SCHUMACHER RIDES NEW CREW CHIEF ALAN JOHNSON’S TUNEUP
TO DOMINATING WIN; AND HE CAN’T WAIT FOR GATEWAY
MADISON, Ill. (June 1) – Tony Schumacher’s struggling U.S. Army Top Fuel
team isn’t struggling any more. Buoyed by the arrival of three-time NHRA champion
crew chief Alan Johnson, Schumacher went on and scored his first victory since
September on his home track, winning the Lucas Oil Route 66 Nationals title Sunday.
And Schumacher, a former NHRA champion himself, will no doubt be chomping at the
bit to get to Gateway International Raceway June 27-30 for the Sears Craftsman NHRA
Nationals. Johnson won three straight Gateway titles (1998-2000) with Gary Scelzi.
"The turnaround for this team happened fast," said Schumacher, whose team brought
Johnson in to replace veteran Wes Cerny last Monday. But we didn't hire Alan Johnson
to find a tune-up, he already had it. He didn't rack up all those wins and championships
without knowing how to tune a dragster. We just gave him the budget to do what he
needs to do and we have a very talented pool of guys over there helping him.”
Whit Bazemore (Funny Car), Kurt Johnson (Pro Stock) Angelle Savoie (Pro Stock Bike)
and Fred Hahn (Pro Modified) also were winners at Route 66, located in Joliet, Ill.
During Saturday’s qualifying, both halves of the Funny Car national record were broken,
with John Force running a 4.721-second quarter-mile, while Scelzi had a top speed of
327.98 mph. Both those drivers, however, were eliminated in the early rounds Sunday.
After running three straight weekends, the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series will
take a week off and run in Columbus, Ohio on June 12-15. After another week off they’ll
be at Gateway for three nights of prime time action at month’s end.
Schumacher, who started the weekend in 10th place in the points standings, knocked off
reigning NHRA champ and current points leader Larry Dixon with ease at 4.530 seconds
(321.50 mph), well ahead of Dixon's 4.615 (321.42 mph).
Schumacher, who won his title in 2000, scored his eighth career event win and first since
last September’s U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis.
Bazemore, who drives the Matco Tools Dodge for Schumacher Racing, made it a good
weekend all around for the Chicago-based squad. Bazemore, from Indianapolis, was
quicker off the lights than Tommy Johnson Jr. of Indy and got the win despite a slower
E.T. (4.872 to TJ’s 4.839). It was the third win in four starts for Bazemore, who is trying
to catch Tony Pedregon in the Funny Car points chase.
In Pro Stock, Kurt Johnson of Lawrenceville, Ga., survived an almost-perfect reaction
time to beat defending Gateway and NHRA champion Jeg Couglin of Delaware, Ohio.
KJ’s ACDelco Chevrolet was clocked in 6.791 seconds (203.40 mph) to a 6.833 (201.91
mph) for Coughlin.
The win is the 27th overall for Johnson (including a 1998 win here) and his fourth of the
season. It puts him two points ahead of Greg Anderson in the overall standings.
Savoie, the reigning NHRA and Sears Craftsman Nationals winner from New Orleans,
regained the points lead with her third win of the season and 31st of her career. She is
now third on the all-time list, and two out of the second position.
Savoie and Showers, competing in his first NHRA final, were even off the starting line.
But Savoie’s bike had more muscle in the Team 23 Suzuki and covered the quarter-mile
in 7.123 seconds (187.16 mph) to Showers’ 7.238 (184.30 mph).
Showers, from Philadelphia, is a double amputee who lost his legs in an accident as a
youngster, and rides with the aid of prosthetic devices built by the company that sponsors
his bike.
Hahn scored his second event win of the season out of the No. 1 qualifying spot, riding
his Summit Racing Corvette to an easy win in the finals (6.238 seconds, 205.57 mph)
over Troy Critchley, who smoked the tires off the line. Critchley, a native of Australia,
now lives in Texas.
All of the stars of NHRA POWERade Drag Racing will be at Gateway for three nights of
action. Pro qualifying will be at 4:45 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. on Friday, June 27 and Saturday,
June 28. The final eliminations are set for 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 29. Fireworks
displays will mark the end of each night’s competition and a huge laser light show will
conclude the event on Sunday night.
Tickets to this, and all of Gateway’s remaining 2003 major events, are available by
calling (866) 35-SPEED or going online at www.gatewayraceway.com.
