Schumacher Top Toyota In Qualifying for NHRA FallNationals
DeJoria Drives Camry To Fifth in Funny Car
ENNIS, TX – Tony Schumacher ran an opening round 3.700-second pass to place third in Top Fuel to lead Toyota in qualifying for Sunday’s 
AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals at the Texas Motorplex in suburban Dallas. Alexis DeJoria earned the fifth seed in Funny Car as the top Camry with a 3.895-second run.
After returning to the seat of a Top Fuel car in Indianapolis in July for the first time since 2018, Schumacher has found his groove down the stretch. He won the pole at the most recent event in St. Louis and was second-quick in both of Saturday’s session to earn four bonus points. He will face Joey Haas in round one on Sunday.
“I just love the Texas Motorplex,” said Schumacher, who resides in Austin. “This place has been a gift to me. Billy Meyer built a superior track back in the day and it’s still one of the best. The stadium seating, I’ve got 30 friends here, many who have never seen a drag race. The all-concrete surface is amazing. For Okuma, Sandvik and Toyota, we’re all family here in Texas. The car is running great. The crew is starting to gel. This is just outstanding. I have two cowboy hats from the past and it be great to add another.”
Right behind Schumacher was fellow Toyota Top Fuel driver Shawn Langdon in fourth after laying down a 3.727-second pass in round two on Saturday. He will open eliminations up against Kebin Kinsley.
Rounding out the Toyota Top Fuel contingent were Doug Kalitta in seventh and Antron Brown in eighth as the two were separated by just four one-thousandths of a second. They will square off against one another on Sunday in a match-up with major championship implications as Kalitta enters eliminations second in points.
In Funny Car, DeJoria continued her strong late-season run in the ROKiT Toyota Camry with her 3.895. It marks the third consecutive race that she’s qualified in the top five and sets up a first-round match with Gary Densham.
J.R. Todd placed eighth with a 3.927-second pass. The DHL Camry driver will race Paul Lee in round one.
Todd Simpson qualified 16th and will take on pole-sitter Matt Hagan.
Today’s NHRA qualifying can be seen on FS1 beginning at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, with Camping World Drag Racing Series eliminations immediately following live on FS1 beginning at 2:30 p.m. (ET).
Toyota AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals Qualifying
Top Fuel- Qualified/1st Round Opponent – Quick Time (Bonus Points)
Tony Schumacher – 3rd/Haas – 3.700/326.87 (4)
Shawn Langdon – 4th/Kinsley – 3.727/317.49 (1)
Doug Kalitta – 7th/Brown – 3.761/313.95
Antron Brown – 8th/Kalitta – 3.765/323.50
Funny Car – Qualified/1st Round Opponent – Quick Time/MPH (Bonus Points)
Alexis DeJoria – 5th/Densham – 3.895/325.85
J.R. Todd – 8th/Lee – 3.927/327.27
Todd Simpson – 16th/Hagan – 8.528/75.50
