schumacher, u.s. army team take big bite out of...
TRANSCRIPT
Schumacher, U.S. Army team take big bite out of Gatornationals as DSR heads to Las Vegas this week seeking its 300th Wally
Tony Schumacher added to his near endless list of NHRA records on March 19 when he and the U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster team led by crew chief Mike Green and assistant Phil Shuler dominated the field in the 48th annual NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville, Fla. The weekend marked Schumacher’s 83rd Mello Yello event title after the team earned its 81st No. 1 qualifying position with a track record elapsed time of 3.682 seconds. It isn’t easy for Tony Schumacher to find a record to set in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series because he is the most successful driver in Top Fuel history. “The Sarge” became the winningest Top Fuel driver at the track making it the 10th of 21 tracks on the 24-race Mello Yello tour at which he is the all-time winner.
Sunday’s win gave him the wins lead in the Gators after he was tied with Don Garlits, Joe Amato and Larry Dixon with four.
BROWNSBURG, INDIANA - March 29, 2017
DSR veteran crew chief Phil Shuler wins in third race back working with Mike Green.
DSR’s seven teams are heading west for The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to begin racing Friday where Schumacher will look to extend his records there for most wins (eight) and poles (nine).
“Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to be put on lists with “Big Daddy” Don Garlits and Joe Amato. Those guys are legends. And throw in Larry Dixon, who is just a tough competitor that I battled with for so long and had a true rivalry with for a long time. To do something that no one else has done is a huge accomplishment.” DSR, which has won all three Top Fuel titles and poles this season, won its 298th title at Gainesville. If DSR is able to win multiple titles at the same event for the 67th time since 2003 it will reach 300 NHRA Wally trophies. Schumacher held second in points when he was able to beat DSR teammate and three-time world champion Antron Brown and the Matco Tools in the final round. Schumacher’s 3.703-second run at 329.26 mph topped Brown’s 3.764 (322.65).
“It was all laid out for us, but we were running Antron Brown, who is a three-time world champion and great driver. The cars were within a few thousandths of a second of each other in the semifinals, so there’s nothing easy about it. You just have to step up. Do your job and be a machine to make the most of the opportunity. Those are great moments. And those are the moments you are going to remember for a long, long time. You were put in a position to do it surrounded by people capable of the moment and you did it. That’s what it’s all about.” DSR holds the top-three spots in Top Fuel with Leah Pritchett holding the No. 1 position despite losing for the first time this year when Doug Kalitta used a quicker reaction time at the starting line in the second round that dropped her record to 9-1. In Funny Car, DSR left without a trophy for the first time this year, but two-time winner Matt Hagan and the Mopar Express Lane 2017 Dodge Charger R/T powered by Pennzoil remains atop the standings with teammates Ron Capps (NAPA AUTO PARTS) in third, Tommy Johnson Jr. (Make-A-Wish team funded by Terry Chandler) in fourth and Jack Beckman (Chandler’s Infinite Hero Dodge) in eighth.
NEXT RACE: Friday-Sunday at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Tony Schumacher takes a selfie at Gainesville that includes a couple fans and NHRA hall-of-fame photographer Teresa Long.
Leah beats Papa John to take Round 1 of Charity Challenge The 2017 Charity Challenge Series pitting “Papa John” Schnatter against Leah Pritchett, driver of the Papa John’s Pizza Top Fuel dragster, opened Saturday during the Gatornationals and Leah posted the win to take a 1-0 lead in the five-race series. DSR owner Don Schumacher and Papa John have each pledged $10,000 for each Challenge race with the money going to the Infinite Hero Foundation. Former Marine and Purple Heart recipient Mike Edwards, who represents IHF, accepted the check. Leah won with a run of 9.560 seconds at 148.54 mph in her supercharged Mopar Gen III HEMI® engine in a 2017 Dodge Challenger configured for drag racing after John’s Camaro had mechanical problems at the starting line. The fun feud began during last year’s prestigious U.S. Nationals over Labor Day Weekend near Indianapolis when she drove a borrowed street-legal racecar and edged past John in his prized 1971 Camaro Z28, the same car he bought for $1,600 when he was 15 years old from money he made washing dishes at Rocky's Sub Pub in his hometown of Jeffersonville, Ind. He eventually sold it to keep his dad out of bankruptcy and start the first Papa John's pizzeria. In 2009, he was reunited with his cherished Camaro that has been highly modified for speed. The next Charity Challenge race will be on April 29 during the Four Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway followed by events planned at Norwalk, Ohio (June 24), Indianapolis during the U.S. Nationals over Labor Day Weekend and other venues to be announced.
