Championship Drag Racing

O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals
Madison, IL
(June 23-25)

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Tony Schumacher U.S. Army dragster

St. Louis, prerace: U.S. Army NHRA pilot Tony Schumacher will close out the first half of the 2006 drag racing season this weekend when he takes to Gateway International Raceway for the O’Reilly Midwest Nationals.

For Schumacher, the defending NHRA POWERade Top Fuel world champion, advancement beyond the second round of eliminations would be a welcomed experience after five straight early exits from races.

One has to look back to the sixth race of the year in Bristol, Tenn. to find the last time Schumacher got to a semifinal round. He’s clearly hoping to jump over that statistical hurdle this Sunday.

“It’s a bit mind-boggling,” said the Chicago resident of his team’s struggles to date in ’06. “Somehow, some way, we have to find consistency. Once we do, we’ll be everyone’s worst nightmare.”

Schumacher enters the O’Reilly Midwest Nationals tied for seventh in the standings, 312 points removed from teammate, Melanie Troxel, in first.

“We’re not giving up on this season,” he added. “Like our soldiers, we’re not quitters. We’re going to keep fighting right through to the bitter end. There are plenty of races left to win.”

And, he wouldn’t mind if the first win of the year came within eyeshot of the famed St. Louis Arch.

“That would be fine,” he said. “We’d love to use a win in St. Louis as a springboard for greater things during the second half of the year.”

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