US Army Racing
U.S. Army NHRA Racing NHRA Mile-High Nationals Friday Qualifying Report
The U.S. Army driver trio of Leah Pritchett, Tony “The Sarge” Schumacher and Antron Brown are first, eighth and 
ninth on the provisional ladder, respectively, after the opening two rounds of qualifying Friday for this weekend’s 39th annual NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, Colorado.
Schumacher and his U.S. Army Dragster team for Don Schumacher Racing (DSR), a three-time Mile-High Nationals winner and five-time runner-up, got down the track both runs today but not without problems that were enough to keep him out of the top-five. He had to shut down his racecar at halftrack during his first run and coasted across the finish line in 4.980 seconds at 152.04 mph, 11th-best for the session. He moved into the top half of the ladder with his second run of 4.036 seconds at 299.40 mph despite losing a cylinder shortly after launching from the start line.
“Something was wrong, either ignition or something in that area,” said the eight-time Top Fuel world champion, who entered the weekend second in the Top Fuel standings. “You’re not going anywhere, but you don’t want to shut off because you’re not smoking the tires, either. Denver is a weird sensation – everything happens so much slower here. We’ll make some changes for tomorrow. We’ll get two more runs in exactly the same conditions, so things should go a lot better. We were trying to run a (3.77) there on that second run, but we had a hole out right away. Something just malfunctioned. The tricky thing will be Sunday, because we will have had four qualifying runs at night and then come back and race in the heat of the day. But that’ll be the same for everybody.”
U.S. Army Trio Ready To Up its Game at NHRA Mile-High Nationals
MORRISON, CO – All three U.S. Army Top Fuel drivers – Tony “The Sarge” Schumacher, Antron Brown and Leah 
Pritchett – have plenty of reasons for optimism as they kick off this year’s NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Western Swing with this weekend’s 39th annual Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway on the outskirts of Denver.
Brown is the defending event titlist, tying Schumacher’s career total of three Mile-High Nationals wins when he beat Pritchett in last year’s Top Fuel final, but not before Pritchett laid down a blistering, track-record run in qualifying.
The record eight-time Top Fuel world-champion Schumacher and his U.S. Army Dragster team for Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) hit town this weekend ranked highest among the U.S. Army trio in the championship, trailing only red-hot Steve Torrence in the standings after Torrence’s fifth event title of the season two weekends ago in Epping, New Hampshire. While The Sarge has just one event title to his credit this weekend – an impressive Father’s Day run in the Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol (Tenn.) Dragway – he’s been the most consistent qualifier in the Top Fuel ranks this season. He’s riding a streak of 12 consecutive qualifying efforts of fifth or better after opening the season with the No. 8 spot on the ladder at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, California. That run includes three No. 1 qualifying efforts to up his record career total to 87 No. 1s, as well as three No. 2s and a pair of No. 3s. His mission this weekend will be to translate that consistency on Fridays and Saturdays into more of those coveted Wally trophies on Sundays. Schumacher’s third and most recent Mile-High Nationals victory came in 2016, when he beat Brown in the final.
U.S. Army Redirecting its Marketing Efforts for 2019
BROWNSBURG, IN – The U.S. Army has decided not to renew its sponsorship with Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) and the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) due to a reallocation of its marketing budget. DSR is actively pursuing a strong brand to partner with the team and its roster of sponsors and personalities who have contributed to 325 NHRA national event titles and 16 championships.
“The U.S. Army has been a great partner of Don Schumacher Racing for nearly two decades,” said team owner Don Schumacher. “It has been a mutually beneficial relationship with the U.S. Army instilling the mental, physical and emotional strength of the U.S. Army Soldier in all of us. We remain extremely proud of our representation of the U.S. Army and its brave Soldiers who are 100 percent committed to our country. We will continue to activate on behalf of the U.S. Army for the remainder of 2018 while showcasing our acumen to future partners looking to inject their brand with the power and precision that has earned DSR more than 320 wins and 16 championships.”
“The U.S. Army has been an incredibly loyal and longtime supporter of NHRA Championship Drag Racing and we are sad to see them go, especially during a time in which NHRA is experiencing so much success,” said NHRA president Glen Cromwell. “One of the most significant elements of our partnership with the U.S. Army has been its sponsorship of NHRA’s Youth and Education Services program, which hosts approximately 30,000 high school students each year across the country and will continue to do so. Not only does this program serve our communities by inspiring students to pursue STEM-related career opportunities, but it also acts as a powerful recruiting tool for vocational education programs.
