The Vandergriff team celebrates.  (James Drew photo)

The Top Fuel championship landscape changed a bit when series points leader Antron Brown lost to Al-Anabi Racing’s Khalid al Balooshi in round one after his Matco Tools dragster encountered engine issues midway down the track. FRAM/Prestone dragster driver Spencer Massey, who is currently third in points, was defeated by Vandergriff in the quarterfinals. 

Schumacher’s final-round appearance moved him from third to second in the Countdown to the Championship standings and closed his deficit to the championship-leading Brown from 136 to 65 points.

Schumacher gets a little air before the canopy is lowered into place. (James Drew photo)

“I really want to thank the U.S. Army for all their support and strength they give us,” Schumacher said after his eighth final-round appearance in 22 events this season. “We really wanted to win today for all the Army Strong Soldiers who are stationed around the world, serving this great country of ours. I also was really wanting this one for my son Michael, who turned 9 today.

“In the final, we got aggressive and ended up spinning the tires. I pedaled it, but by then it was too late. My hat goes off to Bob and his team on their victory.”

Schumacher, the seven-time champion, started the weekend by earning his fourth No. 1 qualifier spot of 2012, the 71st of his career and his ninth overall at The Strip. Schumacher and the U.S. Army Racing team sliced through the field during the first three rounds of eliminations today, posting a pair of runs in the 3.7-second range en route to the final. He beat Terry McMillen, Steve Torrence and Khalid al Balooshi and, by doing so, enhanced his opportunity to earn an eighth Top Fuel title two weeks from now at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, Calif.

Another surprise came in the first round when Khalid al Balooshi knocked out Antron Brown, 4.470/241.07 to 4.591/239.27. Al Balooshi then had a fireball at the end of the run. He went on to defeat JR Todd in the next round, but Tony Schumacher turned the tables on him in the semifinal. (Bob Johnson photo)