Momentum is very important to Tony Schumacher right now. Off to his best start since the 2004 season, he’s looking to maintain the edge this weekend during the O’Reilly Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park.

Schumacher leads second-place Larry Dixon by 52 points thanks to two victories out of three events thus far in 2008.

“We’re pleased that we’ve started off the way we have,” said the five-time world champion. “This is so different than in recent years when we’ve struggled early but rallied late.” Momentum is very important to Tony Schumacher right now. Off to his best start since the 2004 season, he’s looking to maintain the edge this weekend during the O’Reilly Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park.

Schumacher leads second-place Larry Dixon by 52 points thanks to two victories out of three events thus far in 2008.

“We’re pleased that we’ve started off the way we have,” said the five-time world champion. “This is so different than in recent years when we’ve struggled early but rallied late.”

Schumacher isn’t complaining but he can’t help but notice his 2008 start closely parallels the same path that he took in 2004 when he posted wins in Pomona, Calif. and Gainesville, Fla., along with a semifinal round advancement in Phoenix.

“Now, that’s pretty strange,” he added. “From what I’ve been told we’re only five points different this year than in 2004 (310 points through three races in 2004 versus 305 points in 2008). Of course, I hope that we stay that hot the rest of the way.”

The Chicago native is hoping to have a shot at a class record sixth career title, which would break Joe Amato’s mark of five championships (1984, 1988, 1990-1992).

“Man, we’ve got a long road ahead before that becomes a consideration,” he said. “While we’ve been going rounds and winning races so far, we’re still not running as good as we should be. I would love for us to really step it up this weekend in Houston.”

Schumacher’s visits to HRP have been productive over the years. He captured the 2005 event, while recording four other final round appearances. Additionally, he holds the track record for speed at 335.32 mph set in ‘05.

“It’s a neat track,” he said. “They’ve had a lot of record-setting performances there since it opened back in the 1980’s. I recall Dixon recording the sport’s first 4.4-second run in 1999.

“We just want to go down there and win another race for our soldiers. I love driving for the U.S. Army because I get to represent the strongest all-volunteer fighting force in the world. You can’t get any better than that.”