BRISTOL, Tenn. 7 Tony Schumacher is quickly taking over the Top Fuel division in the NHRA PowerAde Drag Racing series, winning with the kind of dominance that could mark a championship season.

That trend continued on Monday when Schumacher beat Clay Millican in a tire-smoking duel in the final round of the O/Reilly Thunder Valley Nationals, marking his fourth win in six events this season and extending his point lead over the rest of the field.

Santa Maria/s Alan Johnson and the U.S. Army team helped Schumacher reach his 15th career win in 35 final rounds by tuning him to a string of lightning-quick passes against Rhonda Hartman-Smith, Doug Herbert, and a red-lighting Bernstein. Bernstein posted a competitive 4.509 to Schumacher/s 4.503, but had a -.055 foul start. The run against Herbert, a 4.477 at 331.36 mph, reset the Bristol Dragway record for Top Fuel.

After the day/s action, which was held over due to heavy rains in Bristol on Sunday, Schumacher dedicated the win to his sponsor.

"Like all my victories, this is for all the soldiers fighting for our freedom," said a jubilant Schumacher. "What a great day for the Army team. We worked real hard and achieved the desired results."

Schumacher said that his win came with a little help from above.

"A father came up to me earlier this weekend and told me he lost his son, Private First Class Tommy Young, in the war," Schumacher said. "I asked his spirit to ride with us this weekend and let me tell you, when you have an angel on your wing you/re tough to beat. We won this one for him and his family. What they went through makes this look like nothing but fun and games."

The final was anything but classic, with both drivers smoking their tires right off the starting line. However, Schumacher was able to regain traction soon after and took off for the win, leaving the floundering Millican behind.

Schumacher and Johnson extended their lead in the Top Fuel points to 81 over Brandon Bernstein, a margin that accounts for just over four round wins.

"We/re only a quarter of the way through the season," said the 1999 Top Fuel world champion. You can/t let your guard down for a second with as good as the Top Fuel class is this year. We have to keep moving forward each race and not let our opponents come up for air."

The event was also of note in the Funny Car ranks when John Force, the sport/s winningest driver, claimed his first win at Bristol Dragway and his 110th career event title.

Force, who vaulted up to second in points with the win, beat old rival Whit Bazemore in the final round. The win was never in doubt as Bazemore instantly went up in smoke at the hit of the throttle. Force would have been tough to beat anyway, carding a slick 4.781 at 322.88 mph.

"(NASCAR driver) Rusty Wallace told me I was a weak dog the other day, and that I needed to just go out there and win, just get it done," Force said. "He did it a few weeks ago in Martinsville and I now I finally got my 110th, so I guess we both still have some left in the tank."

The current POWERade points standings show Force in the No. 2 position, 42 points behind Del Worsham. Bazemore advanced to sixth place, but would have been as high as fourth if not for a pair of oildowns, which cost him 25 points.

Pro Stock took on a familar look as Greg Anderson claimed his fifth win of the season and eighth in the last nine events.

Anderson took the win over Ken Black Racing teammate Jason Line, posting a steady 6.754 at 203.12 mph over Line/s 6.790 at 202.99 mph.

"We all shake our heads every day. You just never expect to run like this in this class. And to put up these kind of numbers at altitude is just another big boost for us," Anderson said. "I can/t believe it/s happening, but it sure is fun. Maybe not for everyone else, but it is for us."

With the win 7 Anderson/s 21st career title 7 the Duluth, Minn. native extended his point lead over Kurt Johnson to an astronomical 198 points, almost two full events/ worth of points.

Reports from NHRA.com contributed to this story.

May 4, 2004