RECORDHOLDER MCBRIDE HAS TO PEDAL HIS WAY TO VICTORY,
ENDS NEAR-PERFECT INAUGURAL AMA PROSTAR EVENT AT GATEWAY
MADISON, Ill. (June 1) – Larry McBride is used to blowing away the
competition and the record books every time he lights up his Top Fuel Kawasaki.
On Sunday, however, the 45-year-old veteran from Poquoson, Va., needed to use his
experience to give him his third event victory of the season in the Inaugural AMA Prostar
PR Factory Stores Nationals at Gateway International Raceway.
After hazing the tires just after the 60-foot mark, McBride was able to shut his bike off
early on the top end as opponent Ron Webb of Anchorage, Alaska, was never able to get
traction.
McBride, who earlier ran a 5.995-second qualifying pass and topped 240 mph on the
Gateway strip in the face of a 20 mph headwind on Saturday, won the final with a
pedestrian 6.952 (201.91).
“Actually we thought we were going to put a huge number down, so we really put some
power to the track in the final. But we missed on the call just by a bit, so I had to work a
little,” said McBride, who has won the last three AMA Prostar points championships.
“But it’s been a great weekend. This is as nice a track as I’ve ever run, and I can’t wait to
come back.”
Doug Fisher of Coloma, Mich., grabbed two separate class championships during the
weekend, taking Top Gas over Mike Coulson, of Zanesville, Ohio and Super Comp over
Dale Phillips of Bradford, Pa.
Multi-time Gateway track champion Bob Lohr of Staunton, Ill., grabbed the Pro E.T. title
on his ’78 Kawasaki, running 9.438 seconds (136.43 mph) to defeat Coulson (9.757,
145.89).
Other class champions included Glen Nickelberry of Oklahoma City (Funny Bike),
Dustin Janzen of Fort Collins, Colo. (Pro Modified), Keith Dennis of Memphis, Tenn.
(Pro Stock), Chip Ellis of Columbia, S.C. (Formula Superbike), Rick Gadson of
Sicklerville, N.J. (Street Bike Shootout), Doug Peterson of Babylon, N.Y. (Super Gas),
Patrick Leonard of Waldwick, N.J. (600 Supersport), Mark Underwood of Coschockton,
ohio (Hot Rod Cruiser), Ed Krawiec of Englishtown, N.J. (Street E.T.) and Joe Mejia of
Queen Creek, Ariz. (Super Eliminatior).
AMA PROSTAR PR FACTORY STORES NATIONALS
At Gateway International Raceway, Sunday, June 1, 2003
TOP FUEL: Larry McBride, Poqoson, Va. (Kawasaki) 6.952 seconds, 201.91
mph defeated Ron Webb of Anchorage, Alaska (Motorcycles Unlimited) 14.687, 57.30
mph
FUNNY BIKE: Glen Nickelberry, Oklahoma City, Okla. (Kawasaki) 6.706,
200.95 defeated Travis Davis, Douglas, Ga. (Kawasaki) 6.851, 210.97
PRO MODIFIED: Dustin Janzen, Fort Collins, Colo. (Suzuki) 6.853, 195.68
mph defeated Steve Drake, Xenia, Ohio (Suzuki) 6.885, 199.20
PRO STOCK: Keith Dennis, Memphis, Tenn. (Suzuki) 7.261, 181.98 defeated
Kerry Yates, Charleston, S.C. (Suzuki) 8.003, 164.89
FORMULA SUPERBIKE: Chip Ellis, Columbia, S.C. (Kawasaki) 7.947,
168.05 mph defeated Brian Schultz, Labelle, Fla. (Suzuki) 8.164, 164.59 mph
STREET BIKE SHOOTOUT: Ricky Gadson, Sicklerville, N.J. (Kawasaki)
7.724, 190.81 mph defeated Kent Stotz, Schaumburg, Ill. (Honda) 8.067, 178.40 mph
TOP GAS: Doug Fisher, Coloma, Mich. (Suzuki) 8.314, 130.22 mph defeated
Mike Coulson, Zanesville, Ohio (Kawasaki) 8.746, 157.39 mph
SUPER COMP: Doug Fisher, Coloma, Mich. (Suzuki) 8.961, 148.94 mph
defeated Dale Phillips, Bradford, Pa. (Suzuki) 8.867, 145.86 mph
600 SUPERSPORT: Patrick Leonard, Waldwick, N.J. (Kawasaki) 9.898, 136.93
mph defeated Keith Thompson, Bowie, Md. (Kawasaki) 9.927, 136.83 mph
HOT ROD CRUISER: Mark Underwood, Coshocton, Ohio (Yamaha) 9.557,
137.83 mph defeated Rick McWaters, Bucyrus, Ohio (Harley) 9.830, 134.43 mph
PRO E.T.: Bob Lohr, Staunton, Ill. (Kawasaki) 9.438, 136.43 mph defeated
