2006 O'Reilly Mid-South NHRA Nationals

Schnitz sits 9th

Memphis, Friday: After a long rain delay, Ryan Schnitz put in a solid run on the Trim-Tex/Muzzy's Buell to place the bike 9th in the Pro Stock Motorcycle order in the only round of qualifying run Friday for the NHRA O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals at Memphis Motorsports Park.

qualifying round 1: 9th, 7.156 at 184.32 mph 

"We got hit with a really big rain storm and all the teams got soaking wet and had to clean their bikes up," reported Schnitz. "That put a damper on things and made for a long day, especially with the heat and humidity.

"Ours wasn't a really quick pass, but we had a clean run. It looks like it may be a horsepower issue and we may be changing motors tomorrow. If we don't, we'll just look over this one and try and run quicker with it.

"Our test session this past week went really well. We made nine clean passes and kinda got back on track with the bike and the crew and everything, so we're confident that we're gonna improve tomorrow as long as the weather holds out."

Schnitz out in second round

Just before rains moved over Memphis Motorsports Park and postponed NHRA O'Reilly Midsouth Nationals eliminations 'til Monday, Ryan Schnitz put a beautiful .003 light on G.T. Tonglet to take the round 1 win and keep his weekend rolling. But Monday didn't last long for Ryan, as eventual runner-up Antron Brown used a 1.065 60 foot time to propel his bike past Schnitz's Trim-Tex/Muzzy's Buell and into the semis.
 
eliminations round 1
(W)Ryan Schnitz     .003     7.237 at 182.45 mph
      GT Tonglet         .019     7.241 at 183.89 mph
 
eliminations round 2
(W)Antron Brown     .049     7.095 at 185.03 mph
      Ryan Schnitz     .039     7.177 at 183.94 mph
 
"I wish my light against Antron had been a little better," said Schnitz, who was doing the numbers and trying to figure what could have given his red bike the win. "Our clutch set-up was a little soft, and that may have hurt us three hundredths or so. But that .09 was pretty stout. Antron ran a really great pass.
 
"I think the Army Suzukis (Antron, along with Angelle Sampey) have come up with some reliable power with their larger displacement. When they get the fuel injection they should get even more fast and consistent, and they'll be more flexible in their tuning. It's our job to try and stay up there and compete with them."
 
Schnitz will get his next chance to compete against the Army team and all of the other Pro Stock Motorcycle competitors September 1-4 at Indianapolis, not too awful far from his hometown of Decatur, Indiana. "Indy's our home race, and we're gonna have a lot of family and friends at that event. We're looking forward to competing in the Ringer's Glove Battle as well as the U.S. Nationals. It should be a lot of fun. Hopefully the weather will be a little better than was here in Memphis (hot and humid with showers). It should be a lot of fun, and maybe we'll walk away with a Wally."
 
Schnitz thanked Trim-Tex Drywall Products, Muzzy's, Schnitz Racing, Bates Leathers and NGK.

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