Schumacher, who put his early stamp on the Top Fuel chase with his second victory this season, his second straight at Gainesville Raceway, and his third at the track. That last achievement tied him with Don Garlits, Eddie Hill, and Larry Dixon and put him one victory away from equaling Joe Amato's legacy at the traditional East Coast opener.
But Schumacher had his own drama before the racing began Sunday morning. With about an hour to spare before the first round, detail-obsessed crew chief Alan Johnson responded to changing conditions and switched head gaskets and made assorted tweaks, cutting the prep time close. The current champ went out and knocked off Todd, Antron Brown, Dixon, and Bernstein to become the year's first two-time winner.
"We have a long season ahead of us, but it's nice that we've taken off like we have," Schumacher, who lately has traded on his late-season heroics, said. "We weren't the stellar car of the field, but we earned it. We beat hard cars and drivers and teams all day." He stretched his Top Fuel lead over Dixon from one point to 52.
Pro Stock's Coughlin seemed to breeze through his paces to earn his second Gatornationals trophy (which he won in honor of his father's 70th birthday and team owner Victor Cagnazzi's 50th, both last weekend). But he, too, had his shaky moments.
He beat keen rival Greg Anderson on a holeshot in the second round and looked like he might have to shut off his Jegs.com Chevy Cobalt at the starting line in the semifinals because of a broken wheelie bar.
"It was a hard-fought day," the 2007 series champion said after overtaking Anderson for the points lead.
Sunday's final results from the 39th annual ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway. The race is the third of 24 in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel -- Tony Schumacher, 4.603 seconds, 325.37 mph def. Brandon Bernstein, 4.665 seconds, 323.27 mph.
Funny Car -- Tony Pedregon, Chevy Impala, 4.921, 315.27 def. Gary Densham, Impala, 4.924, 309.13.
Pro Stock -- Jeg Coughlin, Chevy Cobalt, 6.652, 208.07 def. Jason Line, Pontiac GXP, 6.656, 209.10.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- Matt Guidera, Buell, 6.949, 191.54 def. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.985, 189.55.
Top Alcohol Dragster -- John Finke, 5.489, 254.71 def. Ken Perry, 5.694, 185.05.
Top Alcohol Funny Car -- Frank Manzo, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.502, 264.03 def. Marc White, Ford Mustang, 5.645, 256.75.
Competition Eliminator -- Rodger Brogdon, Chevy Cavalier, 8.368, 157.41 def. Lee Zane, Bantam Roadster, 8.984, 138.63.
Stock Eliminator -- Peter Biondo, Chevy Camaro, 11.478, 82.65 def. Jeff Strickland, Camaro, foul.
Super Comp -- Ron Erks, Dragster, 8.927, 174.96 def. Steve Cohen, Dragster, 8.936, 165.62.
Super Gas -- Brian Forrester, Chevy Corvette, 9.931, 164.29 def. Chuck Rothermel, Oldsmobile Cutlass, 9.937, 162.72.