ST. LOUIS – Throughout his standout career, Top Fuel driver Tony Schumacher has shown an impressive ability to rally when the pressure is at its most intense level.
After struggling through the first two races of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship playoffs, the seven-time world champion will again need to rely on that expertise over the final four events of the 2013 season.
Schumacher and his 8,000-horsepower U.S. Army dragster will have an opportunity to get back on track this weekend at the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals, Sept. 27-29 at Gateway Motorsports Park. Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Jack Beckman (Funny Car), Erica Enders-Stevens (Pro Stock), and Eddie Krawiec are the defending winners of the third of six races in the Countdown to the Championship. The race will be televised by ESPN2HD and Schumacher is eager to move up in the points standings from the fifth position he currently holds.
“Basically, we’ve got to be flawless and miraculous the rest of the year,” Schumacher said. “But it’s been done so many times and we’re so used to that, we’ve just got to make sure we go into those last four with the right car, and it’s not quite there, yet. But we’re closer than we were before.”
Schumacher and the U.S. Army team have made small improvements in the Countdown, but he is ready for a big leap in the midst of this rigorous stretch that includes four straight race weekends.
After losing in the first round at Charlotte to kick off the Countdown, Schumacher won his first-round matchup on Sunday at the Texas Motorplex in Dallas during the AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals.
But Morgan Lucas topped Schumacher in the second round, keeping him 88 points behind leaders Doug Kalitta and Shawn Langdon, who are currently tied for first.
Schumacher, though, remains confident in what his team is capable of in St. Louis, where he has won twice (2010, 2006).
“We’ll get this right and we’ll go fast,” Schumacher said. “It’s the end of the year and it’s when we have to go rounds. Our Army team has always been known as the team that likes to pull it out at the end, and that’s the time of year when it matters the most.”
For Schumacher to get back on track in the Countdown to the Championship, he will have to outlast a field of hungry competitors, including co-leaders Langdon and Kalitta, who won last weekend in Dallas. Spencer Massey raced to a runner-up finish in Charlotte and is currently third in the points standings, while others to watch include Morgan Lucas, who won the playoff opener in Charlotte, defending world champ Brown, Clay Millican, Bob Vandergriff and Steve Torrence.
A win would certainly cure all ills without even considering the huge points boost Schumacher would get in the Countdown. The team last won three months ago at his home track in Chicago, leaving that event with the points lead.
But the team has struggled to find its sweet spot since that race, advancing past the second round only once in the eight races that have followed. Schumacher believes those struggles are about to come to an end, pointing to qualifying second at both the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at the Countdown opener in Charlotte.
The biggest key is putting everything together, and doing just that in St. Louis could spark another late-season Schumacher surge.
“We have had our ups and downs,” Schumacher said. “There are a lot of great teams out there. Now that it’s Countdown time, we’re going to look back on our last 10 years of winning championships and we’re going to do textbook, powerhouse racing these last (four) events. The best thing about our U.S. Army team is that we know how to do it under pressure.”
The Funny Car field is led by points leader and 2011 world champion Matt Hagan. Cruz Pedregon is riding plenty of momentum coming into the event after winning in Dallas, moving to second in points. John and Courtney Force, Robert Hight, Illinois native Tim Wilkerson, Ron Capps, defending winner Beckman, Del Worsham and Johnny Gray also will be among the pre-race favorites.
Jason Line carries the points lead in the Pro Stock category for the first time since 2011, though he’s being chased by a number of standouts, including Jeg Coughlin, who has three wins in the category including the playoff opener in Charlotte. Allen Johnson, Mike Edwards, Greg Anderson, defending race winner Enders-Stevens and Dallas runner-up Shane Gray will all be among the drivers in the factory hot rod category thrilling fans during the weekend.
The two-wheeled warriors in Pro Stock Motorcycle return to Gateway Motorsports Park with Hector Arana Jr. atop the series standings in the category. Matt Smith, Michael Ray, Scotty Pollacheck, John Hall and Eddie Krawiec, the most recent winner in the Countdown, will be among the contenders vying for the NHRA Wally trophy during the weekend.
Fans of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series in St. Louis will be able to meet their heroes during the free Fan Fest sponsored by Mid-America Chevy Dealers in downtown St. Louis, Sept. 26. The event will take place from 5-7 p.m. on Washington Ave. (14 & Tucker) with activities for fans of all ages. A driver autograph session, car show, interactive displays, food, music and ticket giveaways will be among the featured attractions during the event. Downtown St. Louis will be electric with the excitement of Thursday Night Football and this will be a way to rev up the action before the game.
As always, fans will have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers as they’re granted an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. Fans will be able to get autographs and watch the race teams service their high performance hot rods between each round of racing. No other sport offer fans an up close and personal experience like NHRA.
Fans also will want to visit NHRA’s popular Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create a carnival atmosphere, with interactive displays, simulated competitions, merchandise, food and fun for the entire family.
Families can take part in a special ticket offer as children 12 and under will be admitted free in general admission and grandstand two with paid adult. A special 12 and under rate is also available in the Nitro 2 section.
The AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals qualifying sessions are scheduled for 2:45 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 27. Qualifying continues at 11:45 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28. Final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 29.
Tickets are available for the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals online at www.gatewaymsp.com or by calling (855) RACE-TIK (722-3845). For complete online coverage of the second annual AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals, please visit www.nhra.com.
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AAA INSURANCE NHRA MIDWEST NATIONALS FACT SHEET
WHAT: Second annual AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals, the 21st of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and the third of six races in the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship playoffs. Drivers in four categories - Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle - earn points leading to 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championships.
WHERE: Gateway Motorsports Park, Madison, Ill. Gateway International Raceway is located five minutes from downtown St. Louis at the intersection of Interstates 55/70 and Ill. Route 203 (Exit 4).
WHEN: Thursday through Sunday, Sept. 27-29
SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, Sept. 27 - LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying
PRO MOD SERIES qualifying at 2:15 p.m. and 4:45 p.m.
MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 2:45 and 5:15 p.m.
SATURDAY, Sept. 28 - LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations
PRO MOD SERIES qualifying at 1:45 p.m.; First round of eliminations at 4 p.m.
MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 11:45 a.m. and 2:15 p.m.
SUNDAY, Sept. 29 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.
MELLO YELLO SERIES eliminations begin at 11 a.m.
TELEVISION:
Saturday, Sept. 28, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise coverage of qualifying at TBA (ET).
Sunday, Sept. 29, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise three hours of eliminations coverage starting at 8:30 p.m. (ET).
2012 EVENT WINNERS: Antron Brown, Top Fuel; Jack Beckman, Funny Car; Erica Enders-Stevens, Pro Stock; Eddie Krawiec, Pro Stock Motorcycle.
TRACK RECORDS:
Top Fuel - 3.737 sec. by Antron Brown, Sept. ‘12; 326.79 mph by Antron Brown, Sept. ‘12
Funny Car - 4.049 sec. by Jack Beckman, Sept. ‘12; 312.93 mph by Jeff Arend, Sept. ‘12
Pro Stock - 6.496 sec. by Jason Line, Sept. ‘12; 213.47 mph by Line, Sept. ‘12
PS Motorcycle - 6.809 sec. by Hector Arana Jr., Sept. ‘12; 196.56 mph by Hector Arana, Sept. ‘12
NATIONAL RECORDS:
Top Fuel - 3.701 sec. by Antron Brown, Oct. ’12, Reading, Pa.; 332.18 mph by Spencer Massey, April ’12, Charlotte, N.C.
Funny Car - 3.986 sec. by Jack Beckman, Oct. ’12, Reading, Pa.; 320.58 mph by Beckman, Oct. ’12, Reading, Pa.
Pro Stock - 6.471 sec. by Mike Edwards, April ’13, Charlotte, N.C.; 214.35 mph by Jason Line, Oct. ’12, Reading, Pa.
PS Motorcycle - 6.728 sec. by Andrew Hines, Oct. ’12, Reading, Pa.; 199.26 mph by Eddie Krawiec, March ’11, Gainesville, Fla.
TICKETS: For tickets call Gateway Motorsports Park at (855) RACE-TIK (722-3845), or visit www.gatewaymsp.com.
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NHRA MELLO YELLO COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS STANDINGS
GLENDORA, Calif. -- Point standings (top 10) following the 20th of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series -
Top Fuel: 1. (tie) Doug Kalitta, 2,251; Shawn Langdon, 2,251; 3. Spencer Massey, 2,249; 4. Morgan Lucas, 2,216; 5. Tony Schumacher, 2,163; 6. Clay Millican, 2,140; 7. Bob Vandergriff, 2,103; 8. Antron Brown, 2,101; 9. Khalid alBalooshi, 2,097; 10. Steve Torrence, 2,080.
Funny Car: 1. Matt Hagan, 2,272; 2. Cruz Pedregon, 2,221; 3. Robert Hight, 2,209; 4. John Force, 2,208; 5. Jack Beckman, 2,196; 6. Ron Capps, 2,170; 7. Johnny Gray, 2,155; 8. Courtney Force, 2,141; 9. Tim Wilkerson, 2,089; 10. Del Worsham, 2,068.
Pro Stock: 1. Jason Line, 2,264; 2. Jeg Coughlin, 2,256; 3. Mike Edwards, 2,230; 4. Shane Gray, 2,207; 5. Allen Johnson, 2,190; 6. (tie) Erica Enders-Stevens, 2,146; V. Gaines, 2,146; 8. Vincent Nobile, 2,128; 9. Greg Anderson, 2,116; 10. Rodger Brogdon, 2,063.
Pro Stock Motorcycle: 1. Hector Arana Jr, 2,261; 2. Matt Smith, 2,250; 3. Hector Arana, 2,228; 4. Eddie Krawiec, 2,199; 5. Michael Ray, 2,191; 6. Scotty Pollacheck, 2,147; 7. LE Tonglet, 2,134; 8. John Hall, 2,129; 9. Adam Arana, 2,088; 10. Shawn Gann, 2,062.
