NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

A three-time winner at Houston Raceway Park, Tony Schumacher has the chance to be the final Top Fuel winner of the NHRA SpringNationals, which takes place this weekend at the legendary track just outside of Houston.

It also means Schumacher could finish with the most Top Fuel wins in the history of Houston Raceway Park if he closes it out with a victory. That would be almost fitting for Schumacher, whose eight Top Fuel world titles and 85 wins lead all drivers in the class. He’s eager for a fourth – and final – win at Houston Raceway Park in his 11,000-hp Scag Power Equipment dragster, and doing it in front of the massive crowds expected in Houston would make it even sweeter.

“Houston’s a powerful track, so I’m looking forward to this weekend,” Schumacher said. “It’s the last year, and it’s going to be a sold-out show, so that’s going to be exciting. It’s a beautiful place, and we’ve had some great success there, and I just love racing there. The last time I was there [in 2020], we went out and won it, and we would love to do that again.”

Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car), and Matt Hartford (Pro Stock) picked up wins last year in Houston, and this year’s race will again be broadcast on FOX Sports 1 (FS1). It is the fifth race of the 2022 season, and it is approaching sold-out status throughout the weekend. That’s great news for Schumacher, who always seems to rise to the occasion during the big moments.

He’s currently seventh in points after returning to full-time racing in 2022. Schumacher didn’t race a year ago or in 2019 and ran a limited schedule during 2020, picking up a thrilling win in Houston against Torrence in a final round that was the second-quickest side-by-side run in NHRA history. As excited as he is to be back, Schumacher is driven by wins and championships. He advanced to the final quad at the most recent race in Las Vegas and likes where his team is headed, even while competing against standouts like Torrence, the four-time defending world champ, Las Vegas winner Brittany Force, Justin Ashley, Mike Salinas, Leah Pruett, Antron Brown, and Doug Kalitta.

Winning in Houston would certainly put the team on the right path and give Schumacher a thrilling memory in a career that’s been filled with them.

“We’re exactly where we thought we would be,” Schumacher said. “I’ve never worked with [crew chief] Todd Okuhara before. They’re new guys for me, I drive a little different. They’re kind of catching up to where I am, and I’m catching up to where they are. We’ve got a car that even though we’re seventh in points, it’s way better than it even looks. We’re out there making fantastic early parts of the run, and as we reel that in a little bit, it’s going to be good.”

NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature one round at 6 p.m. CT on Friday, April 22 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, April 23 at 1 and 4:15 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. CT on Sunday, April 24. Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, and then eliminations action at 7:30 p.m. ET on Sunday.

To purchase tickets to the final NHRA SpringNationals at Houston Raceway Park, call 281-383-7223 or visit www.HoustonRaceway.com. Children 12 and under are admitted free in general-admission areas with a paid adult.