Schumacher, the seven-time world champion with the U.S. Army team, held onto the points lead despite a first-round upset loss Sunday after qualifying third. Schumacher, who has won four titles this year, leads second-place driver Shawn Langdon by 57 points in the standings.

"Last week we went from being 50 points down to a 106-point lead in a matter of 24 hours, so naturally we came here with some huge momentum and planned to keep it going," Schumacher said. "It's not a good thing to take a huge lead like we came here with and go out and make a mistake. You can't give points back like that.

"But, in all reality, I'll take smoking the tires any day over being underpowered. I don't mind being aggressive. It's how you win championships."

C hris Karamesines qualified in the number 16 spot. In the first round against Doug Kalitta, the Greek made his fastest run of the weekend, 3.954 at 287.47 mph, but Kalitta’s 3.796 at 323.35 took the win. (Jeff Burk photo)

GEICO/Lucas Oil driver Richie Crampton was cruising to a first-round victory at the NHRA Midwest Nationals on Sunday at Gateway Motorsports Park when the engine in his Top Fuel dragster shut off about 300 feet short of the finish line, and Crampton was an upset victim to No. 15 qualifier Kyle Wurtzel. Wurtzel normally runs with the IHRA circuit and was making his NHRA Big Show debut.

"We just tried to make an A-to-B run and not get too crazy," Crampton said. "The thing wasn't going to set the world on fire, but it was going to be a nice, clean run. Apparently, something shut the ignition and fuel pump off at 700 feet. We were coasting through the lights. Subsequently, he was able to get around us. It's pretty disappointing."

Crampton, the No. 2 qualifier, left first and was pulling away at the eighth-mile, but as he coasted to a pass of 3.950 seconds at 263.82 mph, Crampton was passed in the lights.