Tony Schumacher wins 6th straight NHRA Top Fuel title, 7th overall

Associated Press

Last update: November 15, 2009 - 8:17 PM

POMONA, Calif. - Tony Schumacher won his sixth straight and seventh overall Top Fuel championship on Sunday, beating Larry Dixon by two points in the closest season title race in NHRA history.

Schumacher was on deck, sitting on a two-point lead over Dixon, when Dixon was upset in the semifinals by Spencer Massey, clinching the title for the U.S. Army team.

"This trophy will go to Fort Hood. I don't think there's any question in the world where it belongs," Schumacher said. "We'll present it to the family, the friends, everyone at that base."

The win capped an intense battle between rivals Schumacher and Dixon. Schumacher had to completely rebuild his team during the offseason after crew chief Alan Johnson left to form his own team and hired Dixon as his driver.

Hector Arana (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won a championship on the final Sunday of the season; while the other two championships were decided Saturday as Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) clinched their titles in qualifying.

The race winners at the season-ending Auto Club NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona were Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Mike Neff (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

In the Nitro classes, Brown (3.801 at 316.90) won for the Top Fuel-best sixth time this season over Massey, who fouled out; and Neff (5.131 at 285.05) defeated teammate Ashley Force Hood (DQ, wall) in a wild pedal-fest for his first career win.

Each of the Pro Stock finals were decided by a red light as Greg Anderson (6.564 at 210.70) defeated Kurt Johnson in Pro Stock, and Eddie Krawiec (6.905 at 194.32) defeated Doug Horne in Pro Stock Motorcycle.

Recent Motorsports stories

Formula One team Williams sells minority stake to Austrian investment group - November 15, 2009

Formula One team Williams sells minority stake to Austrian investment group - Frank Williams says he is not preparing to relinquish control of the Williams Formula One team despite selling a minority stake on Friday. More

NASCAR calls Keselowski in for pre-race meeting to discuss Hamlin feud - November 15, 2009

NASCAR calls Keselowski in for pre-race meeting to discuss Hamlin feud - Brad Keselowski met with top NASCAR officials for about 20 minutes before Sunday's race at Phoenix International Raceway, where the young driver had yet another on-track run-in with Denny Hamlin. More