Backstretch Motorsports

SONOMA, Calif. – There aren’t many synonyms for the word “dominant” that haven’t already been used to describe Tony Schumacher. Perhaps none exist.

Schumacher, the 38-year-old son of team owner and drag racing pioneer Don Schumacher, took only three years to prove himself as a professional driver after his Top Fuel debut in Indianapolis, the oldest and most storied stop on the NHRA POWERade Series tour, in 1996.

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KENT, Wash. – After a shaky first half of the season that included six DNQs, Tony Bartone (shown left) raced to his first NHRA POWERade Series victory Sunday at the 21st annual Schuck’s Auto Supply NHRA Nationals after more than six years of professional racing.

Bartone defeated veteran driver Ron Capps, also looking to break out of a winless streak that dates back to Richmond 2007, in the final round. Bartone powered his Canidae Pet Foods Chevy Monte Carlo to a 4.454-second pass at 238.17 mph to get the long-awaited win, while Capps posted a 4.708 at 227.46 in his NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger R/T.

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KENT, Wash. – Tony Schumacher has been in the final round in Seattle every year since 2004. Out of four consecutive final rounds here, he’s won three. He looked primed to add a fifth after qualifying No. 1 Saturday at the 21st annual Schuck’s Auto Supply NHRA Nationals, piloting his U.S. Army dragster to a 3.802-second pass at 316.90 mph in prime conditions Friday for his fourth No. 1 qualifier of the season and the 51st of his career.

Robert Hight (shown left) and Dave Connolly also will lead their respective categories into Sunday’s eliminations on the power of the No. 1 qualifiers they earned during prime weather conditions of the first day of qualifying, on Friday.

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FORMER NBA STARS NANCE AND HAMMONDS FIND HOME WITH NHRA POWERade SERIES

NORWALK, Ohio – The NBA’s first-ever Slam Dunk champion will return to Summit Racing Motorsports Park for the second year in a row in Pro Stock, the deceivingly competitive category where every thousandth of a second is a tease – the difference between racing on Sunday and packing up for home.

Larry Nance, of the Cleveland Cavaliers (shown left), will field his Blaster Products Chevy Cobalt at the Second annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals June 26-29, at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park. It’s the 12th of 24 events in the NHRA POWERade Series Countdown to the Championship.

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ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. – Five-time POWERade Series world champion Tony Schumacher raced to his first win at Englishtown in 12 years of competition at the Lucas Oil NHRA SuperNationals.

The event was overshadowed by the loss of Funny Car driver Scott Kalitta, who died from multiple injuries suffered after his car went out of control in the fourth round of qualifying Saturday.

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JOLIET, Ill. – One day after his second explosion fit for the highlight reels this season, Tony Pedregon powered his Q Horsepower Chevy Impala SS to a trip to the winner’s circle at the 11th annual Torco Racing Fuels Route 66 NHRA Nationals.

Another Tony – Chicago’s own Tony Schumacher – took center stage in Top Fuel with an event-best time and speed in the final round, while Kurt Johnson (Pro Stock) and Chris Rivas (Pro Stock Motorcycle) drove away with event titles as well.

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JOLIET, Ill. – After Friday it looked like Ashley Force would become the first woman in NHRA history to qualify No. 1 in Funny Car. Only Melanie Troxel – the only other woman currently competing in the category - could beat her. On her last chance, Troxel did it.

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JOLIET, Ill. – It may seem that, after earning her first career win as a professional driver more than a month ago, a No. 1 qualifier would be somewhat anticlimactic for Ashley Force.

But when she drove her Castrol GTX Ford Mustang to a 4.759-second pass at 329.10 mph during the second round of qualifying at the Torco Racing Fuels Route 66 NHRA Nationals on Friday, those numbers stood for more. They proved her young team, in only its second year together, is becoming the kind of consistent and comfortable team that posts competitive, winning numbers, like her career-best speed.

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JOLIET, Ill. – Plenty of drivers stepped up as early-season favorites this year - new names and old.

In Top Fuel, Chicago’s Tony Schumacher and crew chief Alan Johnson continue to tighten their grip on Top Fuel while drivers like teammates Antron Brown and Rod Fuller stand in their way. Fan-favorite Ashley Force has proven herself a serious contender for the 2008 NHRA POWERade Series world championship title in Funny Car – and although the moniker means less to her than the trophy, she would be the first woman to earn it.

But that can change all too fast.

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BRISTOL, Tenn. – Melanie Troxel became the first woman in NHRA history to win in both Top Fuel and Funny Car when she raced to the Funny Car victory Sunday at the O’Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.

Tony Schumacher and Dave Connolly also won in their respective categories at Bristol Dragway in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event.

Troxel, who earned five Top Fuel victories prior to switching to Funny Car this season, joined her husband Tommy Johnson as one of 14 drivers in NHRA history to earn victories in both nitro categories when she powered her ProCare Rx Dodge Charger to a 5.066 at 310.27 to defeat rookie Mike Neff in the final round. She is the second female to win in Funny Car in NHRA history, following Ashley Force’s gender-breaking victory last month in Atlanta.

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