Tony Schumacher put himself in position to win his third pole in 10 NHRA Mello Yello Racing Series when his U.S. Army Top Fuel team posted a time of 3.777 seconds at a track-record 327.51 mph Friday at Dinwiddie, Virginia, about 40 miles south of Richmond.

Schumacher, the eight-time world champion who won at Virginia Motorsports Park in 2008, came within 0.006 seconds of topping his track elapsed time record but was able to shatter the speed mark held by Don Schumacher Racing teammate Antron Brown.

“This was one of those runs, when you look on the entry list of 15 cars, that No. 1 spot becomes extremely important,” Schumacher said of the pole winner after Saturday’s two session earning a first round bye for Sunday eliminations if only 15 cars are in the field.

“Going up there, we were sixth when we started. (Crew chiefs Mike Neff and Phil Shuler) said we’re going to smoke the tires or we’re going to go No. 1. There’s no reason to try and be third or fourth or fifth. Let’s see what this thing can do, and they did a great job and made a great run.

“We’ve won this race before. It was a long time ago. For all these people to come back out, and the kids that are here that weren’t even born the last time we were out, it’s great to go out and make a good run like that for the Army car.”

The NHRA Mello Yello Series returned to the Virginia Motorsports Park for the first time since 2009 and first under ownership of Tommy Franklin.

An opening for Virginia resulted from legendary Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in New Jersey deciding to shut down its drag racing schedule. Franklin, a Virginia native and drag racer, jumped at the opportunity and within two weeks was on the 24-race schedule.

In February, the asphalt and concrete was replaced with a new concrete surface.

But the fresh surface combined with a hot, 130-degree track surface, high humidity and NHRA’s new less “sticky” track preparation to keep times and speeds less impressive than the final qualifying times at its Mello Yello event.

In the first session, four Top Fuel dragsters were in the sub-4-second range with four of 14 reaching 300 mph, but it improved in the second session when the track temperature dropped to below 120, enabling 11 dragsters to reach 300 and nine got into the 3.8-second range led by Schumacher’s 3.777.

“This track is perfect,” Schumacher said. “The guys who bought it made it a beautiful track. It’s literally two smooth lanes of perfect lines. You want to make a great race for fans who pay good money to come to a race. (Franklin) did a perfect job. All of the drivers and teams and crew chiefs are very pleased.”