NHRA Quotes from Las Vegas

Compiled by Ian Tocher, photos by Bret Kepner and Zak Hawthorne, 10/26/05

TOP FUEL

There may never be another weekend quite like the one Tony Schumacher produced at Vegas.  Winning the event, the Budweiser Shootout, the NHRA bonus for winning both, and locking up his third NHRA POWERade Top Fuel World Championship netted father Don an incredible $600,000 in 72 hours of racing. He added Low ET and Top Speed, (4.486/330.55), to the bounty, as well. The Shootout finale against Scott Kalitta, (pictured), was one of the great TF races ever; pedaling 100 feet out, “the Sarge” drove around Kalitta’s holeshot to win by one thousandth of a second!

"Wow—that’s about all I can say."— Tony Schumacher after edging Scott Kalitta by just one thousandth to take the Shootout win

"That last run was quite impressive, to say the very least." — Schumacher again, after running low E.T. of the meet (4.486) while beating David Grubnic in the final round on raceday

"I'm really stoked!"— Morgan Lucas on earning the second number-one position of his career with a 4.508-seconds pass at 324.36 mph

"I'm going to be in my bed fast asleep by 9 o'clock. I plan on being rested and ready to race tomorrow. I'm hoping all of my competitors go out and enjoy a wild night on the Strip and come into the race feeling less than 100 percent." — Rod Fuller, a Las Vegas resident, on his strategy after qualifying 5th