U.S. Army Racing Trio Seeking Chicago Victory in NHRA Route 66 Nationals 

JOLIET, IL – It would be difficult to find a more competitive person than iconic NHRA team owner Don Schumacher. And all three of his Top Fuel drivers, U.S. Army Racing’s Tony “The Sarge” Schumacher, Antron Brown and Leah Pritchett, know how important winning is to the Mt. Prospect, Illinois native and why they are all vying to be standing next to him at the conclusion of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series’ only Chicago stop of the season, this weekend’s 20th annual Fallen Patriots NHRA Route 66 Nationals.

“The Sarge,” who also called Chicago home for most of his life, leads the U.S. Army brigade back to Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Illinois, where he is the all-time winningest driver in the Top Fuel class with five event titles. He and his U.S. Army team have been working hard to break through with a win this season. The eight-time Top Fuel world champion would like nothing more than to score his initial triumph of 2018 behind the wheel of the U.S. Army Dragster for Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) and increase his series-record career win total to 84 in front of a capacity, hometown crowd.

There’s certainly added pressure to have success with family and friends in attendance, but Schumacher has succeeded throughout his decorated career when he and his U.S. Army team have been put in the biggest of moments. The 2018 Top Fuel world champion won’t be crowned until later this year, but Schumacher, who reached the semifinals for the third time this season two weeks ago in Topeka, knows if the U.S. Army team wants to be in the mix for the title at season’s end, it must put some wins on the board. Starting with one in Chicago would be a big boost to the team’s championship mission.

He has competed in all 25 national events contested at Route 66 Raceway dating back to 1998, when the unique facility opened. Schumacher scored his initial victory at the track in June 2003 with a win over Larry Dixon. Two years later, he got revenge on Doug Herbert, who beat him in the final during the fall stop in 2004, with his second Chicago victory late in the 2005 season. He continued his Route 66 magic in 2008 with his third triumph by taking down Rod Fuller. He added another Chicago victory in 2013 with a win over Clay Millican, and he beat Dixon again in 2015 for his fifth event title at the track. In total, Schumacher has reached the Chicago final seven times and posted the top qualifying effort on six occasions.

Schumacher isn’t the only U.S. Army driver who loves racing in the Windy City or finds himself in need of a victory. Brown, the three-time Top Fuel world champion and driver of the Matco Tools/U.S. Army Dragster for DSR, has three Chicago wins in the last six seasons and advanced to the final last year. After reaching the final in this season’s fourth event at Las Vegas, Brown has been knocked out in the first round in four consecutive races – Houston, Charlotte, Atlanta and Topeka. A successful day of testing in Indianapolis last week has the team feeling confident it can return to championship form in Chicago this weekend. Brown has been stuck on Top Fuel career win number 49 since winning the 30th annual NHRA Northwest Nationals last August in Seattle, and he’s optimistic he can reach that historic milestone in his team owner’s hometown.

Consistency is something Pritchett is focused on heading into a busy slate of action starting in Chicago. The first eight events of 2018 have been filled with mechanical gremlins for the driver of the Papa Johns’ Pizza/U.S. Army Dragster for DSR and seem to pop up at the most inopportune times. Pritchett scored the first win of the season for the U.S. Army Racing contingent earlier this month in Atlanta, then made it five consecutive round wins by defeating Brown during first-round action in Topeka. She was looking to push it to six when squaring off with Schumacher in the second round, but a computer system failure just after completing her burnout made things more challenging. She was able to stage the car but immediately lost traction, and the streak ended at five. In three previous Chicago events, Pritchett has qualified 10th, ninth and second. In 2016, she defeated Richie Crampton and Brittany Force before losing to Brown in the semifinals. Last year, she was upset by Brown in round two. This weekend, she’ll chase career win number seven and looks to become the first woman driver to score a Top Fuel title at Route 66.

Event Times and Television Coverage

Qualifying for the 20th annual Fallen Patriots NHRA Route 66 Nationals begins Friday with the Nitro sessions slated for 7 and 9:30 p.m. EDT. Saturday includes a pair of Nitro sessions at 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. FS1 will broadcast highlights of qualifying Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Elimination rounds begin at noon Sunday with FS1’s delayed three-hour broadcast set for 5:30 p.m.

TONY “THE SARGE” SCHUMACHER, driver of the U.S. Army Top Fuel Dragster for Don Schumacher Racing

There’s nothing like coming home, and each year you get to return to Chicago, where you spent so many years of your life. What makes racing at Route 66 Raceway special for you?

