Schumacher sitting pretty as NHRA rolls into town

He wasn't expected to remain on top this season after losing his crew leader, but six-time Top Fuel world champion Tony Schumacher is still the points leader as he pulls into Joliet this week for the NHRA Full Throttle Draft Racing Series at Route 66 Raceway.

"Sarge," as he's known with his U.S. Army dragster, arrives with 59 victories in the 7,000 horsepower category and 91 final round appearances, which is just shy of Joe Amato's mark of 99 career finals.

After winning five-straight titles and claiming 2008 Driver of the Year honors with super-tuner Alan Johnson, Schumacher was supposed to return to mortal status, according to most racing analysts.

However, Schumacher and new crew chief Mike Green have won three of the last five races and moved from fifth to first place in the series standings, holding a 43-point lead.

The former Long Grove resident, who now hails from Lake Forest, will try to maintain his momentum at the NHRA Route 66 Nationals today through Sunday at the Joliet track. Schumacher is the defending race winner in Top Fuel, along with Tony Pedregon (Funny Car), Kurt Johnson (Pro Stock), and Chris Rivas (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

"Without question, I look forward to when the tour hits Route 66," Schumacher said. "I live a little over an hour away from the place, so I'm happy to be playing the proverbial home game.

"To be back in the points lead is outstanding," added Schumacher, a three-time winner at Route 66 Raceway. "We started this year with everyone telling us we'd probably never win another race. To be sitting here now with three wins in the first eight races is very satisfying."

Johnson's departure has reminded Schumacher of the importance of everyone in the team.

"AJ is the greatest crew chief in the world - I get it," Schumacher said. "We all understand it. But he doesn't win all the races by himself, because it takes eight guys to do it. It takes a driver to do it. It takes a whole select group and AJ understands that."

In Funny Car, Ron Capps has led the points order all season in his NAPA Dodge Charger and claimed four victories along the way. However, hard-charging Del Worsham posted back-to-back victories in St. Louis and Bristol in his Al-Anabi Racing Toyota Solara and is a three-time winner at Chicago. Tony Pedregon and John Force also have strong records at this track and will be in the mix, as will Ashley Force Hood, Jack Beckman and Illinois native Tim Wilkerson.

Jeg Coughlin, Jason Line, Mike Edwards and Greg Anderson are the front-runners in Pro Stock. Eddie Krawiec, a two-time winner this season, Andrew Hines, Matt Smith and rookie Doug Horne are the favorites in Pro Stock Motorcycle.