Tough Talk Adds Fire to What Should Be Epic NHRA Top Fuel Battle

• Is a Steve Torrence, Tony Schumacher throwdown and showdown in the NHRA Camping World Top Fuel class just media hype?

• No fewer than six others are legitimate contenders for Top Fuel crown

• NHRA racers prep for season-opening weekend at Pomona, Calif., Feb 17-20

Inevitably, NHRA Camping World Drag Racing followers will compare Top Fuel champions Steve Torrence and Tony Schumacher, now that they’ll be back on the dragstrip together full-time.

Schumacher, 52, has earned eight NHRA Top Fuel championships with three different crew chiefs, set records that remain untouched today, racked up a Top Fuel-leading 85 victories, and ruled the kings-of-the-sport class for a decade. His last title came way back in 2014.

Then, funding issues sidelined Schumacher altogether in 2019 and relegated him to part-time competition the past two seasons. But thanks to the philanthropic Maynard family and Scag Power Equipment, Schumacher has returned.

Torrence, 38, still basking in the giddy glow of his fourth straight championship at last November’s season finale, cheekily said, “I’m going to tell him, ‘You left, and I’m the sheriff now.’”

At the PRO Nitro Spring Training test sessions at Chandler, Ariz., this week, Schumacher laughed and said, “That's what makes our sport so awesome, man. I think we've had good battles. It makes it fun, man. He’s gone on and tried to take what I had. And unfortunately, I wasn't here to stop him. So now we are.

“And, look,” Schumacher said, “we can blow smoke up both our asses and tell us we’re the two sheriffs or whatever. But there are some bad-to-the-bone cars out here. I sure don't want to be the one talking smack, looking around at the group. We got an epic battle ahead of us this year. We'll all stay humble till the end of the year, because this is going to be one for the freaking books.”

Ready to duel with Torrence and Schumacher and climb onto their elite plateau are at least six legitimate contenders:

Austin Prock

With fresh funding from his previous sponsor, 26-year-old Austin Prock is back on track. The 2019 NHRA Rookie of the Year called his involuntary hiatus that saw him race just three times in the past two seasons, “a blessing in disguise” because he was able to build kick-butt superchargers. But driving is his love, and he’s at once grateful to return and gritty to barge his way to the top of the heap: “We’re building beautiful race cars. I put my blood, sweat, and tears into these cars, making them as nice as possible and as light as possible. I just can’t wait to strap into that thing again. I’ll finally be back at home.”

Doug Kalitta

Doug Kalitta, 57, is a five-time series runner-up and 49-time winner. This might just be his best chance ever to snag that elusive first series championship, now that tuning shaman Alan Johnson and an all-star crew that includes Brian Husen and Jason McCulloch are in his camp. Johnson has claimed 12 Top Fuel championships with six drivers: Gary Scelzi (3), Tony Schumacher (5), Larry Dixon (1), Shawn Langdon (1), Del Worsham (1), and Brittany Force (1).