CLERMONT, Ind. (AP) — Tony Schumacher won the Traxxas Nitro Shootout on Saturday night to earn $100,000 on Saturday night in the U.S. Nationals.
Schumacher, a seven-time Top Fuel season champion who has nine NHRA victories at Lucas Oil Raceway, beat Richie Crampton in the bonus event with a 3.748-second run at a track-record 328.54 mph. The run also locked in Schumacher as the qualifying leader with two sessions left.
“These are the eight best cars as a whole,” Schumacher said about the Nitro Shootout. “They’re cars that have gone out and won races and continuously find themselves in final rounds. It’s very satisfying.
In the weather-delayed events from Brainerd, Minnesota, Ron Capps beat John Force in the Funny Car final with a 4.026 at 320.36 in a Dodge Charger, and Jason Line and Jeg Coughlin Jr. advanced to the Pro Stock final Sunday. Line had a 6.589 at 210.01 in a Chevy Camaro to beat Dave River, and Coughlin topped Vincent Nobile with a 6.638 at 207.88 in a Dodge Dart.
Line led Pro Stock qualifying, Jack Beckman topped the Funny Car lineup, and Jerry Savoie had the Pro Stock Motorcycle lead.
Beckman, 11th in the Funny Car points and chasing Tim Wilkerson for the final Countdown to the Championship transfer spot, had a track-record time of 4.004 at 312.13 in his Dodge Charger. In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Savoie ran a 6.878 at 194.18 on a Suzuki.
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