U.S. Army NHRA Racing NHRA New England Nationals at Epping Final Qualifying Report
The U.S. Army Racing trio of Leah Pritchett, Tony “The Sarge” Schumacher and Antron Brown secured the first, 
second and 12th spots on the ladder, respectively, for Sunday’s elimination rounds of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series New England Nationals at New England Dragway in Epping, New Hampshire.
Schumacher and his U.S. Army Dragster team for Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) used their monster Friday night run of 3.744 seconds at 330.31 mph to grab the second position. Saturday was all about preparing for Sunday’s eliminations. A hotter track surface was the biggest difference between Friday night’s qualifying session and the two sessions Saturday. Schumacher wasn’t able to make full runs in either session Saturday posting laps of 4.838 seconds at 149.96 mph in session three and 4.757 seconds at 154.72 mph to close qualifying, but the all-time winningest driver in Top Fuel history is confident he and his U.S. Army Racing team will be ready for battle Sunday.
“You have to push the envelope sometimes to get ahead,” said Schumacher. “That’s what this U.S. Army team does. We continue to push ourselves. Mike Neff and Phil Shuler aren’t going to back down and they are driven to make this team a consistent winner. We were so close on that last run to making the exact lap we were trying to make. You have the heat today and everyone is factoring in that. We went back to what we did at Bristol, where were sliding down the track in hot conditions, and then you see a couple cars put up some mid 3.80s and you adjust to that. We just missed it slightly. I can feel how close the car is. We’re excited for tomorrow. Our goal for the second half of the season is to be our best on Sunday and we’ve got a great opportunity tomorrow. Over prepare and go with the flow. I’ve said that a lot and that’s just what we are going to do.”
U.S. Army NHRA Racing NHRA New England Nationals at Epping Friday Qualifying Report
The U.S. Army Racing trio of Leah Pritchett, Tony “The Sarge” Schumacher and Antron Brown are first, second and 
16th on the provisional ladder, respectively, after the opening two rounds of qualifying Friday for this weekend’s NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series New England Nationals at New England Dragway in Epping, New Hampshire.
Schumacher and his U.S. Army Dragster team for Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) entered the weekend hoping to become the first team to score three Top Fuel victories at New England Dragway. Warm conditions made Friday’s opening session challenging for most of the Top Fuel field including “The Sarge”, who hazed his rear tires just after the 330-foot mark resulting in a pass of 5.193 seconds at 132.71 mph. The U.S. Army Racing team rebounded in a big way making a statement run of 3.744 seconds at 330.31 mph in the second session. The eight-time Top Fuel world champion momentarily held the top spot before Pritchett edged him by two-thousandths of a second.
“What a great team effort for DSR today to claim the top two spots,” said Schumacher. “We’re working well together and when everyone puts their heads together the results start coming. I know Antron will be right up there with us tomorrow. I’m really happy with how this U.S. Army car is running. Mike Neff and Phil Shuler are doing a great job. We actually went faster than we were shooting for. Obviously, there was just a little bit more out there. Leah found it and took the number one spot. Tomorrow we’ll have good conditions, but most likely not as good as we had tonight. It’s about consistency. We’ve done well in qualifying this year, but not good enough on Sundays. We’re hoping to change that this weekend.”
U.S. Army Racing Trio Chasing Second Half Success Starting in New England
EPPING, NH – Fireworks lit up the sky from coast to coast Wednesday night as America celebrated Independence 
Day. The colorful flares and booming sounds will continue in New Hampshire this weekend with the U.S. Army Racing trio of Tony “The Sarge” Schumacher, Antron Brown and Leah Pritchett leading the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series back into action for the sixth annual NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway in Epping, New Hampshire.
It’s the start of the second half of the 2018 campaign and time for the championship contenders to begin zeroing in on their battle plan.
Schumacher and his U.S. Army Dragster for Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) resumes his championship quest where the U.S. Army Racing team adapted quickly to the 52-year-old New England Dragway by marching to back-to-back victories in 2014 and 2015, making Schumacher the only two-time winner in Top Fuel at the facility. In his first charge to the winner’s circle, “The Sarge” qualified eighth and upset No. 1 qualifier Brown in the second round before taking out Clay Millican and Doug Kalitta to earn his initial triumph at the track. The following season, he rolled through the field from the No. 1 qualifying position, defeating Morgan Lucas, Millican, Spencer Massey and his longtime rival Larry Dixon in the final. His run for a three-peat in 2016 was derailed by Brown in the semifinals and, last year, Schumacher was upset by Smax Smith in the first round.
U.S. Army Trio Show Good Speed in Norwalk
Schumacher, Brown and Pritchett Making Progress Midway Through NHRA Season
The U.S. Army Racing trio of Tony “The Sarge” Schumacher, Antron Brown and Leah Pritchett ventured to Northern 
Ohio looking to find speed during this weekend’s NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series 12th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio.
