Schumacher claims fifth consecutive Top Fuel victory with win in Pa.

MOHNTON, Pa. -- Tony Schumacher raced to his fifth consecutive Top Fuel victory and 10th of the season Sunday, beating Larry Dixon with a 3.845-second run at 313.88 mph in the Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals.

The victory at Maple Grove Raceway also moved Schumacher within one of Top Fuel great Joe Amato's record of 52 wins.

Also, Jack Beckman raced to his second Funny Car victory of the season, beating mentor Frank Hawley with a 4.183-second run at 291.57 mph. Hawley owns a drag racing school and employs Beckman as an instructor.

Jeg Coughlin and Matt Smith also won their divisions in the 17th of 24 events on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. The weekend ended with all 10 spots in the Funny Car Countdown to the Championship playoffs claimed.

In Pro Stock, Cagnazzi teammates Jeg Coughlin and Dave Connolly met in the final round, and Coughlin drove his Chevy Cobalt to a 6.650 at 206.39 to claim an easy win after Connolly fouled out on the starting line. It was Coughlin's second win of the season and 40th of his career.

Though Connolly finished second in the event, he clinched his spot in the Countdown to 1 playoffs along with Mike Edwards and V Gaines.

Smith grabbed his fourth win of the year in Pro Stock Motorcycle, riding his Buell to a 6.957 at 188.81 past runner up Angelle Sampey.

Sampey, Matt Guidera, Eddie Krawiec, and Chris Rivas all clinched a spot in the Countdown to 1.

In Top Fuel, Doug Herbert clinched his spot in the Countdown to 1, while ninth- and 10th-place drivers Dave Grubnic and Doug Kalitta sit in final two open spots in the category. Those final invitations will be issued after the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis in two weeks.