Schumacher charges to Kansas provisional pole, Hagan leads DSR Funny Car foursome

TOPEKA, KS – Seven-time NHRA Top Fuel world champion Tony Schumacher is in position to record his second No. 1 qualifying position of the season and 73rd of his career after posting the quickest time of opening day in the 25th annual NHRA Kansas Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka.

Schumacher along with U.S. Army crew chief Mike Green and assistant Neal Strausbaugh produced a time of 3.769 seconds at 326.08 mph in the second of two qualifying sessions on Friday.

Two more sessions remain on Saturday after which the top-16 will advance to championship eliminations that are scheduled to start at 11 a.m. Sunday.

Joining Schumacher in the quick-six Friday were Don Schumacher Racing teammates Spencer Massey in the Battery Extender Powered by Schumacher dragster, who is No. 5, and reigning world champ Antron Brown, who is No. 6.

“It was a great day. All the cars ran great,” said Schumacher, the current Mello Yello Top Fuel points leader who has two titles this year and 71 in his career.

“All of our DSR cars are running strong, and we’re ready for race day.”

In Funny Car, 2011 Funny Car world champion Matt Hagan in the Magneti Marelli Offered by Mopar/Rocky Boots Dodge Charger R/T continued his torrid pace by leading the DSR quartet of Funny Cars with a time of 4.081 seconds at 312.57 mph.

Hagan enters Saturday’s last two qualifying sessions ranked fifth while teammate and reigning world champion Jack Beckman in the Valvoline NextGen/MTS Mail for Wounded Warriors Dodge is sixth. Robert Hight of John Force Racing is on the provisional pole with a time of 4.067 (302.62).

Hagan won his first pole in more than a year last Saturday at Atlanta Dragway where he was runner-up to DSR’s Johnny Gray.

“We made another good, strong run,” said Hagan, ranked second in points with one event title this season.

Hagan saluted crew chief Dickie Venables, rookie assistant Michael Knudsen and the rest of his team.

“Those two lead by example and we’ve got a great bunch on our team who are getting the job done. We’ll see how it goes tomorrow when our sessions will be in the heat of the afternoon.

“But these days, I’m pretty confident and excited about getting to race day on Sunday.”