Tucson Dragway

BAYTOWN, Tex., March 27 - Still mourning the loss of fellow NHRA competitor, Eric Medlen, U.S. Army drivers Tony "The Sarge" Schumacher, Angelle Sampey and Antron Brown will travel to Houston Raceway Park (HRP) here this weekend for the O'Reilly Spring Nationals. Medlen, who drove a Funny Car for John Force Racing, died last Friday of complications from a closed head injury which was the result of a crash during testing at Gainesville (Fla.) Raceway on March 19. Funeral services for the 33-year-old are set for Wednesday in Brownsburg, Ind. "Whenever something like this occurs in the NHRA family, it's tough to go forward," said Schumacher, who pilots the U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster. "But, I'm confident that Eric would want us to move on with life, which includes racing. He will definitely be with all of us in spirit out in Texas." "I'm still upset by Eric's passing," added Sampey, who handles the controls of one of the two U.S. Army Suzukis. "Events like these really make you think about what's important in life. Like Tony said, though, we will all have to find a way to keep going. We'll have to be there for each other, if needed." "Eric will never be forgotten by any of us," offered Brown, Sampey's Pro Stock Motorcycle teammate. "He was part of my extended family and I will miss him very much. With that said, racing has to continue. Eric would have wanted it that way, I guarantee you." For Schumacher, he's hoping his winning performance at the ACDelco Gatornationals carries over to the O'Reilly Spring Nationals. "We had a good weekend down in Florida," said the Chicago native. "Hopefully, we'll have another good run out in Houston. I'm sure it will be yet another battle given all of the talent that's in the Top Fuel class this year." Schumacher, who posted his only victory at HRP in 2005, is currently second in the standings, 39 points removed from Rod Fuller at the top. While Schumacher enjoyed his Florida trip two weeks ago, Sampey and Brown returned home from the Sunshine State in a less than great mood. Despite qualifying first and third, respectively, each went out in the first round via "hole shots." Sampey had qualified number one with a national record setting pass of 6.911-seconds. "I was guilty as charged," said Sampey, a three-time world champion, about getting beat due to a late starting line reaction time. "We both have to do a better job this weekend, that's for sure." "We were our own worst enemies in Gainesville," said Brown. "We had terrific Suzukis for race day, but we threw it all away. I'm looking forward to making things right this weekend. Like our soldiers, we're not quitters." ESPN2 will air qualifying highlights from 7-9 p.m. EDT on Saturday, March 31, with final eliminations coverage scheduled for 4-7 p.m. EDT on Sunday, April 1.