Seattle: Tony Schumacher preview

SCHUMACHER HOPES FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS

KENT, Wash., July 15 - U.S. Army Top Fuel driver, Tony "The Sarge" Schumacher, just offers a wide grin when asked if he's enjoying the 2008 drag racing season thus far.

"I'm really at a loss for words to describe what we've accomplished to date," said the five-time world champion. "We've managed to win six races and advance to two other final rounds in 13 races. Those numbers are pretty good, if you ask me."

In fact, Schumacher is off to his best start to a season since he turned professional in 1996. Heading into this weekend's Schuck's Auto Supply Nationals at Pacific Raceways outside of Seattle, he's built a 275-point cushion over Antron Brown in the standings.

"We just want to maintain our consistency," he said while preparing for his trip to the Pacific Northwest. "That's how we won in Denver last Sunday. We made sure we got down what was a very hot track each and every time."

Despite his impressive half-season numbers, Schumacher knows that the critical part of the year still remains in the form of the Countdown to One phase of the NHRA's Countdown to the Championship.

"When we get to that first race of the playoffs (in Charlotte, N.C., September 11- 14), that's when we'll really have to have our game faces on," he said. "Assuming we're still on top of the points at that time, we'll have our lead shrunk to less than a couple of rounds of racing, which does not leave a lot of room for mistakes."

The immediate goal, however, is to make a return trip to victory lane at Pacific Raceways.

"We've been to the finals there the last four years and won three of those races," he offered. "Certainly, it would be nice if we could go up there and run well once again.

"In the end, we just want to keep winning for our Soldiers. That's what this race program is all about. We want to put smiles on the faces of all of our hard-working men and women. If we accomplish that, then we've done our job."

-credit: dsr