With the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series slated to hit the Texas Motorplex this weekend for the O'Reilly Fall Nationals, the U.S. Army Top Fuel Drag Racing Team has clearly gone into full sprint mode.
With four races remaining in the 2005 season, we now
view the Top Fuel world championship chase as a three-man Olympic-style track meet.
Where we were all pacing ourselves like marathon runners just a few weeks ago, Larry Dixon, Doug Kalitta and I have to utilize a different approach.
As we head down the home stretch of the season, we're sitting atop the Top Fuel standings, 100 points ahead of Dixon and 105 points ahead of Kalitta. We're at the point now that we have to use every ounce of energy in our tank if we want to win the world title. We can't hold anything back.
Of late, we have seemingly been using every ounce of energy in our tank. We've been to three straight final rounds with the most recent trip producing a win in the Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals at Reading, Pa. last weekend.
The win at Reading was particularly satisfying. We were able
distance ourselves from Dixon and Kalitta a little bit. But, we can't sit
back and relax. There are 16 rounds of racing left on the table and we're only five up on them. One can easily do the math.
The good news is that we're headed for a track where we have experienced success. In both of our championship seasons -- 1999 and 2004 -- we were victorious at the Texas Motorplex, which is located just south of the Dallas/Fort Worth area. The 1999 win was also my first-ever in Top Fuel.
I guess if we win in Ennis this year that's a good sign in terms of the championship, huh? Seriously, we have to maintain our focus and never get ahead of ourselves. Just like our soldiers, we will not accept defeat. When it comes to defending our '04 title, the U.S. Army team will fight until the bitter end, you can be sure of that.
With that, I have to make sure I have my rain gear packed. It appears that at some point over the weekend the Texas Motorplex will absorb the remnants of Hurricane Rita after it slams ashore on the gulf coast of Texas. Here's hoping everyone in that area gets through that situation safe and sound.
As always, "The Sarge" salutes you all. We'll connect again next week just before what will be a hometown race for me -- the Ameriquest Mortgage Company Nationals at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill. Until then, stay well.
Tony "The Sarge" Schumacher drives the U.S. Army-sponsored Top Fuel dragster in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. He won the 2004 NHRA POWERade Top Fuel world championship.