That mission was accomplished with all three posting speeds above 326 mph, but Sunday none of them were able to defeat Blake Alexander, who scored his first career Top Fuel victory and became the 105th different Top Fuel winner in NHRA history .
Schumacher, the winningest driver in Top Fuel history with 84 wins, was looking to score his second consecutive victory in the U.S. Army Dragster for DSR following his triumph last Sunday at Bristol (Tenn.) Dragway. After qualifying fourth, “The Sarge” defeated Kyle Wurtzel in the first round with a run of 3.807 seconds at 327.66 mph. He posted a lap of 3.779 seconds at 330.31 mph against Alexander in the second round, but his reaction time of 0.146 seconds hindered his chances at catching the young North Carolina driver.
U.S. Army NHRA Racing Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Norwalk Final Qualifying Report
The U.S. Army Racing trio of Tony “The Sarge” Schumacher, Antron Brown and Leah Pritchett secured the fourth, 
fifth and eighth spots on the ladder, respectively, for Sunday’s elimination rounds of this weekend’s NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series 12th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio.
Schumacher and his U.S. Army Dragster team for Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) posted runs within a thousandth of a second Friday and today while Mother Nature washed out the second session both days. After running a lap of 3.792 seconds at 330.63 mph Friday, the eight-time world champion followed that with a pass of 3.793 seconds at 329.02 mph Saturday afternoon. “The Sarge” has now qualified inside the top-five for 11th consecutive events and will face Kyle Wurtzel in the first round Sunday.
“We were trying to run a little quicker today, but I’ll take that lap any day of the week,” said Schumacher, the 2007 Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals winner. “We went right down the track. The (data) lines look beautiful. Everything about the U.S. Army car is perfect. All the parts are good. We understand it’s not supposed to be cloudy and cool tomorrow, so that particular run is going to play right into our hands. Bottom line is that I don’t care what kind of weather we have tomorrow because I know I’m surrounded by an incredible team. Mike Neff and Phil Shuler are bad to the bone and we’re going to come out tomorrow and play the game.”
U.S. Army NHRA Racing Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Norwalk Friday Qualifying Report
The U.S. Army Racing trio of Tony “The Sarge” Schumacher, Antron Brown and Leah Pritchett are second, fifth and 
ninth on the provisional ladder, respectively, after the opening round of qualifying Friday for this weekend’s NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series 12th Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio. Friday’s second qualifying session was canceled due to inclement weather.
Schumacher and his U.S. Army Dragster team for Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) carried the momentum of last weekend’s triumph at Bristol (Tenn.) Dragway into the event and made a very “comfortable” run. “The Sarge” ran an impressive lap of 3.792 seconds and posted Friday’s top speed at 330.63 mph. The 2007 Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals winner will look to improve his position by one during a pair of qualifying sessions Saturday and earn his first No. 1 qualifier at the track.
“You really can’t ask for more than that,” said Schumacher. “It was a really good run. It was safe. There’s more room in there, but the U.S. Army car was really smooth. There are 19 cars in the field here. And looking at the weather, tonight might have been our only shot. Maybe we get another one tomorrow. We are lucky that we got one run in. The U.S. Army guys will get everything ready to go for us to make another run at it tomorrow. We’re in a good position and that’s the way we wanted to start the weekend.”
U.S. Army Racing Trio Seeking Big Finish to First Half of 2018 NHRA Campaign in Ohio
NORWALK, OH – There are several road maps to a championship in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and just about every route includes at least one trip to the winner’s circle along the way.
Last weekend, U.S. Army Racing’s Tony “The Sarge” Schumacher checked that box with his triumph at Bristol (Tenn.) Dragway aboard the U.S. Army Dragster for Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) and joined fellow U.S. Army driver Leah Pritchett as a 2018 Top Fuel winner. This weekend, their U.S. Army Racing and DSR teammate Antron Brown will try to add his name to the list of winners by conquering the competition at the 12th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio.
The NHRA’s annual stop in Northern Ohio will close out a grueling four-event stretch and the first half of the 24-event season that has included seven different winners in Top Fuel through the first 11 stops on the tour. Schumacher and his U.S. Army Racing team will look to become only the second team this season to score back-to-back triumphs as they continue forging forward in their season-long quest to be at their best when it counts most. During his illustrious career, including the last 18 carrying the U.S. Army colors, he has scored consecutive NHRA national event wins 11 times, most recently when he opened the 2014 Countdown to the Championship playoffs with Charlotte and Dallas triumphs in back-to-back fashion en route to his eighth world championship.