Leah Pritchett's first win over ‘Papa John’ Schnatter in the five-race 2017 Charity Challenge earned a $20,000 donation for the Infinite Hero Foundation from Schnatter and Don Schumacher. Mike Wilson of IHF accepts the donation on behalf of Infinite Hero.
‘Papa John' Schnatter takes a break to share some pizza with Ron Capps at Gainesville.
DSR’s Antron Brown will host new Top Gear America show on BBCA Hey world, here comes Antron. Three-time NHRA Top Fuel world champion Antron Brown will soon take the world by storm as a host on the new Top Gear America television show that will air through the British Broadcasting Company America (BBCA). Brown, a native of New Jersey who lives near Indianapolis, will host Top Gear America with actor and racing enthusiast William Fichtner and auto journalist Tom “Wookie” Ford on each of eight hour-long episodes to begin airing later this year. Top Gear America will review state-of-the-art vehicles, along with vehicles from America’s car culture past. The show will put viewers in the passenger seat as they race the most incredible vehicles on the scenic highways and historic tracks of the American west. “Somebody better pinch me,” Brown said of his new role as a TV host. “We’ve started filming and it’s just a blast. I won’t be going 330 mph like I do in Don Schumacher Racing’s Matco Tools/U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster but we’ll be in some awesome and crazy rides. “I’ve been interviewed a lot but I’m a rookie at being a host.” Fichtner has appeared in acclaimed movies Black Hawk Down, The Dark Night and Armageddon. Ford writes for Top Gear magazine and TopGear.com. “Man, those guys are a lot of fun to be around, and they’re both big-time car guys,” said Brown, who owns 61 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series titles along with winning world championships the past two seasons and in 2012. “We’re going to do some crazy stuff.” Top Gear America is an offshoot of the vastly popular Top Gear UK that is in the midst of its 24th series on BBC America on Sunday nights. It’s the third attempt to try to make the show work in America that began with an NBC pilot in 2008 and five seasons on the History Channel until recently. “Bill, Antron and Wookie are serious gearheads who never take themselves too seriously. It will be quite the trip,” network president Sarah Barnett told TheGuardian.com. “We are big fans of the mix of cars, credibility and charisma that adds up to the winning formula for Top Gear, and couldn’t be happier that BBCA is now the home for the franchise in the U.S. with Top Gear America joining the original show on our network.”
Hangsterfer’s Metal Working Lubricants expands role with DSR as associate sponsor on Brown’s Matco Tools Top Fuel dragster Three-time Top Fuel world champion Antron Brown was looking to purchase a Jr. Dragster for his oldest son to compete in NHRA’s youth racing program about four years ago, and in the process was introduced to Hangsterfer’s Laboratories that specializes in the research, development and manufacturer of metalworking lubricants. That meeting four years ago, has developed into a marketing partnership with drag racing powerhouse Don Schumacher Racing, for which Brown drives for the sport’s most successful Top Fuel team of the decade. The relationship continues to grow in 2017 as Hangsterfer’s Metalworking Lubricants announced with DSR owner Don Schumacher an expanded partnership that will include a major associate sponsorship role with Brown’s Matco Tools/U.S. Army dragster team along with continued support with its vast array of straight cutting oils and technological expertise for use at
William Fichner, Brown and Tom ‘Wookie’ Ford.
