CLERMONT, Ind. (Sept. 10, 2003) -- Tony Schumacher and
five other drivers roared to victory on Goodyear tires during the
NHRA's 2003 MAC Tools US Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park.
The wins give Goodyear teams a total of 96 final round wins
in national events, the best total in the tire industry in NHRA
competition.
Schumacher piloted his family-owned dragster to his third
victory in the sport's biggest race and became only the third
driver to win the event in consecutive years. He recorded a personal best
time in the final round when he defeated Darrell Russell. Schumacher
rocketed down the quarter-mile strip in 4.498 seconds, recording a speed
of 328.54 mph. It was the best pass of the event.
The other Goodyear-shod winners included the cars driven by
Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock), Morgan Lucas (Top
Alcohol Dragster), Rickie Smith (Pro Mod) and Larry Pritchett
(Competition Eliminator).
Wilkerson beat Johnny Gray in the Funny Car final. He turned
in the quickest ET of the event in the class, with a run of 4.829
seconds. Anderson got his eighth win of the season, beating Kurt Johnson
in the final.
Lucas put together a great run in the final of Top Alcohol
Dragster. He recorded a better reaction time, quicker ET and had a higher
speed at the end. It marked the third time Lucas has won in four
final-round appearances in national events.
Rickie Smith's '63 Corvette narrowly edged Von
Smith in the Pro Mod final. Rickie Smith won by a margin of .0104 of a
second.
Larry Pritchett became the first back-to-back Comp Eliminator
winner at Indy since Don Carlton did the double in 1975-76. Pritchett won
both his Indy titles on Goodyear tires.
