Schumacher knows where trophy belongs

After winning his sixth straight world title Sunday in Pomona, Calif., over the weekend in his U.S. Army top fuel dragster, Long Grove native Tony Schumacher knew immediately where the big championship trophy was headed.

Fort Hood, Texas.

"We're going to give this trophy to the families of the victims," Schumacher said. "Hopefully, they'll know how much we're thinking of them when they see it on display. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with them."

After Larry Dixon was eliminated in the semifinals by Spencer Massey, Schumacher clinched his seventh career crown despite his loss to teammate, Antron Brown, in the semis. But it was clinching the pole position Saturday that proved key, giving him a two-point advantage over Dixon heading into race day.

"That was definitely huge," Schumacher said. "I can't say enough about my crew chief (Mike Green) and my team. It was a classic example of a bases loaded, bottom of the ninth situation.

"We needed to come up with the big hit and that's exactly what happened."

Schumacher recorded 5 wins in seven final round appearances and now has 61 career victories to his credit.

"Of all of the championships, this one ranks pretty far up there," he said. "Nobody expected us to win a race no less a title. Boy, did we prove them all wrong. I'm already looking forward to the 2010 season."