It's finally over. By now, you have probably heard that the U.S. Army Top Fuel Drag Racing Team wrapped up the 2004 NHRA POWERade Top Fuel world championship two weeks ago in Reading, Pa.

As we prepare to travel to The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend for the ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals, you can imagine that the smiles are still plentiful in the U.S. Army camp. To be sure, it's justified.

This U.S. Army team should be extremely proud of itself. We accomplished our mission of bringing home a world title and we did it in impressive fashion. To all of those soldiers that we have been racing for this year, all I can is Hooah!

The numbers speak for themselves -- nine wins and 12 final rounds. By the time the season ends next month, we will have been on top of the point standings for 21 of the 23 weeks. Not too shabby, if you ask me.

All the credit has to go to my crew chief, Alan Johnson, and the entire team -- Joe Arena, Randy Crago, Kevin Eckstein, Brian Husen, Jason McCulloch, Lanny Miglizzi, Nick Peters, Tom Turkal and Rodger Whitworth. These guys gave me a great race car week in and week out and the results were evident.

Of course, I can't forget my dad and team owner, Don Schumacher, who gave us everything we needed to compete for the world championship. Frankly, without him and the U.S. Army, we're nowhere.

Speaking of the U.S. Army, I took particular pride in being able to present them their first world championship. This is absolutely perfect timing for this to happen. They're in the middle of a lot of stuff all around the world right now and they need a lift like this. I will admit that I get a ton of satisfaction when I hear that something we did might have brightened some soldier's day over there. Even if it only made them smile for a minute.

Now, from the way I am rambling, you may think that we're mailing in the final two races of the season. No way. This weekend in Vegas, we've got two goals in mind -- to set the new record for most wins in a single season in Top Fuel and to win the prestigious Budweiser Shootout on Saturday.

After recording our ninth victory of the year in Reading, we tied the mark for most wins in a single season in Top Fuel. My teammate, Gary Scelzi, and Larry Dixon turned the trick previously. We've got two races to set the new standard and we're going after it.

And, then there's the Budweiser Shootout, which is a special all-star race that showcases eight of the best-performing Top Fuel teams in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. We're taking aim at that $100,000 first-place prize.

Last year in the Budweiser Shootout, we lost to Doug Kalitta in the finals in one of the quickest side-by-side races in Top Fuel history. It was a whale of a race. I can tell you, if we both get to the finals this year, I owe him one.

With that, it's Viva Las Vegas, baby! "The Sarge" salutes you all. We'll have a weekend off before the season finale in Pomona, Calif., Nov. 11-14. Until then, be safe and stay well.

Tony Schumacher drives the United States Army sponsored Top Fuel dragster in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.