U.S. Army NHRA Racing Second annual NHRA New England Nationals – Friday Qualifying Report
Epping, NH – The U.S. Army Racing duo of Tony “The Sarge” Schumacher and Antron Brown returned to New England Friday for 
the second annual Auto-Plus NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway in Epping, New Hampshire. The duo led the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series contingent close to where it all began for the U.S. Army back in 1775 taking great pride in the U.S Army colors they wear representing the more than 1 million Soldiers who protect our freedom and our way of life.
Schumacher, driver of the U.S. Army Dragster for Don Schumacher Racing (DSR), made an impressive run of 3.820 seconds at 322.50 mph during Friday’s opening session, but wasn’t able to make a clean pass in the second session coasting to a run of 8.700 seconds at 73.53 mph after losing traction. The seven-time Top Fuel champion ranks 10th with two more sessions of qualifying Saturday.
“I think I’m more disappointed about our middle of the day run where other cars were running 3.77s and we ran a 3.82 than I am about the second pass,” said Schumacher. “We’ve got to go faster if we want to win races. The U. S. Army team showed up here with high expectations. We’re sitting 10th and we have to be better than that. We need to run excellent. That’s what we show up to do. Tomorrow is going to be a great day with great weather conditions. We look forward to coming back here and trying to accomplish the mission of being excellent.”
Brown paced the Top Fuel class by establishing a new track record for time under the lights behind the wheel of the Matco Tools/U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster for DSR in Friday’s second session. The 2012 Top Fuel champion posted a lap of 3.770 seconds at 323.58 mph besting his run earlier Friday of 3.790 seconds at 315.34 mph.
“After the first session, the track definitely had some teeth in it,” said Brown, who is looking for his is looking for his second No. 1 qualifying position of the season. “We went on a good run in that first session and came back tonight wanting to improve upon it. We wanted to run a low 3.70, but the track was so good. It had great teeth and that sucked some of the good tune-up out of the racecar at the starting line. (Co-crew chiefs) Brian (Corradi) and Mark (Oswald) gave it that one-two power punch and the car was better down the track. It might not have been the numbers on the clock we wanted, but it feels good to sneak out of here with that number one spot. Hopefully we can get another session like this tomorrow.”
Top Fuel qualifying continues Saturday with third- and final-round sessions set for 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. EDT. ESPN2’s delayed qualifying coverage begins at 7 p.m. Elimination rounds begin at 11 a.m. Sunday with ESPN2’s live coverage beginning at 1 p.m.
