U.S. Army NHRA Racing Route 66 NHRA Nationals Friday Qualifying Report
The U.S. Army Racing tandem of Tony “The Sarge” Schumacher and Antron Brown opened the 17th annual O’Reilly Auto Parts 
Route 66 NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Illinois, by each posting a pair of strong qualifying runs. Brown ranks fourth and Schumacher fifth with two more qualifying sessions Saturday.
Schumacher made a pair of solid passes in the U.S. Army Dragster for Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) first posting a run of 3.860 seconds at 319.07 mph and then backing it up with a pass of 3.812 seconds at 323.81 mph. The Chicago native is looking to defend his O’Reilly Auto Parts Route 66 NHRA Nationals victory and score his 75th Top Fuel win of his career.
“The U.S. Army team had a good night,” said Schumacher, a four-time Route 66 winner. “We made a good couple of runs. We’ve got two more sessions tomorrow to go after it again and make sure we’re deep in the field. It’s about trying to get ourselves in the best position on the ladder. Honestly, we need to be in the top two positions. You want to give yourself the best chance on Sunday. The U.S. Army team led by (crew chief) Mike Green and (assistant crew chief) Neal (Strausbaugh) will build on what they learned tonight, and we’ll come back with a level of engineering and teamwork on display reflective of the Army’s leading-edge technology and the powerful, realistic training of its Soldiers.”
Brown, the 2012 Chicago winner, was smooth behind the wheel of the Matco Tools/U.S. Army dragster for DSR. His first pass of 3.859 seconds at 313.07 mph was second overall, and he improved in the second session with a lap of 3.808 at 319.75 mph.
“It’s always great for us to come to Route 66 Raceway and be racing here at Mr. Schumacher’s home track,” said Brown. “This track is really getting the best of everybody. It’s tough in these night sessions. We’re excited knowing we’ve got two more nights to keep improving and get out there and have some fun. We are making the right moves to get better. We try to come out here and have some fun and do well. It’s a survival of the fittest. You qualify at night and then come back and race in different conditions, going from good grip at night to hot and greasy, slick conditions on Sunday. It’s going to be tough, but that’s why I’m so glad I have the team I do behind me. I know they’re all up for the challenge.”
Top Fuel qualifying continues Saturday with third- and final-round sessions set for 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. EDT. ESPN2’s delayed qualifying coverage begins at 8 p.m.
