Schumacher has only one thing left to conquer: Atlanta
Monday, May 11, 2015.
With an incredible résumé that includes 78 Top Fuel wins and a
class-best eight world championships, Tony Schumacher knows he doesn’t
need to change anything about his approach heading to Atlanta Dragway.
That championship pedigree, which includes the 2014 Top Fuel series
crown, has led to victories at every NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series
track on the circuit except for one: Atlanta Dragway.
But Schumacher insists nothing in his approach will change heading to
this weekend’s 35th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern
Nationals. With his 10,000-horsepower U.S. Army dragster running as well
as it ever has, that may be Schumacher’s best bet for getting into the
win column for the first time at Georgia’s House of Speed.
“We’ve got a great car, best car we’ve had for Atlanta,” Schumacher
said. “We’ve been in the finals there before and just haven’t won. In
all reality, we’ve got a great race car and a great race team. We’ll
just go out and do our job. When I’m strapped into the U.S. Army car and
the light comes on, the only thing I’m going to be worried about is
hitting the gas and getting down the racetrack.”
Spencer Massey (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car), Jeg Coughlin Jr.
(Pro Stock), and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year’s
winners of the event that will once again be televised on ESPN2. The
Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals marks the seventh of 24
events during the 2015 season, and it has already been a banner year for
Schumacher, who appears even more motivated following his latest
championship.
He posted a victory in Phoenix and has advanced to three final
rounds, putting him in a familiar position as the series points leader.
To his credit, Schumacher has also never let the lack of success in
Atlanta affect his mindset, which is why he’ll be confident and prepared
once again heading to the event this year.
“I don’t go up there and say, ‘Why don’t we win here?’ just like I
don’t go to Indy and say, 'How come we always win here?' ” said
Schumacher, who has four runner-up finishes in Atlanta. “I’m not
surprised, but I continue to be blown away by the fact that we’ve won 78
races. For whatever it’s worth, we tested a brand-new car last week.
After winning championships and getting off to the start we have, we’re
not settling. We’re bringing out a brand-new car for Atlanta. The guys
love it, and [crew chief] Mike Green loves it.”
A new car and a forward-thinking mindset have always kept Green,
Schumacher, and the rest of the U.S. Army team at the front of the pack
in the loaded Top Fuel class. That approach is needed more than ever in a
class that is as diverse as it has ever been.
Six different drivers have won through the first six events in 2015, a
sign of just how deep and talented the class continues to get. Massey
claimed his first victory at Atlanta Dragway last season when he
defeated Doug Kalitta in the final round. Both have wins this year, as
do Richie Crampton, Antron Brown, who has three Atlanta wins, and 2013
world champion Shawn Langdon.
Others to watch include three-time world champ Larry Dixon, who has
four Atlanta wins, J.R. Todd, Brittany Force, Clay Millican, and 2012
Atlanta winner Steve Torrence.
“It’s a great class this year,” Schumacher said. “It’s a strong state
of affairs to see where Top Fuel is right now. The cars are battling
each and every session. If I was paying money to see what’s going on,
that’s certainly what I would want to see.”
But if Schumacher continues to perform on his championship level,
everyone will continue to chase him. That bull’s-eye has grown bigger
and bigger through the years, but Schumacher welcomes that challenge
more than ever. He has been impressed with how the season has started,
and with the potential of the new dragster, the best may be yet to come,
which also bodes well for a breakthrough in Atlanta.
“I think they are coming together better than we expected,”
Schumacher said. “Our car is stronger and quicker than in years past.
The light at the end of the tunnel looks really good for us. The guys
know we have started out strong. We’re just going to show up at the
starting line each time and continue to look for moments of greatness.
“We’ve got a great-running car, but when people line up against us,
they do better than they do against anybody else. It’s a form of
respect, I guess. They know they have to run well to beat us, and we
typically see everyone’s best shot. That’s been no different this year,
and it’s not changed one bit whether we’re defending champs or not.”
John Force
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Greg Anderson
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Eddie Krawiec
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In Funny Car, 16-time world champ John Force is the winningest driver
in any Pro category in Atlanta with seven victories. His teammate Hight
has had much recent success in Atlanta with three wins since 2008,
including his victory last season. Other competitors in pursuit of the
Funny Car event crown are current points leader and two-time 2015 winner
Ron Capps, Courtney Force, reigning world champ Matt Hagan, Jack
Beckman, 1991 winner Del Worsham, Alexis DeJoria, two-time world champ
Cruz Pedregon, three-time Atlanta winner Tony Pedregon, and Tim
Wilkerson.
In Pro Stock, Greg Anderson, who posted a win in Gainesville this
year, leads all active drivers with five victories at Atlanta Dragway;
he fell to Coughlin in the final a year ago. He will face off against a
host of challengers, including Allen Johnson and Larry Morgan, who are
the two active Pro Stock drivers other than Anderson to win at Atlanta
Dragway; defending world champ Erica Enders, who has won two national
events in a row; Drew Skillman; Shane Gray; Jonathan Gray; Vincent
Nobile; and V. Gaines.
Pro Stock Motorcycle returned to Atlanta following a year off in
2013, and three-time world champ Krawiec picked up right where he left
off, collecting his third win at the facility. Four-time and defending
world champ Andrew Hines is looking for his first Georgia victory since
2010, and other standouts include Angelle Sampey, a three-time world
champ who has four victories at the track, two-time world champ Matt
Smith, Hector Arana Jr., 2009 world champ Hector Arana Sr., Gainesville
winner Karen Stoffer, and Steve Johnson.
The NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series will make its
third stop of the 2015 season at Atlanta Dragway. The race will also
feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.
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. This
unique opportunity in motorsports gives fans direct access to the teams,
allowing them to see firsthand the highly skilled mechanics service
their hot rods between rounds and enjoy cherished face time with and get
autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers.
Mello Yello Series qualifying begins Friday, May 15, with sessions at
3:45 and 6:15 p.m. The final two qualifying sessions will take place
Saturday, May 16, at 12:45 and 3:15 p.m. Final eliminations are
scheduled for 11 a.m. Sunday, May 17.
To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, log on to
NHRA.com/tickets or call 800-884-NHRA (6472).