Schumacher’s Don Schumacher Motorsports CNC machine shop, a sister company to the racing enterprise located in the same 145,000-square-foot headquarters near Indianapolis. Hangsterfer’s, founded in 1937 by the late Dr. William Hangsterfer, also is providing major sponsorship for brothers Matt and Zach Sackman and their family’s 200-mph Top Dragster that will compete in NHRA regional and PDRA competition. Matt is a member of Brown’s two-time reigning Top Fuel team at DSR. Hangsterfer’s Laboratories, which is based in New Jersey, and celebrating 80 years of business in 2017, produces over 300 products for a variety of applications in the metalworking industry. “We’re a family company so we respect the family aspect of the sport and the Sackman family team,” said Mike Ditzel, Hangsterfer’s Performance Racing Product Specialist whose brother, Randy Ditzel, owns Half Scale Junior Dragsters and introduced Brown to Hangsterfer’s. “We believe in supporting the sport at all levels,” he added “It’s an honor to be affiliated with DSR and Antron, and to be able to sponsor Matt and Zach and help them progress through the sport,” said Bill Jones, Hangsterfer’s Metalworking Lubricants vice president. “I’ve been talking to Matt for years and I’ve always told him that we’ll be sponsoring him someday. This year it’s finally come to full fruition. We’ve done a few races every year, and this year it’s the full deal ABOUT HANGSTERFER’S LABORATORIES Hangsterfer’s Laboratories, Inc. specializes in the research, development and manufacture of a full-line of metalworking lubricants. This includes emulsifiable oils, semi-synthetics, synthetics, straight cutting oils, drawing and forming compounds, EDM fluid and machine lubricants. Improve your surface quality and tool life when machining, grinding and forming aluminum, chrome, nickel, Stainless Steel, titanium and their alloys. All products are produced in an ISO 9001 approved facility. For more information about Hangsterfer’s Laboratories, please visit www.hangsterfers.com.
AutoImagery.com Photo Gallery from the Gators
Matt and Colby Hagan during driver introductions
Tony Schumacher took big bite out of Gators
Jack Beckman continues to see improvement
DSR DRIVERS BY THE NUMBERS – for Las Vegas 1 2017
LEAH PRITCHETT: Papa John’s Pizza Top Fuel Dragster – POINTS LEADER Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L
2017 1st 3 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 8-0 2016 7th 23 1 0 4 7 1 1 0 18-21 CAREER 73 3 1 7 13 42 3 6 41-63 Best Time, Speed: 3.658 sec. (2017, Phoenix-world record), 329.75 mph (2016, Indy) Last event (March 17-19) Gainesville, Fla.): Qualified No. 7, lost in second round to Doug Kalitta 2016 Las Vegas 1 (with Bob Vandergriff Racing): Qualified No. 11, lost in second round to Antron Brown 2016 Las Vegas 2: Qualified No. 2, lost in semifinals to event winner Steve Torrence Career at Las Vegas 1:Gainesville: Wins 0; Runner-ups 0; Poles 0 Career at Las Vegas: Wins 1 (2011 NHRA Pro Mod), Runner-ups 0, Poles 0 TONY SCHUMACHER: U.S. Army Top Fuel Dragster – WON 83rd TITLE IN GAINESVILLE Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L
