"I can only hope that our U.S. Army Top Fuel team can deliver a victory in Bristol," said Schumacher, whose ride will sport photos of soldiers and a camouflage paint scheme. "It will be an exciting moment when we pull the cover off. I'm really happy that we'll have an opportunity to show our soldiers just how much we care about them."
Schumacher, a five-time and defending Top Fuel POWERade world champion, already has picked up two wins in 2008 and currently leads the point standings by 68 over Antron Brown (608-540). The 38-year-old driver definitely has been on a roll, having snared four consecutive championships.
"We've just got an incredible team and a hard-working bunch of guys," Schumacher said. "We're racing against some great teams and in order for us to continue to have the kind of success we've been having, you just have to keep working at it."
Schumacher will be looking to pick up his second win in Thunder Valley this weekend. He captured the 2004 Top Fuel trophy and said he looks forward to returning to Bristol.
"I always enjoy going to Thunder Valley," he said. "The fans there love racing, no matter what form it is. And, of course, given the first-class track surface that we have to race on, we typically put on a good show for them.
"Heading down there this year will be even more special than in years past since we will have a special Salute the Troops paint scheme in advance of Memorial Day. It will be a special moment when we honor the brave men and women of the U.S. Army."
Schumacher, like a number of his fellow competitors, will be pulling a double shift this weekend, as he'll also compete in the NHRA Circle Track Challenge at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 17. After a full day of action at the Dragway, Schumacher and 15 other drivers will take part in a 25-lap feature, driving street stock cars.
NHRA drivers will drive the first segment of the race, then turn their rides over to their street stock partner, the owner of the car, who then will finish the race. An NHRA winner will be crowned after the first segment and the starting positions for street stock drivers for the final segment will be determined by the finishing order of their NHRA "teammate." A second segment winner and an overall winner also will be crowned.
"I'm looking forward to participating in the Circle Track Challenge," Schumacher said. "While I have some stock car experience in the form of the Richard Petty Driving Experience and with Bill McAnally's NASCAR West team (test session), I'm clearly a rookie when it comes to this type of racing.
"Needless to say, getting around a high-speed, high-banked, short track like Bristol Motor Speedway is not going to be easy by any means. But, I'll give it my best shot. It should be a lot of fun."
The starting lineup for the Circle Track Challenge will be determined by fan voting at www.bristoldragway.com. Fans can vote until Thursday, May 15. Other drivers participating in the race are Jack Beckman, Allen Johnson, Doug Herbert, Gary Scelzi, Ron Capps, Doug Kalitta, Jeg Coughlin, Antron Brown, Greg Anderson, J.R. Todd, Cory McClenathan, Justin Humphreys, Jason Line, Kurt Johnson and Morgan Lucas.
The NHRA Circle Track Challenge, which is part of a five-event Saturday Spectacular evening at BMS, is slated to begin at approximately 7:30.
General admission tickets are $15 with children 12 and under admitted free with a ticketed adult. Anyone attending the O'Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals on Saturday can show their ticket stub at the BMS gate and receive $5 off the ticket price.
Grandstand tickets also are available for the O'Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. Grandstand ticket pricing is as follows: Friday -- Sections A - D $30 Adult / $10 Junior; Sections E - U $35 Adult / $15 Junior; Thunder Terrace $35 Adult / $15 Junior, Saturday -- Sections A - D $45 Adult / $15 Junior; Sections E - U $55 Adult / $25 Junior; Thunder Terrace $55 Adult / $25 Junior, Sunday -- Sections A - D $45 Adult / $15 Junior, Sections E - U $55 Adult / $25 Junior, Thunder Terrace $55 Adult / $25 Junior. Weekend combos are: Sections A - D $95 Adult / $30 Junior, Sections E - U $120 Adult / $50 Junior, and Thunder Terrace $120 Adult / $50 Junior.
Pricing for the Thunder Valley Club is $300 for the weekend for adults and $100 per child. Seating in Bruton's Suite is $450 per seat for the weekend.
Gates open at 8 a.m. Friday, May 16 at the Dragway with the first professional session slated to begin at 4 p.m. The second round begins later that evening at 6:30. Gates open Saturday, May 17 at 7:30 a.m. with the first round of pro qualifying set for 12:30 p.m., followed by the next round at 3 p.m.
Gates open Sunday, May 18 at 9 a.m. with final eliminations starting at noon.
To purchase Thunder Valley Club seating, call the Bristol Motor Speedway ticket office at (423) 989-6900. To purchase Bruton's Suite seats, please call Kathy Artrip 989-6973. To purchase reserved grandstand seats, please call the ticket office at 989-6900 or visit www.bristoltix.com