Four DSR drivers vie for Charlotte titles Saturday in Texas; Capps third in Funny Car, Schumacher sixth in Top Fuel
BROWNSBURG, IN – A uniquely important Saturday awaits four of Don Schumacher Racing’s seven teams during the NHRA FallNationals at 
the Texas Motorplex outside of Dallas.
In addition to Saturday’s two qualifying sessions for the FallNationals, last Sunday’s delayed elimination rounds from the Carolina Nationals near Charlotte will be held concurrently in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.
The Carolina Nationals, which was the opening event of the six-race NHRA Countdown to the Championship last weekend, was postponed by NHRA officials due to rain Sunday afternoon and rescheduled for completion during this weekend’s event.
In Top Fuel, Tony Schumacher (U.S. Army) and Spencer Massey (Red Fuel Powered by Schumacher) advanced to the quarterfinals for DSR after first-round wins on Sunday. Massey eliminated teammate Antron Brown (Matco Tools) in the first round.
In Funny Car for DSR, Ron Capps (NAPA AUTO PARTS) and Matt Hagan (Rocky Boots/Mopar) advanced to the quarterfinals. Capps eliminated teammate Tommy Johnson Jr. (Make-A-Wish) to start the day and Jack Beckman (Infinite Hero/Valvoline) also lost in the first round.
The Charlotte quarterfinals will take place in Saturday’s third qualifying session with the semifinals part of the fourth session. The Charlotte finalists will compete in a third run, which will not count toward FallNationals qualifying, on Saturday to determine the winners of the opening event of the NHRA Countdown to the Championship.
The focus shifts to the second event of the Countdown on Sunday.
Schumacher and the U.S. Army team produced the quickest run in Friday’s first Top Fuel session with a time of 3.790 seconds at 322.11 mph but slowed on their last run and will start Saturday ranked sixth.
Ron Capps and the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T team led DSR Funny Cars with a time of 4.051 (311.92) and holds the provisional No. 3 position. Tommy Johnson Jr. is fourth in the Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger R/T after his time of 4.076 (309.42) was quickest in the first session. All four DSR Dodges rank in the top-eight.
