rom first-time Indy winners to DNQs by some of the biggest names in the sport to a quest for a record-setting, fifth-straight “Big Go” title, the 53rd annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals served up plenty of daring, drama and disappointment Aug. 30-Sep. 3, at the renamed O’Reilly Raceway Park.

All four pro class winners from 2006 reached the final round again this year, but only Top Fuel ace Tony Schumacher managed to repeat as champion, with Mike Ashley (Funny Car), Dave Connolly (Pro Stock), and Craig Treble (Pro Stock Motorcycle) joining him in victory lane after each went the distance for the first time at the NHRA’s biggest race of the year. Additionally, the U.S. Nats featured the race-within-a-race Skoal Showdown during Sunday’s qualifying for the top-eight Funny Car qualifiers over the past year, with Jack Beckman picking up the $100,000 win, while Andrew Hines won $25k on Saturday in the similarly formatted Ringers Gloves Pro Bike Battle.