The Indy experience was very different for Schumacher and Force
By: Drew Hierwarter
The fifty third running of the NHRA U.S. Nationals had surprise qualifiers, surprise non-qualifiers and the continuation of an amazing streak. Top Fuel winner Tony Schumacher continued his domination of the event since the turn of the century by winning his sixth U.S. Nationals title in the last eight years. The only other driver to win in this decade is Larry Dixon who has won the event twice. Schumacher went into Monday’s eliminations as the number one qualifier and faced Dixon in the final. The win moved Schumacher from second to first in the points as the “Countdown to the Championship” now has three races left before the eight eligible contenders are paired down to four. “Nothing was given to us today. This was a hard win to get, trust me.” Schumacher said. He defeated Clay Millican, Cory McClenathan, Melanie Troxel, and Dixon on the way to career win number 40, which ties him with Larry Dixon for second on the all time list behind Joe Amato who has 52 wins.
Jimmy Johnson survived the heat and the hype in California to get his fifth win of the season and lock himself into the “Chase for the Championship”. This victory was important because of the ten bonus points he receives for each win going into the Chase. His five wins will place him at the top of the seeded chart when the chase starts in two weeks, one spot above teammate Jeff Gordon who has four. “We’re fortunate to be in that situation,” Johnson said. “That’s very satisfying. The season is all about a championship, especially when you get in the Chase. It’s time for the pressure to pick up and the hard work to start. And my guys are ready for it.”Dale Earnhardt, Jr. now finds himself in the uncomfortable position of needing bad things to happen to Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch in order for him to make it into the championship fight. Even if he finishes third or higher in Richmond next week, Busch and Harvick would still have to finish worse than 30th for Junior to make the cut.
Hickory Motor Speedway in North Carolina bills itself as the “Birthplace of the NASCAR Stars”. This is an easy claim to believe if you look at the list of drivers who have won there. Ned Jarrett, Junior Johnson, Lee and Richard Petty, David Pearson, Harry Gant, Jack Ingram, Jimmy Spencer, just to name a few. The path to a professional career in NASCAR’s highest division used to go directly through Hickory. Things have changed somewhat as it seems that today’s Nextel Cup team owners are looking everywhere but in their own backyard for talent. However, the starting lineup for Monday’s “Bobby Isaac Memorial 200” late model race at the fabled old track did have some names familiar to long time NASCAR fans. There was an Evernham, a Grissom, and a Wallace. Willy Evernham, the nephew of former Winston Cup champion crew chief and current car owner Ray Evernham was driving an Evernham Motorsports Dodge. Also entered was Kyle Grissom, the son of former Busch Grand National star driver, Steve Grissom. The Wallace in the race was Chrissy Wallace, daughter of Nextel Cup driver Mike Wallace.
Chrissy Wallace has run a full season at Hickory this year and has two main event wins to her credit and for awhile it looked like she could take the win on this day. During the first hundred laps, she quietly made her way through the field; taking her time, carefully picking her places to pass, and gaining positions one at a time. By the time the field was given a ten minute break after the first 100 laps, Wallace was in a solid fourth place. After the restart she continued her steady performance and made it all the way to second. At this point Kyle Grissom gave Wallace a little shove, she got loose and began losing positions, dropping as far back as sixth. But she battled back and coming to the checkered flag she was able to salvage a third place finish. The girl has proven that she is a racer by competing in what some believe is the toughest late model circuit in the country and winning. She has a bright future and to go along with a last name that can open some doors, and create some opportunities, she has the talent to take advantage of them.
The day we spent at Hickory was short track racing at its best. The program was well run with something for the fans to see or do throughout the day. And everything went off right on the advertised schedule. The race produced lots of two and three wide racing, plenty of passing throughout the pack, and an exciting finish with Hickory regular Andy Loden taking the well deserved win. If you can only get to one short track race a year, the “Bobby Isaac Memorial” at Hickory should be the one.
Andy Loden, winner of the 2007 “Bobby Isaac Memorial 200″