Don Schumacher
Don Schumacher began his drag racing adventure in the 1960s in one of the first AA/Funny Cars to be introduced. As a driver, Schumacher, who was known as the “The Shoe,” is remembered for his unequaled record in match races across the country and in the national event circuit. While the sport was in the early stage of organization, he won the 1972 Coca-Cola Cavalcade of Stars Championship, the 1973 AHRA World Championship, five NHRA national event titles and nine IHRA event titles. His Plymouth that he drive to a U.S. Nationals victory. As a car owner in the 1970s, Schumacher’s record was even more impressive. His engine, clutch, and aerodynamic advancements made his Funny Cars the leading performer in the country. His safety innovations, such as roof-mounted escape hatches, reduced the threat of fire-related injuries at a time when many Funny Car drivers suffered serious burns.
In late 1974, Don announced his retirement from drag racing to devote his full efforts to his family and to his family business. Retirement may have taken Don away from active participation in the sport, but his love of it was always there, and in 1998, he returned to NHRA competition as a team owner. It was immediately apparent that Schumacher had not lost his zeal or knowledge of what it took to win in a highly competitive arena. In his first full season as an owner, Team Schumacher and driver Tony Schumacher captured the 1999 NHRA Top Fuel series championship. Tony collected a second Top Fuel championship in 2004 and a third in 2005.
In 2001, Don Schumacher added the Matco Tools Funny Car that qualified No.1 nine times, won three races in seven final rounds, and recorded the fastest speed in NHRA Funny Car history of 325.69 miles per hour. Later he added Scotty Cannon’s Oakley Funny Car as the number 2 Funny car for the team. The team finished the 2001 campaign in second place in the final point standings. In 2002, Bazemore won twice, placing fifth in points, while Cannon came in eighth in the standings.
For 2003, Schumacher added a third Funny Car for Gary Scelzi, also sponsored by Oakley. The 2003 season saw a close battle for the Funny Car championship between Bazemore and Tony Pedregon with Bazemore closing the season with three victories and three No. 1 qualifying efforts.
In 2004, Cannon returned to Pro-Mod competition and Schumacher fielded two Funny Cars for most of the year, adding a research-and-development Funny Car, the Wonder Wagon, for Johnny Gray later in the season. Scelzi won three national events, became the first Funny Car driver to reach 330 mph, and ended the year third in points; Bazemore won two events, was No. 1 qualifier four times, and finished sixth in the point standings.
2005 saw Don Schumacher Racing add its first Funny Car championship to its three Top Fuel Championships with Gary Scelzi taking the crown. Overall, Schumacher has built a high-profile, multi- car NHRA program that consists of two Top Fuel teams, four Funny Car teams, two Pro Stock Motorcycle teams and one Pro Stock team. Schumacher is one of the few people involved in the sport who has enjoyed success as an owner/driver and a team owner and has seen his son capture three Top Fuel championships. While putting this winning combination together, he has continued to run his successful electronics manufacturing company.