Not my style

Schumacher not giving up on late-season success

With only three races remaining on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series schedule, you may think that I've already begun to lay plans for cleaning out my locker in preparation for the offseason. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Mailing in the rest of the season is definitely not my style, nor will it ever be. The United States Army Top Fuel Drag Racing Team will remain focused on winning races the rest of the way, beginning with this weekend's O'Reilly Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex, which is located just south of Dallas.

After a disappointing first-round loss in Joliet, Ill., two weeks ago, we'll intently be looking to bring back the kind of success that we experienced the previous four races when we recorded two semifinal appearances, a finals appearance and a win at the U.S. Nationals.

We had a bit of a roll going before the Joliet race. We'd like to create a new roll to finish the season out, starting with this weekend's race. There's no reason we can't go deep in rounds on a given Sunday and even come away with a win or two or three. There would be nothing better than to finish out the season with three straight wins. Why not?

If we can duplicate our 1999 performance at the Texas Motorplex this time around, it will clearly provide the needed spark. In 1999, we qualified second and went on to beat Scott Kalitta in the finals. It was my first career NHRA victory, so that was memorable to say the least.

We have the ability to win races every time out -- we've proven that. Of course, the fact that we've won at the Texas Motorplex helps a bit. We know we can be successful there, which always helps one's confidence going in.

I also happen to like racing at the facility billed as drag racing's first "supertrack." If you hit it right, you can put up some real big numbers there. That's always a positive for the fans as well.

Well, let me grab my cowboy hat and hit the happy trail. Wish the U.S. Army team good luck. We have a weekend off before we head to the land of slot machines -- Las Vegas -- for the ACDelco Nationals. So, until then, "The Sarge" salutes you all. Please stay well.

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

 

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