2017 2nd 3 1 0 2 0 0 1 0 8-2 2016 8th 24 2 3 3 10 4 3 0 34-22 CAREER 459 83 61 72 125 109 81 8 784-368 Best Time, Speed: 3.667 sec. (Phoenix 2017); 330.55 mph (2014, Las Vegas 2) Last event (March 17-19) Gainesville): Qualified No.1, defeated DSR teammate Antron Brown in final round 2016 Las Vegas 1: Qualified No. 8, lost in first round to J.R. Todd 2016 Las Vegas 2: Qualified No. 5, lost in first round to Wayne Newby Career at Las Vegas 1: Wins 4 (track record; 2014, 2013, 2009, 2004); Runner-ups 0; Poles 3 (2006-08) Career at Las Vegas: Wins 8 (track record; 2014, 2013, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2006, 2005, 2004); Runner-ups 3 (2012, 2003, 2002; Poles 9 (track record; 2012, 2010, 2006-08, 2006-2008, 2003) ANTRON BROWN: Matco Tools/U.S. Army Top Fuel Dragster – 2-TIME REIGNING, 3-TIME WORLD CHAMP Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L
2017 3rd 3 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 6-3 2016 1st 24 7 4 6 6 2 3 0 55-17 CAREER 361 61 (45 TF/16 PSB) 48 75 94 80 47 (36/11) 3 629-297 Best Time, Speed: 3.679 sec., (2016, Brainerd; and first below 3.7, 2015, Brainerd); 331.12 mph (2015, Brainerd) Last event (March 17-19) Gainesville): Qualified No. 3, lost in final round to DSR teammate Tony Schumacher 2016 Las Vegas 1: Qualified No. 3, won in final round over Troy Buff 2016 Las Vegas 2: Qualified No. 4, lost in semifinals to J.R. Todd Career at Las Vegas 1: Wins 2 (2011, 2016); Runner-ups 3 (2013, 2012, 2008, 2001-PSM); Poles 3 (2014, 2013, 2010, Career at Las Vegas: Wins 3 (2011, 2013, 2016); Runner-ups 4 (2013, 2012, 2008, 2001); Poles 4 (2015, 2014, 2013, 2010) DSR FUNNY CAR MATT HAGAN: Mopar Express Lane 2017 Dodge Charger R/T – POINTS LEADER Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L
2017 1st 3 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 10-1 2016 3rd 24 4 2 5 7 5 5 0 40-20 CAREER 195 24 20 29 62 56 28 4 275-167 Best Time, Speed: 3.822 sec.-world record (2016, Brainerd/2017, Pomona 1); 335.57 mph-world record (2016, Topeka/2017, Pomona 1) Last event (March 17-19) Gainesville, Fla.): Qualified No. 3, lost in semifinals to Jonnie Lindberg 2016 Las Vegas 1: Qualified No. 10, lost in first round to John Force 2016 Las Vegas 2: Qualified No. 2, lost in semifinals to event winner John Force Career at Las Vegas 1: Wins 0; Runner-ups 1 (2009); Poles 1 (2015) Career at Las Vegas: Wins 0; Runner-ups 2 (2010, 2009); Poles 3 (2015, 2014, 2009) RON CAPPS: NAPA AUTO PARTS 2017 Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car – REIGNING WORLD CHAMPION Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L
2017 3rd 3 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 6-3 2016 1st 24 5 (10 finals) 5 7 5 1 4 1 54-18 CAREER 486 50 (49 FC/1 TF) 51 90 99 178 21 19 632-417 Best Time, Speed: 3.839 sec., (Phoenix, 2017); 333.58 mph, (Phoenix 2017) Last event (March 17-19) Gainesville, Fla.): Qualified No. 6, lost in second round to DSR teammate Matt Hagan 2016 Las Vegas 1: Did not qualify (No. 17) 2016 Las Vegas 2: Qualified No. 4, lost in semifinals to Courtney Force Career at Las Vegas 1: Wins 1 (2009); Runner-ups 2 (2006-07); Poles 0 Career at Las Vegas: Wins 5 (ties track record; 2012, 2011, 2009, 2005, 2001); Runner-ups 2 (2007, 2006); Poles 1 (2011)
