Pomona II: Tony Schumacher Thursday notes

SCHUMACHER NOT IN FIELD AFTER DAY ONE

POMONA, Calif., November 13 - U.S. Army Top Fuel driver Tony "The Sarge" Schumacher failed to get into the show here Thursday after the first day of qualifying for the Auto Club of Southern California Finals at Auto Club Raceway. Schumacher smoked the tires in his only pass of the day and thus ended up 18th in the order.

"We were pretty good early in the run, but then the tires went up and I just shut her off," said the recently crowned 2008 POWERade world champion. "We'll come back tomorrow to take another swing at it."

The Chicago-area resident will have a single qualifying session tomorrow with two more attempts scheduled on Saturday.

"As always, I have faith in my U.S. Army team," he added. "I'm confident they'll get the job done. We're all looking forward to closing out the season on a high note." Schumacher is attempting to finish the '08 campaign having set two more records - for most victories in a single season and most round wins in a single season.

"Our mission is clear," he said. "We definitely want those records."

-credit: dsr