NHRA Quotes from Dallas

Compiled by Ian Tocher
Photos by Ron Lewis
10/11/05

ace reports will tell you Tony Schumacher won in Top Fuel, John Force prevailed in Funny Car, and Greg Anderson continued his winning ways in Pro Stock at the 20th annual O’Reilly Fall Nationals presented by Castrol Syntec at Dallas, TX. But the whole story at the Texas Motorplex can be learned through the racers own words, as described by quotes taken from NHRA and team press releases.

TOP FUEL

"I knew we had to step it up against Herbert. Everything worked out great—I left on him and we drove right on down the track. It was perfect." — Tony Schumacher on defeating Doug Herbert in the final to earn his third straight win and his seventh victory of the season

"Call me ultra conservative, but I won't be happy until the NHRA says that we're the champs.” — Schumacher again, on needing only to make a qualifying pass at the series’ next race to clinch his second consecutive NHRA POWERade Top Fuel world championship

"It's not that we haven't been trying to take the top qualifying position, we just haven't had a good enough car.” — Herbert again, after crew chief Wayne Dupuy tuned him to a career-best and track record 4.441 seconds at 328.06 mph to earn his third career number-one qualifying spot and first since Las Vegas 2002

"A lot can be said about qualifying well and having a few easier rounds, in theory. Not that it always works out that well." — Melanie Troxel after going a career-best 4.458 secs to qualify in second place

"We all like to think of ourselves as macho racecar drivers but I have to admit I was scared on that one. It was accelerating like nothing I've ever felt before. I cannot believe how much difference there is between a 4.50 run and a 4.40 run. It's a quantum leap. I got back to the pit and told Beard I felt like a rookie all over again." — Rod Fuller after running his first pass in the 4.40s, a 4.493 at 328.94 mph that placed him fourth on the qualifying list

“We would have liked to have qualified better, but I’m sure there were others that would have liked to have qualified better too.” — Larry Dixon on starting from the number-seven position

“The odds may not be in our favor but we will try to play the spoiler role in who gains point in the POWERade point battle. Like them we want to win this race and are going to go all out to do just that, no matter who is in the other lane.” — Cory McClenathan after qualifying ninth, on facing championship contender Doug Kalitta in round one of eliminations

“There’s only two races left and right now I’m thinking how we’re going to get around Scott Kalitta and into eighth in the POWERade point race. Additionally, we’re trying to get a handle on things for next year and I feel like we’re losing ground and not moving forward. That’s a very disappointing feeling.” — Cory Mac again, after going up in smoke in the opening round