Schumacher in Top Fuel, Capps in Funny Car push DSR's NHRA national event title count to 198 at Phoenix

Schumacher in Top Fuel, Capps in Funny Car push DSR's NHRA national event title count to 198 at Phoenix

CHANDLER, Ariz. (Feb. 24, 2013) - The countdown is at 2.

Thanks to Tony Schumacher and Ron Capps winning NHRA Arizona Nationals event titles on Sunday near Phoenix, the Don Schumacher Racing organization is two event titles from reaching the milestone total of 200.

Schumacher recorded his 70th NHRA title and Capps his 24th for DSR to leave the 200th trophy within reach in two weeks at the next Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event at Gainesville, Fla.

Three of the four nitro finalists in the Arizona Nationals were from the DSR camp with 2011 Funny Car world champ Matt Hagan advancing to meet Capps for the trophy at Firebird International Raceway.

It is the 33rd time DSR has won two or more titles at the same NHRA event.

The stunning Sunday performances allowed Schumacher and Capps to take points leads in their respective categories after two of 24 Mello Yello events.

Both Antron Brown's Matco Tools dragster and Spencer Massey's Battery Extender Powered by Schumacher teams advanced to semifinals.

In Funny Car, while Capps and Hagan moved to the championship round, teammates Johnny Gray, the event's top qualifier for the second straight year, and reigning Funny Car world champ Jack Beckman had traction issues and did not advance to the second round.

The following are results and other notes from the NHRA Arizona Nationals:

TOP FUEL
Event winner: Tony Schumacher (DSR)

Tony Schumacher, U.S. Army dragster
Qualified: No. 3
SUNDAY CHAMPIONSHIP ELIMINATIONS
First round: SCHUMACHER (3.806 sec., 313.80 mph) def. Sidnei Frigo (9.965, 80.81) Second round: SCHUMACHER (3.747, 329.91) def. Khalid alBalooshi (5.172, 154.78)
Semifinals: SCHUMACHER (3.747, 327.82) def. Antron Brown (3.752, 325.45) Final round: SCHUMACHER (4.606, 213.20) def. Morgan Lucas (4.652, 258.67)

Antron Brown, Matco Tools dragster
Qualified: No. 2
SUNDAY CHAMPIONSHIP ELIMINATIONS
First round: BROWN (3.798 sec., 321.96 mph) def. Terry McMillen (4.752, 156.15) Second round: BROWN (3.786, 307.93) def. Leah Pruett (7.773, 81.33)
Semifinals: Tony Schumacher (3.765, 327.82) def. BROWN (3.752, 325.45)

Spencer Massey, Battery Extender Powered by Schumacher dragster
Qualified: No. 16
SUNDAY CHAMPIONSHIP ELIMINATIONS
First round: MASSEY (3.774 sec., 326.00 mph) def. Doug Kalitta (3.756, 329.37) Second round: MASSEY (3.750, 324.05) def. Larry Dixon (5.151, 149.03)
Semifinals: Morgan Lucas (3.860, 316.08) def. MASSEY (5.137, 141.82)

FUNNY CAR
Event winner: Ron Capps (DSR)
No. 1 qualifier: Johnny Gray (DSR) 4.034 sec., 313.80 mph

Ron Capps, NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T
Qualified: No. 5
SUNDAY CHAMPIONSHIP ELIMINATIONS
First round: CAPPS (4.061 sec., 313.51 mph) def. Tony Pedregon (4.097, 299.06) Second round: CAPPS (4.059, 310.55) def. Cruz Pedregon (4.131, 258.07)
Semifinals: CAPPS (4.037, 316.67) def. Tim Wilkerson (10.942, 85.73) Final round: CAPPS (4.064, 314.90) def. Matt Hagan (4.158, 300.33)

Matt Hagan, Mopar/Rocky Boots Dodge Charger R/T
Qualified: No. 2
SUNDAY CHAMPIONSHIP ELIMINATIONS
First round: HAGAN (4.078 sec., 310.27 mph) def. Phil Burkart (4.389, 285.47) Second round: HAGAN (4.259, 254.76) def. Bob Tasca III (6.845, 97.60)
Semifinals: HAGAN (4.049, 4.105) def. John Force (4.105, 315.56) Final round: Ron Capps (4.064, 314.90) def. HAGAN (4.158, 300.33)

Johnny Gray, Pitch Energy Dodge Charger R/T
Qualified: No. 1
SUNDAY CHAMPIONSHIP ELIMINATIONS
First round: Robert Hight def. GRAY, disqualified for hitting guardwall

Jack Beckman, MTS Mail for Wounded Warriors/Valvoline Dodge Charger R/T
Qualified: No. 10
SUNDAY CHAMPIONSHIP ELIMINATIONS
First round: Bob Tasca III (4.336 sec., 221.78 mph) def. BECKMAN (6.342, 111.57)

NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES
(Unofficial standings after 2 of 24 events; DSR drivers in CAPS)

TOP FUEL
1. TONY SCHUMACHER, 228
2. Shawn Langdon, 149
3. ANTRON BROWN, 148
4. Khalid alBalooshi, 131
5. Morgan Lucas, 124
6. David Grubnic, 112
7. Doug Kalitta, 103
8. SPENCER MASSEY, 100
9. Brandon Bernstein, 93
10. Larry Dixon, 86

FUNNY CAR
1. RON CAPPS, 210
2. Courtney Force, 165
3. MATT HAGAN, 151
4. Bob Tasca III, 124
5. JOHNNY GRAY, 122
6. Cruz Pedregon, 117
7t. John Force, 106
7t. Tim Wilkerson, 106
9. Todd Lesenko, 102
10. Robert Hight, 83
11. JACK BECKMAN, 77

NEXT EVENT: March 14-17, Gainesville, Fla.

About Don Schumacher Racing
Don Schumacher Racing, headquartered in Brownsburg, Ind., starts 2013 with seven professional NHRA teams. In Top Fuel, the 2012 NHRA Top Fuel world champion Matco Tools dragster driven by Antron Brown and the U.S. Army dragster driven by seven-time world champion Tony Schumacher and the Battery Extender Powered by Schumacher dragster driven by Spencer Massey; and in Funny Car, 2012 NHRA world champion Jack Beckman in the Valvoline/MTS Mail for Wounded Warriors Dodge Charger R/T, 2011 world champion Matt Hagan in the Mopar/Rocky Dodge, the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge of Ron Capps and the Pitch Energy Dodge of Johnny Gray.
DSR has won 198 NHRA national event titles and 11 world championships.