MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Friday night, Tony Schumacher was having what could best be described as a bad day. When Monday finally rolled around, things were much better.

Schumacher and his Alan Johnson-tuned US Army Top Fuel dragster earned their second straight event win at the NHRA O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals, pushed back a day by Sunday rains.

For the second time this year, former series champion Schumacher took care of reigning titleholder and current points leader Larry Dixon when a trophy was on the line. Just as he did in Chicago - Johnson's first weekend with the Army- Schumacher drove away from Dixon's powerful rail, posting a 4.581 at 317.79 mph to Dixon's 4.651 at 316.52 mph.

The win was also important for Schumacher in the overall standings, for it moved him within one point of third-place driver Darrell Russell.

"To come out and post low E.T. of the first two rounds and then take out Larry Dixon in the final out of the right-hand lane says it all. Alan Johnson [crew chief] and this collection of guys are the best in the business. When next year starts we'll be right in the championship chase from the word go."

Schumacher made news on Friday night with a horrific crash during his second qualifying run. Paired with Dixon, Schumacher saw his Murf McKinney-built dragster buckle and collapse in half at the 1,000-foot mark. The car then twisted high in the air, falling to the track hard. Fortunately, Schumacher walked away from the crash virtually unscathed and used the spare for the rest of the weekend.

"No question, this win is special," said Schumacher, who was racing in his third straight final. "When you have a wreck like we did, the first thing you think of after you realize that you're okay is that you've ruined a great racecar. Well, apparently we have more than one great racecar because this back-up one was unreal today."

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Schumacher's rebound from his spectacular accident Friday evening was astonishing. Driving the back-up U.S. Army dragster, Schumacher didn't miss a beat, posting the quickest pass of the first two elimination rounds with a 4.56 against Dave Grubnic and a 4.57 versus Clay Millican. Schumacher slowed slightly in the semifinals opposite Doug Kalitta, running a 4.61, which awarded lane choice to Dixon in the money round. But it didn't seem to matter as he took care of business in the same lane where his wreck occurred.

Another major turn in the points race came in Funny Car, as Schumacher teammate Whit Bazemore overtook Tony Pedregon in the overall standings with a win over Dean Skuza in the flopper finals.

After chasing Tony Pedregon for the last 14 races, Bazemore has moved into the POWERade lead by seven points after his 4.894-second, 309.42-mph victory over Dean Skuza, who clicked off early and posted a 5.225 at 227.50 mph.

"So many people have helped me get here," Bazemore said. "This win, and moving into the points lead, is for all of them. And I know there is a long way to go with five races left on the schedule, but this is quite a feeling."

Skuza - who received a great deal of help from most of the other teams in rebuilding his car after blowing up in a semifinal win over John Force - reached the finals by knocking out Gary Scelzi in the first round, while Bazemore took out San Luis Obispo's Ron Capps in the semifinals.

Pro Stock points leader Greg Anderson added to his massive advantage with a come-from-behind win over defending series champ Jeg Coughlin, Jr. Anderson rose to the occasion and took his ninth win of the year by the closest margin of victory all day, a .0052-second advantage. After yielding a .025- to .031-second edge at the light, Anderson caught and passed Coughlin, posting a 6.814 at 202.67 mph to Coughlin's 6.825 at 200.95 mph.

Reggie Showers, the NHRA's only competing double-amputee, doubled his career win total with his second straight event title, beating Star Racing teammate Fred Collis.

The series returns to action this weekend in Chicago, followed the next weekend by a return to Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pa. for a rain make-up.

Rob Geiger of NHRA.com contributed to this report.

Sept. 23, 2003