Source: K. Reshaw/Tim Haddock
Date: 01/31/2008

Tony Schumacher, a five-time NHRA Top Fuel champion, tested a stock car for Bill McAnally Racing last week, but he said he has no intention of switching to NASCAR.

Schumacher is coming off his fourth straight NHRA Top Fuel championship and his first under the new Countdown format. He went from turning some test laps for McAnally's team, which has won a number of championships in the NASCAR Grand National Division West Series, to testing at Firebird International Raceway near Phoenix in preparation for next month's NHRA season opener in Pomona.

“I spent a day at a small oval track out near Sacramento with Bill McAnally Racing,” said Schumacher. “I had a blast. I ran about 150 laps in one of their late model cars and really got a good feel for that kind of racing.”

Schumacher's interest in stock cars has developed from a stint racing in the Richard Petty Driving Experience and in talking with NASCAR driver Mark Martin. Martin and Schumacher share the U.S. Army as sponsors on their race cars. Martin drove the No. 01 car for Ginn Racing and Dale Earnhardt Inc. that was backed by the U.S. Army last year.

“Everyone kept telling me to try it, so I hooked up with Bill McAnally,” Schumacher said. "I really appreciate those guys giving me the opportunity. Like I said, I had loads of fun.”

"At one point, they put me out on track with another one of their drivers and we got to bang around a little bit and run side-by-side. Of course, I know that it would be a lot different with a full field of cars around me. All in all, I’m happy I got this chance. Now, it’s time to return to the world I know.”

A couple of drag racers have tested the open-wheel ranks recently. Cruz Pedregon and Gary Scelzi were entered in the Chili Bowl in Tulsa, Okla. a race for USAC Midgets, earlier this month.

But Schumacher's test was nothing more than an attempt to satisfy his curiosity.

“I’m not going anywhere,” Schumacher said. “I love driving the U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster and look forward to challenging for a fifth straight title this year."

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