BRISTOL, Tenn. 7 Tony Schumacher broke his own Bristol Dragway record in taking the No. 1 spot in Top Fuel during Saturday/s qualifying for the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.

Schumacher, driving the U.S. Army dragster owned by father Don and tuned by Santa Maria/s Alan Johnson, posted the best time of the day with a 4.526-second run at 324.36 mph for his 10th career pole. The 4.526 broke the record that he set during Friday/s action, where he set a 4.529 in the second pass of the day.

"Half my wins and more than half my low qualifiers have been with Alan and that/s all happened in the last year," Schumacher said. "He/s incredible. Plus, I would bet half the times I ended up runner-up at a race it was against one of Alan/s cars."

Schumacher opens today/s eliminations against No. 16 qualifier Rhonda Hartman-Smith.

Whit Bazemore held form in Funny Car, staying on top with his Friday-night time of 4.770 at 321.27 for Schumacher/s flopper camp. The rest of the top four 7 Cruz Pedregon (4.815), John Force (4.817), and points leader Del Worsham (4.821) - remained exactly the same as they were Friday.

Jerry Toliver, driving the Shick Quattro Toyota he co-owns with Johnson, ended up 13th with a best run of 4.924-293.35, while teammate Jim Head ended up just on the outside looking in, ending up 17th at 5.102-289.69, one spot out of the elimination field.

Ron Capps and his Skoal Green Camaro out of Don Prudhomme/s Snake Racing dropped down to 11th with a best run of 4.870-316.90; Gary Sclezi, another of Schumacher/s Funny Car drivers, ended up ninth at 4.857-319.52.

Greg Anderson continued his dominance in Pro Stock, clinching his 11th straight No. 1 spot with a track-record 6.790-202.52 from Friday, well ahead of teamamte Jason Line/s final pass of 6.839-201.13. Kurt Johnson remained in third with his 6.841-201.13 from Friday.

May 2, 2004