What is Tony Schumacher’s secret for winning a national event?

“Most of the days when we wake up and race a tough car, it builds momentum for the day,” Schumacher said. “You qualify No. 1 and get a No. 16 car, you tend to back it down a bit and that always comes back to bite you.

“[Crew chief] Alan Johnson got up this morning and knew what he had to do. We are a long way from that 90%, but we are working towards it. We’re getting it figured out and the car is performing so consistently. Then you get an opponent like Doug Kalitta, and when you win those kinds of races, they shine up real nice.”

What is Tony Schumacher’s secret for winning a national event?

“Most of the days when we wake up and race a tough car, it builds momentum for the day,” Schumacher said. “You qualify No. 1 and get a No. 16 car, you tend to back it down a bit and that always comes back to bite you.

“[Crew chief] Alan Johnson got up this morning and knew what he had to do. We are a long way from that 90%, but we are working towards it. We’re getting it figured out and the car is performing so consistently. Then you get an opponent like Doug Kalitta, and when you win those kinds of races, they shine up real nice.”

Schumacher opened the 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing tour the same way he concluded last year – in the winner’s circle. In fact, he’s three for four in two years at Pomona.

Schumacher reeled off his quickest run of the weekend with a 4.499 elapsed time at 331.28 miles per hour to get by Cory McClenathan’s game 4.536 seconds, 329.26 mph.

“That’s our car, our tune-up and we helped to put that team together,” Schumacher said of McClenathan. “They’re going to be tough all year long. He’s a great driver. Cory is another driver with a lot of wins. It was perfect – a great ending to a great day.”

Schumacher won his first career NHRA CARQUEST Winternationals in 2004 and presently holds an eight round winning streak at Pomona. He’s now 42 for 71 in career final round appearances.

The victory puts Schumacher second in most career victories behind Joe Amato's 52 wins.

The younger Schumacher’s victory marked the 108th for his team owning dad, Don Schumacher,

since returning to the sport in 1998.

“That’s a lot,” Schumacher said. “He’s got some really great teams. He has four great Funny Cars. He has great Top Fuel teams and when the bike team gets out there – it’s going to do well too. He’s a phenomenal businessman. He puts the best teams together and if you look back at the races for last year, I’m sure we won at least one class at each.

Despite having such a huge operation, Tony Schumacher explained there’s a misnomer when it comes to DSR.

“I have to tell you that our budgets are not the largest.

“It’s not about the largest budget; it’s about having the right personnel. You have to have people that are willing to work together and share technology. That bites us sometimes. We’ve shared a lot with some of the other teams.

“We’ve had crew chiefs go in other directions. We know that is going to happen. But, he is a master at putting together overall programs with sponsors and partners and make them all work together.”