U.S. Army NHRA Racing 62nd Annual Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals Final Qualifying Report

One of the most difficult parts of winning the pressure-packed 62nd Annual Chevrolet Performance U.S NHRA Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis is making Monday’s final ladder. U.S. Army Racing drivers Tony “The Sarge” Schumacher and Antron Brown accomplished that Friday during the opening qualifying session and have spent the past two days preparing their Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) machines for the biggest race of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series campaign.

Schumacher will continue his mission for a record setting 10th U.S. Nationals triumph aboard the U.S. Army Dragster for DSR from the fourth position, while Brown chases his second career U.S. Nationals victory in Top Fuel starting from the fifth slot.

The weekend has gone as closely to script as possible for Schumacher and the U.S. Army team. The eight-time Top Fuel world champion opened the weekend posting the second-best lap Friday and followed that up by winning Saturday’s Traxxas Nitro Shootout defeating Brittany Force, Brown and DSR teammate Leah Pritchett. The victory was his second $100,000 win in the last three years and gives the team a major momentum boost heading into eliminations Monday.

“All I can say it’s Indy and this place is incredible,” said Schumacher, who is tied with Bob Glidden as the winningest driver in U.S. Nationals history. “The U.S. Army guys have done an incredible job and have the car running extremely well at the absolute best time. Earlier this week, (crew chief) Mike Green had us all over at his house for a team barbecue. I said to everyone there that we are winning these races this weekend. I wasn’t being cocky when I said it. It’s just that the car just got too good at the right time, coming into a race where we are always good at anyway. You know it’s easy to say that, but it’s harder to come out and do it. We got the first leg of it done by winning the Traxxas Shootout Saturday and today we came out and really worked on a warm track setup. We know it’s going to be hot tomorrow. And the funny thing is that we are way better when it’s hot out.”

Schumacher closed qualifying with a pass of 3.780 seconds at 320.74 mph on an extremely hot racing surface. Earlier in the day, “The Sarge” hazed the tires midway through his fourth qualifying lap, but his lap of 3.717 seconds at 328.06 mph Saturday night to win the Shootout earned him earned him the fourth spot overall.

“That was huge for us to win a race last night in cooler conditions,” admitted Schumacher. “We probably had a car last night that could have made a run for number one, but it was more important to us to win the race. On race day, you can win this race from any spot. Heck 20 years ago this weekend, I made my Top Fuel debut in this race, qualified 16th and made it to the final. I’ve been to final from the 13th spot, 14th spot, all across the ladder. I’ve been racing for 20 years and it’s funny when you have been racing for a long, long time, you can get to the finals from different spots. You can do it when it’s not throwdown racing like it was last night. If it’s 90 degrees tomorrow, the conditions are going to be very difficult. We tested here in those conditions last week and we made it down the track. I’m excited. We have a great opportunity tomorrow and that’s a gift. We are looking forward to taking advantage of the position we are in.”

The forecast Monday does call for warmer temperatures and Schumacher will face Tripp Tatum in the opening round. He defeated Tatum in their only previously race in the opening round of the 10th Annual Summit Racing Equipment Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio. In the 19 previous U.S. Nationals fields that Schumacher has qualified for, he is 15-4 all-time in the first round.

By qualifying for the field, Brown clinched the number one seed in NHRA’s six-race playoff Countdown to the Championship. The two-time and reigning Top Fuel world champion posted three solid passes to open the weekend before losing traction in both qualifying sessions Sunday.

“We’ve been very productive this weekend,” said Brown. “The track has definitely been really good out there and the competition this weekend is insane, so that’s going to make for a really good race day. Our whole team right now is pulling together, digging deep for tomorrow. Today is giving us those runs that we need for the middle of the day tomorrow when it’s hot so that was crucial. That’s when you’re going to see who the best of the best is tomorrow, you’re going to see who can survive the heat because it’s going to be different track conditions than what we’ve had most of the weekend. Tomorrow is going to be very interesting and our Matco Tools/U.S. Army team is looking forward to that challenge. You have to be versatile and we’re very used to that over here. That’s what our team thrives on, those types of challenges.”

Brown faces T.J. Zizzo in the first round. He is 5-2 in his career versus Zizzo including a victory in the opening round of the NHRA Northwest Nationals in Seattle four weeks ago. Brown is 4-4 all-time in U.S. Nationals first round races.

Monday’s elimination rounds begin at 11 a.m. EST. FS1 will carry the opening two hours of Monday’s elimination rounds live beginning at 11 a.m. before the FOX broadcast network carries the final three hours of eliminations beginning at 1 p.m.