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NEXT: SENSORY OVERLOAD NATIONALS
DSR’s Matco dragster, Infinite Hero Funny Car look to defend
titles in two weeks at NHRA Four-Wide Nationals near Charlotte
Don Schumacher Racing and the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series are in the midst of their longest
stretch of off weekends through the last 20 races in the 24-event national tour.
And when the series resumes April 22-24 it will be at the most unique event of the series when the
40,000 horsepower fire up at once during the seventh annual Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway near
Charlotte Motor Speedway.
A year ago at Charlotte, DSR swept the nitro categories when Antron Brown in Top Fuel and Jack
Beckman left the event with NHRA Wally trophies.
The Four-Wide is the most impressive spectacle in motorsports when four nitro-fueled machines line
up side by side on one of the sport’s fastest circuits for qualifying, and then on Sunday, the first two to
cross the finish line in four-car heats advance to the next round.
For ticket information: CharlotteMotorSpeedway.com or NHRA.com
Brown, Matco/U.S. Army team get DSR back on track
with victory at Las Vegas in NHRA Mello Yello Series
The desert was a fitting place for Don Schumacher Racing to end a drought and that’s what Antron
Brown and the Matco Tools/U.S. Army team accomplished Sunday when they won the NHRA Nationals
outside of Las Vegas.
Brown and his team led by crew chiefs Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald with assistant Brad Mason,
delivered the first Mello Yello Drag Racing Series title of the young season to DSR dragsters that ended
a dry spell during which DSR’s three Top Fuel teams were unable to advance past the second round of
the first three events.
“It’s huge, especially considering where
we came from. We had a rough start to this
year, and it’s just the way it goes
sometimes,” Brown said.
“We had a couple of things we had to
change – we had to change our (tuning)
combination around because we have
different parts and pieces. We started off
and it wasn’t like our car wasn’t running
well. It was running great.
“You come out and you just want to win
and you want to win early but then you end
up pushing too hard. On race day today, the
car was just like a bracket car. It ran 3.84
seconds, an .84, an .82 and an .84. It did
exactly what it needed to do to get us these
round wins.
“This has made us learn more and grow
more, and you’re able to get results like that
after learning from when things aren’t going
right.”
The 55th win of Brown’s professional
career that includes 16 in Pro Stock
Motorcycle, moved the reigning and twotime Top Fuel world champion to second in
points after starting the weekend ranked
10th. He now trails points leader Brittany
Force of John Force Racing by 38 points
after the fourth of 24 events in the Mello
Yello Series.
In Funny Car at Las Vegas, Jack
Beckman and the Infinite Hero Dodge
Charger R/T Funny Car team that is
funded by Terry Chandler, led DSR by
advancing to the second round after
winning the pole with his eighth track
record elapsed time.
“We've been great at getting green
hats this year. That's what you get for
being the No. 1 qualifier,” said Beckman,
who has won three of four poles this
season. “We want the yellow hat - that's
the one you get for winning the final
round. So we have to keep picking
away.”
Two weeks before the Las Vegas
visit, the Infinite Hero team led by
crew chief Jimmy Prock with assistants John Medlen and Chris Cunningham, set the NHRA
national elapsed time record with a run in 3.879 seconds in the Gatornationals at Gainesville,
Fla.
Will Truitt brewing new career after 12 years at DSR
Don Schumacher Racing general
manager Will Truitt leaves DSR today to
pursue a business career outside of
motorsports that will allow him to spend
more time at his Indianapolis home with
his young family including a 21-monthold daughter.
He will be the vice president of
operations for Quaff ON! Brewing and
Big Woods restaurants, which opens its
fourth location in early May in Speedway,
Ind.
Will, 35, began working at DSR upon
graduating in 2004 from Eastern Illinois
University. He began working in DSR’s
hospitality operations and show car
program, then spent five years in public relations and marketing before becoming GM in July
2011.
During his career at DSR, the largest team in professional racing has won 242 of its 268 NHRA
national event titles and 13 of 14 NHRA world championships.
“Will started at DSR as a show car driver and, once he got his foot in the door, excelled at
every step of his DSR career,” Don Schumacher said. “We appreciate everything Will has
accomplished at DSR and wish him well in his new venture.”
