Backstretch Motorsports

JOLIET, Ill. – One-third of the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season has crossed the finish line at more than 300 miles per hour and despite what many prognosticators had forecast during the last off-season, six-time Top Fuel world champion Tony Schumacher, the 2008 Driver of the Year, is still right there, at the top of the championship points order.

It is a comfortable position for the driver of the U.S. Army dragster, who with 59 victories is the all-time wins leader in the 7,000 horsepower category. With 91 final round appearances he is quickly tracking the final class record that he doesn’t already own: Joe Amato’s mark of 99 career finals. [read more...]

BRISTOL, Tenn. – Tony Schumacher raced to his third victory of the season Sunday at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway.

Del Worsham and Mike Edwards also were winners at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event. [read more...]

LAS VEGAS - Two popular drivers in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series — Tony Schumacher and Ashley Force Hood — are each riding a wave of confidence into this weekend’s SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals (April 2-5) at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Both were able to reach the winners’ circle at Houston Raceway Park last weekend and in the process, put to rest nagging questions that were revolving around their 2009 campaigns. [read more...]

POMONA, Calif. – The popularity of NHRA Championship Drag Racing has been framed throughout the years by dynamic on-track rivalries that have kept fans on the edge of their seats.

Though there have been many great rivalries in the one-on-one world of this high-speed, side-by-side, performance-driven sport, several instantly come to mind:

• Don “the Snake” Prudhomme vs. Tom “the Mongoose” McEwen in Funny Car
• Don Garlits vs. Shirley Muldowney in Top Fuel
• Bob Glidden vs. Lee Shepherd in Pro Stock
• John Force vs. Cruz Pedregon in Funny Car

[read more...]

Neff, Connolly also earn provisional poles at fourth of six races in the Countdown to1

DINWIDDIE, Va. – Top Fuel points leader Tony Schumacher blistered the Virginia Motorsports Park track with a run of 3.771 seconds at 317.05 mph in his U.S. Army dragster to earn the provisional No. 1 qualifying position after the first of two days of qualifying Friday at the Virginia NHRA Nationals.

Mike Neff (Funny Car) and Dave Connolly (Pro Stock) rounded out the provisional No. 1 qualifiers at the 22nd of 24 races this season and the fourth race in the six-race NHRA Playoff, the Countdown to 1.

[read more...]

Beckman, Humphreys and Johnson also earn victories at first NHRA drag race at zMax Dragway

CONCORD, N.C. – Tony Schumacher became the NHRA all-time Top Fuel wins leader Sunday at the inaugural NHRA Carolinas Nationals at zMax Dragway by racing to his 53rd career victory and moving past NHRA legend and longtime record holder Joe Amato.

Jack Beckman, Justin Humphreys and Steve Johnson also were winners in their respective categories at the first of six races in the NHRA POWERade Series Countdown to 1, NHRA’s playoffs.

[read more...]

Robert Hight, Dave Connolly, and Steve Johnson round out winners at 54th Mac Tools U.S. Nationals

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Five-time champion Tony Schumacher capped off a historic performance at the 54th Mac Tools U.S. Nationals Sunday with his decisive final-round win over longtime foe Doug Kalitta.

[read more...]

MOHNTON, Pa. – In a final round that matched teacher against student, Funny Car driver Jack Beckman raced to his second win of the season at the Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals.

Tony Schumacher, Jeg Coughlin, and Matt Smith also were winners at the 17th of 24 events on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.

[read more...]

MOHNTON, Pa. – Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson took the top spot from teammate Jason Line as qualifying came to an end at the Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals.

Tony Schumacher, Cruz Pedregon, and Matt Smith remained No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories at the 17th of 24 events on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.

[read more...]

MOHNTON, Pa. – Top Fuel points leader Tony Schumacher raced to the provisional No. 1 qualifying spot Friday at the 24th annual Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway.

Cruz Pedregon, Jason Line and Matt Smith also were No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories at the 17th of 24 events on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.

[read more...]