TOMMY JOHNSON JR.: Make-A-Wish 2017 Dodge Charger R/T Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L
2017 4th 3 0 0 2 1 0 1 0 5-3 2016 2nd 24 3 3 4 9 5 1 0 38-21 CAREER 401 15 (13 FC/2 TF) 24 53 99 163 15 44 341-342 Best Time, Speed: 3.837 sec. (Phoenix 2017); 330.80 mph (Seattle, 2016) Last event (March 17-19) Gainesville, Fla.): Qualified No. 5, lost in semifinals to event winner John Force 2016 Las Vegas 1: Qualified No.11, lost in first round to Alexis event winner DeJoria 2016 Las Vegas 2: Qualified No.10, lost in first round to Del Worsham Career at Las Vegas 1: Wins 1 (2001); Runner-ups 1 (2002); Poles 0 Career at Las Vegas: Wins 1 (2001); Runner-ups 2 (2006, 2002); Poles 0 JACK BECKMAN: Infinite Hero 2017 Dodge Charger R/T Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L
2017 8th 3 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 2-3 2016 5th 24 2 3 4 10 5 6 0 35-22 CAREER 255 24 25 45 75 79 21 7 334-224 Best Time, Speed: 3.825 sec.-second quickest ever, (2016 Pomona 2); 334.15 mph (Seattle 2016) Last event (March 17-19) Gainesville, Fla.): Qualified No. 8, lost in second round to event winner John Force 2016 Las Vegas 1: Qualified No.1, lost in second round to Chad Head 2016 Las Vegas 2: Qualified No. 1, lost second round to Courtney Force Career at Las Vegas 1: Wins 0; Runner-ups 0, Poles 1( 2016) Career at Las Vegas: Wins 1 (2006); Runner-ups 2 (2012, 2009); Poles 2 (both in 2016)
2017 NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES STANDINGS (Official after Gainesville, Fla.; 3 of 24 events; wins in parenthesis; DSR drivers in CAPS)
Top Fuel Funny Car 1. LEAH PRITCHETT (2) 300 ----- 1. MATT HAGAN (2) 308 ----- 2. TONY SCHUMACHER (1) 279 -21 2. John Force (1) 238 -70 3. ANTRON BROWN 243 -57 3. RON CAPPS 235 -73 4. Doug Kalitta 220 -80 4. TOMMY JOHNSON JR. 209 -99 5. Brittany Force 202 -98 5. Courtney Force 177 -131 6. Steve Torrence 185 -115 6. Robert Hight 150 -158 7. Troy Coughlin Jr. 143 -157 7. Jim Campbell 148 -160 8. Shawn Reed 136 -164 8. JACK BECKMAN 144 -164 9. Clay Millican 133 -167 9. J.R. Todd 138 -170 10. Scott Palmer 116 -184 10. Tim Wilkerson 117 -191
NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series - 2015-17 winners (NOTE: order of events only correct for 2017) REGULAR SEASON 2015 WINNERS 2016 WINNERS 2017 WINNERS
1. 2/8-12 Pomona TF Langdon FC MATT TF Torrence FC RON TF LEAH pole FC MATT pole 2. 2/24-26 Phoenix TF TONY FC MATT TF Pritchett FC Wilkerson TF LEAH pole FC MATT pole 3. 3/17-19 Gainesville TF SPENCER FC RON TF B. Force FC Hight TF TONY pole FC J. Force pole 4. 3/31-4/2 Las Vegas TF Crampton FC J. Force TF ANTRON FC DeJoria TF FC 5. 4/21-23 Houston TF Kalitta FC RON TF Kalitta FC C. Force TF FC 6. 4/28-30 Charlotte TFTF ANTRON FC JACK* TF B. Force FC Wilkerson TF FC 7. 5/5-7 Atlanta TF ANTRON FC Wilkerson TF Kalitta FC HAGAN TF FC 8. 5/19-21 Topeka TF Crampton FC JACK-DSR’s 250 TF Kalitta FC HAGAN TF FC 9. 6/2-4 Epping TF TONY FC J. Force TF ANTRON FC CAPPS TF FC 10. 