PROVISIONAL TOP FUEL NO. 1 SCHUMACHER STARTING TO HIT STRIDE
Tony Schumacher said he was happy to get to Florida.
Still a kid at heart, how could the Top Fuel racer not like spring break in Florida?
More importantly, though he said, the U.S. Army team “has been extremely successful in Gainesville over the years and we [have] an outstanding car. It’s a great event. It’s got so much history. It has been a big one in NHRA for a long time, and it continues to be one of our marquee events. The track is incredible. And the timing of the event gets people to come out from everywhere to be there because of the history of the event. It’s like Indy. If you look at the list of winners, it’s a really good list and you want to be on in. We’re fortunate to be on that list already and excited to have the chance to move up on it.”
He moved up in the order Friday evening, overtaking early leader Troy Coughlin Jr. for the tentative No. 1 qualifier at the Amalie Oil Gatornationals.
The U.S. Army Dragster driver and four-time Gatornationals winner covered the Auto-Plus Raceway at Gainesville 1,000-foot course in a track-record elapsed time of 3.682 seconds at a speed of 328.22 mph.
Afterward, Schumacher said he thinks it will hold for his 81st No. 1 starting position.
"I think that run may do it," he said. "Looking at the weather, it was going to be 74 [degrees], then warm up on Sunday. It’s reversed now. So it looks like we’ll see 78. And we’re running in the middle of the day. Is there potential that someone could go quicker? Possibly, if the conditions are right and the air is as good as it is today and there’s more rubber on the racetrack. We’ve been racing here a long time, and that’s the quickest run this track has seen. There’s a lot of reasons cars should go fast and don’t in certain places. I think that was a good, quality run. It’ll stay in the top couple, if nothing else.”
The eight-time series champion and 82-time winner said his team is starting to regain its mojo after watching Don Schumacher Racing colleague Leah Pritchett boss the Top Fuel class through the season’s first two races.
"We are getting to a confidence level that we haven't had in a long time," Schumacher said. “The car is running extremely well from the get-go. We've gotten beat on some unfortunate situations. But everybody knows you don’t just go out there and clean house. It’s cyclical. So let Leah have her moment in the sun at the beginning. She’s a great teammate and all that, but you’ve got to be great at the end. You’ve got to be good when it counts, when it matters. And you’ve got to save those parts and pieces - and save those lucky breaks and great moments, too. We’ve done that before. We know how to do it.
“The 82 wins feel great, but it’s because of the hundreds of losses,” Schumacher said. “And I think that’s one thing our team recognizes. We’re great in the adversity. We’re great in knowing there’s other good teams.”
None was better than his Friday, and he shared the credit.
“It’s not me. It’s not [crew chief] Mike Green. It’s a whole lot of people who know how to work together as a team. My dad is the king of the hill when it comes to sitting back and going, ‘What can we do to win the championship? Who can we bring on? How can we let them work together?’ I drive the U.S. Army car. We’ve learned from them.”
Like Larry Dixon this weekend, Schumacher could become the all-time Top Fuel leader in Gatornationals victories. However, he said he’s more focused on the journey than the results.
“I love the challenge. Going out and trying to be my best in that car is all I’ve ever known. When I wake up, I’m thinking about it,” he said. “I say it’s a constant contest, and those contests continue preparing you. Preparation is the key. Over-prepare and go with the flow. I try to follow that motto, because when you do, the battle is fun,” he said. “The runs down the track are three and a half seconds, but the preparation for those runs are intense. That’s what drives me. I love being that intense. I love being surrounded by people capable of the moment and motivated to continue getting better. That’s what matters to me right now. There will be a day to look back at the record book and memorable races, but today it’s all about the preparation to be the best right now for that next run down the track.
“Whether you win or lose, you know you brought everything to the game,” Schumacher said.
He did Friday evening.