Another Winning Weekend for Team Valvoline
Schumacher Claims 50th Career NHRA Top Fuel Victory
Tony Schumacher defeated his Valvoline teammate Cory McClenathan in Sunday's Top Fuel dragster final round at Brainerd (Minn.) International Raceway. The victory was Schumacher's fourth straight, ninth of the season and the 50th of his career. He is two wins shy of tying Joe Amato's record of 52 career Top Fuel victories.
Schumacher's 1,000-foot elapsed time and speed were 3.865 seconds at 310.05 miles per hour. McClenathan ran a 3.900 at 306.74.
"These guys are amazing and this is the best team I've ever seen together, just like (John) Force and Amato's teams in their time," Schumacher said. "It's unbelievable. Not only have we won a lot of races, but we've won some of the most difficult races with so much pressure. And for whatever reason, I feel like I am driving my best right now. We've got a great team and a great car and the whole package has come together."
Valvoline Funny Car driver Jack Beckman scored a runner-up finish. Though he had a quicker elapsed time in the final round than his opponent Tony Pedregon, Beckman was disqualified due to a red-light start.
"My brain told my right foot to go and the light hadn't come on yet," explained Beckman. "Absolutely 100 percent driver mistake."
The following are Valvoline Racing NHRA Team Results
NHRA POWERade Series
Aug. 10
Brainerd, Minn.
Top Fuel:
Alan Bradshaw, Tuttle Motorsports
Did Not Enter
Point Standing: 15th
Antron Brown, David Powers Motorsports
Lost in First Round
Point Standing: 2nd
Rod Fuller, David Powers Motorsports
Lost in Quarterfinal Round
Point Standing: 5th
Cory McClenathan, Don Schumacher Racing
Runner-up
Point Standing: 4th
Tony Schumacher, Don Schumacher Racing:
Won Event
Point Standing: 1st
Bob Vandergriff Jr., Vandergriff Motorsports
Lost in Quarterfinal Round
Point Standing: 12th
Funny Car
Jack Beckman, Don Schumacher Racing
Runner-up
Point Standing: 9th
Ron Capps, Don Schumacher Racing
Lost in Quarterfinal Round
Point Standing: 8th
Gary Scelzi, Don Schumacher Racing
Lost in First Round
Point Standing: 13th
Jerry Toliver, Don Schumacher Racing
Lost in First Round
Point Standing: 15th
Tim Wilkerson
Lost in Semifinal Round
Point Standing: 1st
Pro Stock
Ron Krisher
Lost in First Round
Point Standing: 9th
Pro Stock Motorcycle
Chip Ellis
Lost in Semifinal Round
Point Standing: 3rd
Next NHRA Event
Aug. 17
Maple Grove Raceway
Reading, Pa.