Mark Coulson, Zanesville, Ohio (Kawasaki) 9.757, 145.89 mph
STREET E.T.: Ed Krawiec, Englishtown, N.J. (Yamaha) 9.984, 131.93 mph
defeated Chuck Cunningham, Houston, Texas (Suzuki) 10.250, 122.60 mph
SUPER ELIMINATOR: Joe Mejia, Queen Creek, Ariz. (Yamaha) 9.469, 138.60
mph defeated Mike Bianco, Stillwater, N.Y. (Kawasaki) 9.192, 137.57 mph
PRO STOCKERS WILL NOT RUN TUESDAY AT GATEWAY
DUE TO SCHEDULING CONFLICT; TEST-AND TUNE SET,
FOLLOWED BY LIMITED TEST-TUNE SCHEDULE THROUGH JUNE 11
MADISON, Ill. (May 22) – Due to a scheduling conflict, the NHRA Pro Stockers
who had planned on testing at Gateway International Raceway on Tuesday will not be at
the track.
The regular Test and Tune session for street tire cars will be held. Gates will open at 4
p.m., with runs from 5:30-10 p.m. Admission is $15 for car and driver, $8 for adult
spectators with children 12 and under free with a paid adult.
Because of a track rental there will be no other regular Test and Tune sessions until
Wednesday, June 11.
During that period there will be a special Test and Tune session Friday, May 30, for
motorcycles preparing for the inaugural PR Factory Stores St. Louis Nationals AMA
Prostar event. Gates will open for both tests at 4 p.m. with runs between 5:30-10 p.m.
Cost on May 30 is $20 per bike and rider, $8 spectator/crew adult admission with
children 12-under free.
There will be another special Test and Tune for street and slick tires on Thursday night,
June 5, with the cost $15 per car and driver, with $8 spectator/crew adult admission with
children 12-under free.
For further information, call (618) 482-2400.
TO DOMINATING WIN; AND HE CAN’T WAIT FOR GATEWAY
MADISON, Ill. (June 1) – Tony Schumacher’s struggling U.S. Army Top Fuel
team isn’t struggling any more. Buoyed by the arrival of three-time NHRA champion
crew chief Alan Johnson, Schumacher went on and scored his first victory since
September on his home track, winning the Lucas Oil Route 66 Nationals title Sunday.
And Schumacher, a former NHRA champion himself, will no doubt be chomping at the
bit to get to Gateway International Raceway June 27-30 for the Sears Craftsman NHRA
Nationals. Johnson won three straight Gateway titles (1998-2000) with Gary Scelzi.
"The turnaround for this team happened fast," said Schumacher, whose team brought
Johnson in to replace veteran Wes Cerny last Monday. But we didn't hire Alan Johnson
to find a tune-up, he already had it. He didn't rack up all those wins and championships
without knowing how to tune a dragster. We just gave him the budget to do what he
needs to do and we have a very talented pool of guys over there helping him.”
Whit Bazemore (Funny Car), Kurt Johnson (Pro Stock) Angelle Savoie (Pro Stock Bike)
and Fred Hahn (Pro Modified) also were winners at Route 66, located in Joliet, Ill.
During Saturday’s qualifying, both halves of the Funny Car national record were broken,
with John Force running a 4.721-second quarter-mile, while Scelzi had a top speed of
327.98 mph. Both those drivers, however, were eliminated in the early rounds Sunday.
After running three straight weekends, the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series will
take a week off and run in Columbus, Ohio on June 12-15. After another week off they’ll
be at Gateway for three nights of prime time action at month’s end.
Schumacher, who started the weekend in 10th place in the points standings, knocked off
reigning NHRA champ and current points leader Larry Dixon with ease at 4.530 seconds
(321.50 mph), well ahead of Dixon's 4.615 (321.42 mph).
Schumacher, who won his title in 2000, scored his eighth career event win and first since
last September’s U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis.
