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POWER PLAY; Sitting through history has never been so much fun.(Special Report)
Byline: BILL STEPHENS
It's not often the NHRA Powerade series racks up a ton of historic milestones simultaneously in all three four-wheeled categories. Usually something big breaks in Top Fuel, Funny Car or Pro Stock, but rarely do all three record books get rearranged in the same season.
Welcome to 2005.
The 23-race NHRA drag racing tour dished up a slew of unforgettable Ohmygods almost from the moment opening day fired up in February. And to everyone's delight, one championship wasn't decided until three hours before the season ended. Nice.
Heavy favorites heading into Top Fuel for 2005 were reigning champion Tony Schumacher and his relentless adversary Doug Kalitta. Schumacher was looking for his third overall title to add to his 1999 and 2004 collection, while Kalitta's best points finishes were second the two previous years.
Powered by the near-infallible tuning genius of crew chief Alan Johnson, Schumacher was either first or second in the points after all but one national event. But one glaring stat represents the quarter-mile Waterloo, which sunk Kalitta's championship hopes. Kalitta suffered eight first-round losses, while Schumacher fell but twice in the opening frame. Game, set and match to Schumacher.
Schumacher's remarkable stretch drive piled up five consecutive victories, 20 consecutive round wins, seven straight final-round appearances and 11 No. 1 qualifying slots-all Top Fuel records. He also won the championship by 415 points-another record.
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