“I was there when they built it and, at the time, for me to have a big track like that being built and watching it going up was awesome. Chicago is filled with iconic sports facilities and figures. The list is long and distinguished and you just have so much pride trying to live up to what those legendary athletes have done. We’ve won that race five times and had some great runs there. When you have a track that you’re successful at, you like going back there. And, not to mention, for so many years it was my home and my friends were there. It was always a pressure cooker because you’re racing in front of your buddies. I’m really looking forward to getting back there because I know how close we are to winning.”

There is a certain hunger for winning that pushes you and the U.S. Army team. You’ve said how good of a car you have right now and how important it is to break through and get that first win of the season. How important is it to take advantage of that and start winning races?

“We’ve got a great team with Mike Neff and Phil Shuler tuning the car. It’s been a blast. We’ve had some struggles in parts breakage, but everybody knows that our car is the one to watch. When we get it all figured out, it’s going to be right, and I’m looking forward to it.”

Chicago starts a busy stretch of races heading into the summer months. The U.S. Army team currently ranks third in the championship standings, but how key is this time to build momentum and build confidence?

“When you are surrounded by incredible people and are backed by the U.S. Army, the No. 1 team in the world, you know it’s all going to come together. It just takes work, drive and a never-give-up attitude. We need to win races. We’ve had some good weekends but not great Sundays. Everything seems to go in cycles. You want to be running your best when the championship is on the line. We are heading into summer and there are a lot of races to be won. The points will take care of themselves if you are winning rounds on Sundays.”

ANTRON BROWN, driver of the Matco Tools/U.S. Army Top Fuel Dragster for Don Schumacher Racing

This weekend’s stop in Chicago begins the second third of the 2018 campaign and, so far, it’s been a battle for you and the Matco Tools/U.S. Army team. What’s the game plan heading not only into Chicago, but the critical summer months of the season?

“We’ve battled some adversity and it’s time to step up. We’ve been having a really difficult time the past few races hurting the engines, tearing stuff up and blowing things up, which is something we haven’t dealt with in the past. That’s something we hoped to have addressed and figured out last week while testing in Indy. Our car has been running well and we’ve qualified well but, every time we go to step up, we had something mechanical go wrong. The team led by Mark (Oswald) and Brad (Mason) has been working really hard and you are going to see a really competitive Matco Tools/U.S. Army car when we roll out there in Chicago. The more runs we get with the combination that we are running now, the better we will be. Our main focus is to be consistent. Our goal in qualifying is to be inside the top-seven at every race and that includes Chicago. We’re going to take it one lap at time. It’s about building momentum. I know if we keep doing what we are doing, we’ll find that winner’s circle really soon. We’re ready.”

One of the great things about the 24-race NHRA schedule is that you get to race in markets all across the country. This week, it’s back to Chicago. What do like most about racing in the Windy City?

“It’s a great city to come to and I’ve always loved Route 66 Raceway because it’s like one of those old Coliseums with the stadium seating. You roll through that tunnel and, boom, you’re right there with the fans on top of you ready for battle. Being in Chicago is special for our team because that’s where (team owner) Don (Schumacher) and Tony are from. They have a lot of friends and family there and there’s nothing quite like putting a smile on Don’s face right in his own backyard. We’ve been fortunate to do that a few times the past few years and I’d love nothing more than to do it again this weekend.”

LEAH PRITCHETT, driver of the Papa John’s Pizza/U.S. Army Top Fuel Dragster for Don Schumacher Racing

Getting behind the wheel and racing a car with more than 11,000 horsepower can be a bit intimidating. You are in the midst of your second full season driving for NHRA legend Don Schumacher. What made you want to be here?

“I knew at very early age that I wanted to be a professional racer. I think I was 8 years old when I first raced. I was 13 when I first experienced the NHRA and I was hooked immediately. I went to a national event and, man, feeling the power, seeing these cars go 300 miles per hour. Watching the crew guys turn these cars around and sending them right back up there to compete again. Everything I experienced in that one full day at the track confirmed that this is what I wanted to be part of. I am hoping to get to make that same impression on some youngsters in Chicago this weekend.”

Speaking of Chicago, you’ve made three previous starts at Route 66 Raceway in the Top Fuel class. What are your expectations heading into this weekend?

“We are looking at Chicago as a great opportunity. We are still hungry to win. Winning Atlanta was a great accomplishment for this Papa John’s Pizza/U.S. Army team and getting a Chicago win would really be a huge feather in our cap. It’s a place where my DSR teammates have been really good. I know Tony and Antron have eight wins between them and the Funny Car teams have been great there, too. We’re one big DSR family and being in Chicago brings us all that much closer. We’re just hoping to avoid each other until the finals if we can.”