The following are Will’s reflections on his stellar career at DSR:
By WILL TRUITT
When I made the decision recently to leave the sport of drag racing and my nearly 12-year
DSR tenure, I had some very good conversations about our past with our employees. Twelve
years is a lifetime in racing.
I was very fortunate to land at DSR right out of college, and to grow with them the entire
time. The Schumacher family and Mike Lewis have
been constant supporters of my career. I am very
thankful for their time working with me, developing
me and trusting me.
Below are my top-10 memories (in chronological
order) from more than 250 races, 13
championships and 242 Wally trophies.



2005 Joliet Fall Race. I had no idea, but I met
my future wife at this race. Our relationship
outlived that race quickly. We re-met at
Englishtown in 2006 and never looked back. We
have a ways to go to get to E-Town’s 47 years, but we like goals.
2006 “The Run.” Enough said! Well, a little more. “The Run” ended up No. 4 in NHRA’s Top 60
Moments celebrating its 60-year anniversary. I tried to get Tony to refer to himself in third person
as the “Fourth Greatest Moment in NHRA history” in a top-end interview in Indy. He’s always
game for a good laugh, but he chickened out, or forgot, or got distracted by a squirrel. What were
we talking about?
2008 Army Top Fuel Win Streak. When we lost in the second round in Norwalk, I never would
have thought that would be my last short Sunday for three months. Starting in Denver they kept
winning, and winning and winning, just like the Energizer bunny.







2008 Mike Lewis runner-up in Top Alcohol at Reading. All of us in the office watched more
Sportsman racing that weekend than Nitro. It was great to see Mike going rounds on Sunday, and
to be able to do that at his home track with all his family there was perfect.
2009 Army Top Fuel Championship. A lot of journalists and internet experts told us it was all
over for Tony and the Army team when Alan Johnson left to start his own team in 2009. Luckily,
Tony, Mike Green and his team didn’t listen. They went on to prove everyone wrong in very
dramatic fashion. I have been watching sports my entire life, so to be involved in some way with
something like this was unbelievable. My 2009 Army TF championship ring is the only one I ever
wear to special events. It stands for heart, class, team and determination.
2012 Mike Lewis wins Hot Rod Reunion. Mike accomplished that in Paul Smith’s Brand-X
Nostalgia Funny Car. Totally Bill Murray in Caddyshack. “It’s a Cinderella Story.”
2012 Antron and Jack become World Champions. These are two of the most genuine, kind,
and positive racers in the sport. It was great to see them both become NHRA Champions.
2014 TJ back in Funny Car. He had worked with us at DSR for several years doing anything we
asked of him, and he tested nearly every one of our cars. Thanks to Terry Chandler, he returned
to driving a Funny Car, where he belongs.
2014 Ron and Tony double-up in Bristol. This race marked 10 years with DSR for me. Anytime
these two double up, I call that Vintage DSR. They have been sharing the winner’s circle at DSR
since 2005.
2015 True American Hero. Gary Linfoot, a paraplegic since his Army helicopter crashed eight
years ago, stood for the National Anthem for the first time since the accident in Bristol using
Exoskeleton technology. We were lucky to meet Gary and his wife Mari through the wonderful
Infinite Hero Foundation program. They have been tremendous
supporters of that program and Jack Beckman. They attend several
races a year, and should you run into them, take time to meet them.
Their story is amazing, and he is an American Badass.
I leave with a full heart. I will always be a DSR fan, and I look forward
to seeing our drivers continue to win races and championships.
I’ll leave with something Don told me early in my managing years. I was
standing firm on an issue, and he said, “Will, don’t look at everything as simply
black or white.” I said, “Gee, where did I learn that.” He responded, “Yes, I know,
but I want you to be a better manager than me.”
That drove me for the rest of my DSR tenure, and it will continue to drive me
throughout my career.
TV ratings for NHRA on Fox Sports 1 rocket to new high
The NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES championship round on Sunday, April 3, from Las
Vegas delivered 1,292,000 viewers on Fox Sports 1 (FS1), making it the most-watched NHRA event since
at least 2002 and more than double last year’s event on ESPN2 that aired in prime time (576,000).
