Reigning NHRA
POWERade Top Fuel champion Tony Schumacher raced to his second victory in his
last three starts Sunday at Pacific Raceways to continue his rapid climb up the
points standings. The
three-time champ has gone from eighth place to fourth
in the last four races -- including three straight final round appearances --
and has closed to within 150 points of Doug Kalitta's series lead with his
win at the $1.4 million Schuck's Auto Supply NHRA Nationals presented
by Lucas Oil.

Whit Bazemore and Allen Johnson joined Schumacher in the
winner's circle as each ended long winless streaks with victories here.
Bazemore had gone 31 races without a win until beating points leader and
teammate Ron Capps in the Seattle finale, while Johnson ended a 34-race dry
spell by
downing surprise finalist Tom Martino, who was racing for just
the second time this year.

Schumacher had little trouble beating Dave
Grubnic in the Top Fuel final with a 4.690 at 321.96 mph in his U.S. Army
dragster to Grubnic's 4.761 at 316.75 in his StriVectin-SD dragster. It was
Schumacher's 32nd career victory and second at this track.