Bazemore, who drives the Matco Tools Dodge for Schumacher Racing, made it a good
weekend all around for the Chicago-based squad. Bazemore, from Indianapolis, was
quicker off the lights than Tommy Johnson Jr. of Indy and got the win despite a slower
E.T. (4.872 to TJ’s 4.839). It was the third win in four starts for Bazemore, who is trying
to catch Tony Pedregon in the Funny Car points chase.
In Pro Stock, Kurt Johnson of Lawrenceville, Ga., survived an almost-perfect reaction
time to beat defending Gateway and NHRA champion Jeg Couglin of Delaware, Ohio.
KJ’s ACDelco Chevrolet was clocked in 6.791 seconds (203.40 mph) to a 6.833 (201.91
mph) for Coughlin.
The win is the 27th overall for Johnson (including a 1998 win here) and his fourth of the
season. It puts him two points ahead of Greg Anderson in the overall standings.
Savoie, the reigning NHRA and Sears Craftsman Nationals winner from New Orleans,
regained the points lead with her third win of the season and 31st of her career. She is
now third on the all-time list, and two out of the second position.
Savoie and Showers, competing in his first NHRA final, were even off the starting line.
But Savoie’s bike had more muscle in the Team 23 Suzuki and covered the quarter-mile
in 7.123 seconds (187.16 mph) to Showers’ 7.238 (184.30 mph).
Showers, from Philadelphia, is a double amputee who lost his legs in an accident as a
youngster, and rides with the aid of prosthetic devices built by the company that sponsors
his bike.
Hahn scored his second event win of the season out of the No. 1 qualifying spot, riding
his Summit Racing Corvette to an easy win in the finals (6.238 seconds, 205.57 mph)
over Troy Critchley, who smoked the tires off the line. Critchley, a native of Australia,
now lives in Texas.
All of the stars of NHRA POWERade Drag Racing will be at Gateway for three nights of
action. Pro qualifying will be at 4:45 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. on Friday, June 27 and Saturday,
June 28. The final eliminations are set for 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 29. Fireworks
displays will mark the end of each night’s competition and a huge laser light show will
conclude the event on Sunday night.
Tickets to this, and all of Gateway’s remaining 2003 major events, are available by
calling (866) 35-SPEED or going online at www.gatewayraceway.com.
RECORDHOLDER MCBRIDE HAS TO PEDAL HIS WAY TO VICTORY,
ENDS NEAR-PERFECT INAUGURAL AMA PROSTAR EVENT AT GATEWAY
MADISON, Ill. (June 1) – Larry McBride is used to blowing away the
competition and the record books every time he lights up his Top Fuel Kawasaki.
On Sunday, however, the 45-year-old veteran from Poquoson, Va., needed to use his
experience to give him his third event victory of the season in the Inaugural AMA Prostar
PR Factory Stores Nationals at Gateway International Raceway.
After hazing the tires just after the 60-foot mark, McBride was able to shut his bike off
early on the top end as opponent Ron Webb of Anchorage, Alaska, was never able to get
traction.
McBride, who earlier ran a 5.995-second qualifying pass and topped 240 mph on the
Gateway strip in the face of a 20 mph headwind on Saturday, won the final with a
pedestrian 6.952 (201.91).
“Actually we thought we were going to put a huge number down, so we really put some
power to the track in the final. But we missed on the call just by a bit, so I had to work a
little,” said McBride, who has won the last three AMA Prostar points championships.
“But it’s been a great weekend. This is as nice a track as I’ve ever run, and I can’t wait to
come back.”
Doug Fisher of Coloma, Mich., grabbed two separate class championships during the
weekend, taking Top Gas over Mike Coulson, of Zanesville, Ohio and Super Comp over
Dale Phillips of Bradford, Pa.
Multi-time Gateway track champion Bob Lohr of Staunton, Ill., grabbed the Pro E.T. title
on his ’78 Kawasaki, running 9.438 seconds (136.43 mph) to defeat Coulson (9.757,
145.89).
Other class champions included Glen Nickelberry of Oklahoma City (Funny Bike),
Dustin Janzen of Fort Collins, Colo. (Pro Modified), Keith Dennis of Memphis, Tenn.
(Pro Stock), Chip Ellis of Columbia, S.C. (Formula Superbike), Rick Gadson of
Sicklerville, N.J. (Street Bike Shootout), Doug Peterson of Babylon, N.Y. (Super Gas),
Patrick Leonard of Waldwick, N.J. (600 Supersport), Mark Underwood of Coschockton,
ohio (Hot Rod Cruiser), Ed Krawiec of Englishtown, N.J. (Street E.T.) and Joe Mejia of
Queen Creek, Ariz. (Super Eliminatior).
