NHRA Quotes from Pomona

Compiled by Ian Tocher, photos by Ron Lewis, James Drew and Zak Hawthorne, 11/14/05

he 2005 NHRA Powerade Drag Racing season wrapped up Nov. 3-6 in Pomona, CA, with Tony Schumacher finishing on top once more in Top Fuel, Tony Pedregon prevailing in Funny Car, Jeg Coughlin finally winning again in Pro Stock, and Ryan Schnitz wrapping up Pro Stock Bike at the 41st annual Auto Club of Southern California Finals. The race also crowned Matt Hines as Pro Stock Motorcycle champion for the second straight season and decided the closest Funny Car points battle in NHRA history with Gary Scelzi emerging as champion over Ron Capps and John Force. And as always, the racers told the story in their own words as taken from NHRA and team press releases.

TOP FUEL

"With the momentum we have right now I really don't want to stop racing.” — Tony Schumacher on earning his 20th consecutive round win, going to the last seven final rounds, and winning the last five events—all NHRA records—after picking up the win over redlighting teammate Melanie Troxel in the Pomona final

"I wanted to go home as soon as I heard what was going on but mom specifically told me not to so this one is for her.” — Rod Fuller on holding the provisional pole with a 4.50 after one round of qualifying, referring to the news that his mother underwent an emergency liver transplant on Thursday

“Nothing is better than taking the car out of the hauler and making a good pass from the start.” — Doug Herbert on going a fifth-best 4.55 in the first round of qualifying on Thursday

“Let's not forget that we want to win the race. That's always the ultimate objective, records notwithstanding." — Schumacher after earning his 11th number-one start of the year with a 4.466-second pass at 328.78 mph, breaking the NHRA record previously held by Gary Beck and Blaine Johnson

"If the driver had gone straight at the start (of the run), it would've been a 4.49.” — Clay Millican after running an NHRA career best 4.503 to qualify sixth

“Our supercharger had no boost and as soon as I stepped on the throttle, it dropped three cylinders and that pretty much sealed my fate.” — Jack Beckman on his opening-round loss to David Baca

"What can I say, sometimes it just happens.” — Fuller on losing to a holeshot by David Grubnic in round one

"We didn't have lane choice and that put us behind before we even started the car." — Herbert after losing a side-by-side battle against Morgan Lucas in the first round that also moved Lucas into fifth place in points while dropping Herbert to sixth

“I think the butterflies in my stomach are always the worst in first round.” — Brandon Bernstein after defeating an up-in-smoke Doug Kalitta in round one