Schumacher wins Top Fuel at Route 66 NHRA Nationals

JOLIET, Ill. (AP) Tony Schumacher earned his 80th career victory when he won the Top Fuel category on Sunday at the Route 66 NHRA Nationals.

Schumacher secured his third win of the season with a 3.844-second pass at 320.20 mph, beating Larry Dixon's 3.932 at 298.93 in the final round. The defending world champion is five victories from tying Pro Stock's Bob Glidden for third on the career wins list in any NHRA professional category.

''That was a fun race,'' said Schumacher, who moved into the Top Fuel points lead with the win. ''Our crews are so good and win so many races. There are no easy races. Just proud to be in the position we're in. When we've had to win and it positively had to be done, we've been great at that. You have to be great every day and you have to be better than that some days.''

Tommy Johnson Jr. (Funny Car), Allen Johnson (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana Jr. (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won at the NHRA series stop outside of Chicago.

Johnson Jr. got his first win since Bristol last season. He beat defending world champion Matt Hagan by driving his Dodge Charger R/T to a 4.259 at 245.27. Hagan lost traction at the starting line.

Allen Johnson secured his 25th career victory with a 6.624 at 209.88 in his Dodge Dart, outlasting Charlotte winner Larry Morgan's 6.667 at 210.18. Johnson moved within one win of tying Lee Shepherd and Dave Connolly for ninth on the career Pro Stock victories list.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Arana Jr. defended his Chicago win from last season with a 6.918 at 194.66 on his Buell, defeating two-time world champ Matt Smith in the final.