out like that. You can’t ask for anything else. That’s what dreams are made from.”
Since his debut in 1996, Schumacher has taken control of the Top Fuel division. This year, he’s gunning for his fifth straight NHRA POWERade world title and a Top Fuel record sixth career title.
With 43 career wins, Schumacher sits nine away from Joe Amato’s record of 52 Top Fuel victories.
This weekend at Bristol, Schumacher could make more personal history needing just three elimination round wins to reach number 400 for his career in that category.
Schumacher would like nothing more than to reach the tally in front of some of the NHRA’s best fans at Thunder Valley.
“I love to drive there. Thunder Valley, it’s something cool,” Schumacher said. “The fans live and die for racing. That’s what I like to show up for. I’m not wasting my time. I’m going out there and performing in front of people who want to be performed in front of. I think that’s cool.”
Schumacher’s fans will get a real treat this weekend with the U.S. Army ’s special Salute the Troops paint scheme in advance of Memorial Day.
Mark Martin will run a similar paint scheme for NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte.
“It will be a special moment when we honor the brave men and women of the U.S. Army as part of the Salute the Troops program and over the Bristol NHRA race weekend,” Schumacher said. “With Memorial Day forthcoming, we should all make sure to pause and think about the people who sacrificed so much to protect our freedom. I can only hope that our U.S. Army Top Fuel team can deliver a victory in Thunder Valley and then Mark Martin can do likewise in the number 8 U.S. Army Chevrolet at the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte. That would be a great present for our Soldiers.”
Aside from his normal drag racing duties at Bristol, Schumacher will also get an opportunity to tangle with his competitors on the Bristol Motor Speedway half-mile.
Bristol will host its second Saturday Spectacular event following Saturday’s NHRA O’Reilly Thunder Valley Nationals next door.
The card includes five races including the UARA Late Motel Series Thompson Metal 150.
But the highlight of the show will undoubtedly be the NHRA Circle Track Challenge when Schumacher and others will race street stock cars for one segment, then turn the wheel over to a partner for a second segment.
Schumacher may have a slight edge over his fellow drag racing comrades. The driver has previous experience testing a late modified outside of Sacramento along with laps in the Richard Petty Driving Experience.
“I can’t wait. I don’t know how close these cars are to those, but that was good experience — probably exactly what I needed (going into this),” said Schumacher. “You get to go out there and beat up on the other drivers. And it’s really a unique situation because where we’re not allowed to touch each other, we can go out there and rough them up a little bit. It’s kind of cool.”
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