Believe it or not, it's time for the 2004 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series season finale. It seemed like this year flew by with the greatest of ease.

This weekend we head to Pomona (Calif.) Raceway for the Auto Club of Southern California Finals. It's the traditional season-ending event on the schedule. In fact, we always start the season and end the season in Pomona.

While you may think that the U.S. Army Top Fuel Drag Racing Team merely has its eye on the year-end awards banquet on Monday night, there will be some business to attend to before the curtain officially comes down.

Despite the fact that we clinched the Top Fuel world championship last month, we're still after the single-season win record in Top Fuel. Since we tied the mark (nine), we've had two cracks at setting the new standard, but came up short each time. We now have one more shot and you can bet we're going for it.

We've certainly got nothing to lose. This has already been a magical season, so why not top it off by setting a record?

The good news is that we know we can win at Pomona. We captured the K&N Filters Winternationals (the season opener) in February for the first time ever. We just want to go out and have some fun this weekend and hope that we can end the season the way we started it.

Casting aside the performance factor for a moment, this weekend will be particularly special for a different reason.

The U.S. Army NHRA Racing Team, which includes my Top Fuel dragster as well as the Pro Stock Bikes of Angelle Savoie and Antron Brown, will carry a salute to World War II veterans.

My dragster will be dressed in green with white lettering, while the Pro Stock Bikes will be distinguished by the colors green and brown.

Angelle, Antron and I are proud to be able to single out these heroes; especially that Veterans' Day is upon us. This will show that we have not forgotten what they did for our country.

I believe this is a great thing that we're doing. We've won a bunch of races for the U.S. Army this season, but winning the finale at Pomona carrying this special paint scheme would mean that much more to all of us.

With that, we're California bound. "The Sarge" salutes you all. We'll be back at you in a couple of weeks to wrap up the season. Until then, please stay well.

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