AMA PROSTAR PR FACTORY STORES NATIONALS
At Gateway International Raceway, Sunday, June 1, 2003
TOP FUEL: Larry McBride, Poqoson, Va. (Kawasaki) 6.952 seconds, 201.91
mph defeated Ron Webb of Anchorage, Alaska (Motorcycles Unlimited) 14.687, 57.30
mph
FUNNY BIKE: Glen Nickelberry, Oklahoma City, Okla. (Kawasaki) 6.706,
200.95 defeated Travis Davis, Douglas, Ga. (Kawasaki) 6.851, 210.97
PRO MODIFIED: Dustin Janzen, Fort Collins, Colo. (Suzuki) 6.853, 195.68
mph defeated Steve Drake, Xenia, Ohio (Suzuki) 6.885, 199.20
PRO STOCK: Keith Dennis, Memphis, Tenn. (Suzuki) 7.261, 181.98 defeated
Kerry Yates, Charleston, S.C. (Suzuki) 8.003, 164.89
FORMULA SUPERBIKE: Chip Ellis, Columbia, S.C. (Kawasaki) 7.947,
168.05 mph defeated Brian Schultz, Labelle, Fla. (Suzuki) 8.164, 164.59 mph
STREET BIKE SHOOTOUT: Ricky Gadson, Sicklerville, N.J. (Kawasaki)
7.724, 190.81 mph defeated Kent Stotz, Schaumburg, Ill. (Honda) 8.067, 178.40 mph
TOP GAS: Doug Fisher, Coloma, Mich. (Suzuki) 8.314, 130.22 mph defeated
Mike Coulson, Zanesville, Ohio (Kawasaki) 8.746, 157.39 mph
SUPER COMP: Doug Fisher, Coloma, Mich. (Suzuki) 8.961, 148.94 mph
defeated Dale Phillips, Bradford, Pa. (Suzuki) 8.867, 145.86 mph
600 SUPERSPORT: Patrick Leonard, Waldwick, N.J. (Kawasaki) 9.898, 136.93
mph defeated Keith Thompson, Bowie, Md. (Kawasaki) 9.927, 136.83 mph
HOT ROD CRUISER: Mark Underwood, Coshocton, Ohio (Yamaha) 9.557,
137.83 mph defeated Rick McWaters, Bucyrus, Ohio (Harley) 9.830, 134.43 mph
PRO E.T.: Bob Lohr, Staunton, Ill. (Kawasaki) 9.438, 136.43 mph defeated
Mark Coulson, Zanesville, Ohio (Kawasaki) 9.757, 145.89 mph
STREET E.T.: Ed Krawiec, Englishtown, N.J. (Yamaha) 9.984, 131.93 mph
defeated Chuck Cunningham, Houston, Texas (Suzuki) 10.250, 122.60 mph
SUPER ELIMINATOR: Joe Mejia, Queen Creek, Ariz. (Yamaha) 9.469, 138.60
mph defeated Mike Bianco, Stillwater, N.Y. (Kawasaki) 9.192, 137.57 mph
PRO STOCKERS WILL NOT RUN TUESDAY AT GATEWAY
DUE TO SCHEDULING CONFLICT; TEST-AND TUNE SET,
FOLLOWED BY LIMITED TEST-TUNE SCHEDULE THROUGH JUNE 11
MADISON, Ill. (May 22) – Due to a scheduling conflict, the NHRA Pro Stockers
who had planned on testing at Gateway International Raceway on Tuesday will not be at
the track.
The regular Test and Tune session for street tire cars will be held. Gates will open at 4
p.m., with runs from 5:30-10 p.m. Admission is $15 for car and driver, $8 for adult
spectators with children 12 and under free with a paid adult.
Because of a track rental there will be no other regular Test and Tune sessions until
Wednesday, June 11.
During that period there will be a special Test and Tune session Friday, May 30, for
motorcycles preparing for the inaugural PR Factory Stores St. Louis Nationals AMA
Prostar event. Gates will open for both tests at 4 p.m. with runs between 5:30-10 p.m.
Cost on May 30 is $20 per bike and rider, $8 spectator/crew adult admission with
children 12-under free.
There will be another special Test and Tune for street and slick tires on Thursday night,
June 5, with the cost $15 per car and driver, with $8 spectator/crew adult admission with
children 12-under free.
For further information, call (618) 482-2400.