6/9-11 Englishtown TF ANTRON#50 FC MATT TF Torrence FC CAPPS TF FC 11. 6/16-18 Bristol TF Crampton FC MATT TF LANGDON FC JOHNSON TF FC 12. 6/23-25 Norwalk TF Kalitta FC JACK TF LANGDON FC CAPPS TF FC 13. 7/6-9 Chicago TF TONY FC TOMMY TF ANTRON FC BECKMAN TF FC 14. 7/21-23 Denver TF Torrence FC JACK TF TONY FC J. Force TF FC 15. 7/28-30 Sonoma TF ANTRON* FC JACK* TF J.R. Todd FC J. Force TF FC 16. 8/4-6 Seattle TF Todd FC TOMMY TF ANTRON FC CAPPS TF FC 17. 8/18-20 Brainerd TF Crampton FC Hight TF B. Force FC Worsham TF FC 18. 9/1-4 Indy TF Lucas FC JACK TF TONY FC HAGAN TF FC
Traxxas TF/Antron Traxxas/FC JACK Traxxas TF/Tony COUNTDOWN 2014 WINNERS 2015 WINNERS 19. 9/15-17 Charlotte TF ANTRON FC Worsham TF ANTRON FC J. Force TF FC 20. 9/22-24 Reading TF ANTRON FC JACK TF ANTRON FC JOHNSON TF FC 21. 9/30-10/1 St. Louis TF ANTRON FC Worsham TF LANGDON FC BECKMAN TF FC 22. 10/13-15 Dallas TF Crampton FC Worsham TF ANTRON FC HAGAN TF FC 23. 10/27-29 Las Vegas TF Kalitta FC Hight TF Torrence FC J. Force TF FC 24. 11/110-12 Pomona TF SHAWN FC Worsham TF Kalitta FC JOHNSON TF FC DSR TOTALS: TF = 12 FC = 15 TF = 12 FC = 14 TF = 3 FC = 2
DSR ALL-TIME TOTALS
16 - World championships
(Tony 8, Antron 3, Matt 2, Ron 1, Jack 1, Gary Scelzi 1)
… Have swept nitro championships 4 times …
298 - NHRA Mello Yello event titles:
Top Fuel 150
Funny Car 127
Pro Stock Motorcycle 18
Pro Stock 3
DSR 2017 SEASON TOTALS – 5
3 – Top Fuel event titles (Leah 1, Antron , Tony 1, Shawn)
2 - Funny Car event titles (Matt 2, Ron , Jack , TJ )
DSR 2016 SEASON TOTALS – 26 wins; 2 world championships
12 – Top Fuel event title (Antron 7, Shawn 3, Tony 2)
14 - Funny Car event title (Ron 5, Matt 4, Jack 2, TJ 2)
DSR 2015 SEASON TOTALS – 27 wins; 1 world championship
12 - Top Fuel event titles (Antron 7, Tony 3, Shawn 1, Massey 1)
15 - Funny Car event titles (Jack 7, Matt 4, Ron 2, Tommy 2)
DSR 2014 SEASON TOTALS – 21 wins; 2 world championships
14 - Top Fuel event titles (Antron 6, Tony 5, Massey 3)
7 - Funny Car event titles (Matt 4, Ron 2, Tommy 1, Jack 0)
ABOUT DON SCHUMACHER RACING
Don Schumacher Racing, headquartered near Indianapolis in Brownsburg, Ind., fields eight professional NHRA teams in the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. In Top Fuel, the U.S. Army dragster driven by 8-time world champion Tony Schumacher, the reigning and 3-time world champion Matco Tools/U.S. Army dragster driven by Antron Brown, the Papa John’s dragster with driver Leah Pritchett and 2013 world champion Shawn Langdon. In 2017 Dodge Charger R/T Funny Cars, two-time world champion Matt Hagan in the Mopar Express Lane Dodge, reigning world champion Ron Capps’ NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge, 2012 NHRA world champion Jack Beckman in the Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge and the Make-A-Wish Dodge driven by Tommy Johnson Jr. DSR has won 298 NHRA national event titles and 16 world championships. Follow Don Schumacher Racing at ShoeRacing.com, on Twitter at @shoeracing and Facebook.com/shoeracing
DSR COMMUNICATIONS TEAM
Jeff Wolf
702.524.1368
Leah Vaughn
Allie Bland