In the Adult 18-49 demographic, the NHRA race scored 354,000 viewers, a 213% increase over last
year’s 113,000.
ENCORE PRESENTATION
The following press release was issued on April 1 by Don Schumacher Racing. Here is a replay in case
you missed it:
Don Schumacher to get back in the seat Monday at Las Vegas,
plots return to NHRA Funny Car competition at U.S. Nationals
LAS VEGAS (April 1, 2016) - Don Schumacher has wanted a way to help NHRA celebrate "50 Years
of Funny Cars," and the hall-of-fame driver and team owner has decided how to do it.
The five-time NHRA event winner as a driver will return to driving a Nitro Funny Car at this year's U.S.
Nationals, which is not far from his Don Schumacher Racing headquarters near Indianapolis. He won the
prestigious U.S. Nationals Funny Car title in 1970.
"It's just the right time," said Schumacher, who has been working to regain his starting-line reactions
with countless hours on a practice Christmas tree. "I'm getting better, and I'll be ready."
The process begins Monday at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway after this weekend's NHRA
Nationals when he will enter the cockpit of a new 11,000-horsepower Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car.
"It took some convincing before my wife Sarah would agree to it. She finally gave her blessing when I
promised she could be the one to direct me back to the starting line at Indy after my burnouts."
Don Schumacher Racing has stated in several press releases that the main purpose for expanding its
shop in Brownsburg, Ind., by 25,000 square feet is for a pending fourth Top Fuel dragster team. In
reality, that added space is for a fifth Funny Car in which Don will compete in U.S. Nationals and at least
five races in this year's Countdown to the Championship so he doesn't jeopardize his potential rookie-ofthe-year status for the entire Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season in 2017.
He plans to appeal to NHRA that because he has not competed as a driver for 42 years so he should
be allowed to compete for the 2017 rookie-of-the-year honor.
Another snag would appear to be that NHRA only allows one owner to field four teams in one nitro
category and DSR already has four Funny Cars.
But that won't be an issue because Schumacher's Dodge Charger R/T will be owned entered by Chris
"The Greek" Karamesines.
"I've known 'The Greek' since before I raced as a professional, and he said he'll add a Funny Car to
his Top Fuel operation so this can happen. I'll race under his ownership.
"He's been talking about wanting a younger driver on his team, and I'm perfect for that. I'm a lot
younger than he is."
Schumacher turns 72 late this year and Karamesines is 84, to adding Schumacher will drop the
average age of drivers in Karamesines' operation from 84 to 78.
"The Shoe" doesn't plan to continue his career extension past the 2017 season but will keep the
Funny Car seat in the family.
He will be replaced in 2018 by DSR vice president and his daughter Megan Fessel Schumacher, who
will be dubbed "The Slipper."
Schumacher will be available to for interviews.
"Las Vegas is the perfect spot for me to talk about The Comeback," he said. "My Funny Cars were
called Stardust because of support I received from the Stardust hotel and casino back in the day.
"And doing this today on April 1 makes it even more memorable."
NOTE: Don was unable to pursue he comeback because he was competing in a fishing
tournament and has opted to devote more time to hooking wahoo than returning to a cockpit.
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AutoImagery.com photos of the race
For DSR photos,
Contact AutoImagery.com
DSR drivers 2016: career statistics, standings
(post Las Vegas 1)
DSR TOP FUEL
ANTRON BROWN: Matco Tools/U.S. Army *2015 WORLD CHAMPION
Pts
Events
Wins
Rup Semi
Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ
W/L
2016
2nd
4
1
0
0
2
1
0
0
6-3
CAREER
338
55 (39 TF/16 PSB)
43
69
89
79
44
3 574-280
Best Time, Speed: 3.680 sec.-national record, first 3.6 (2015, Brainerd); 331.12 mph (2015, Brainerd)
TONY SCHUMACHER: U.S. Army
Pts
Events
Wins
Rup Semi
Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ
W/L
2016
8th
4
0
0
0
2
2
0
0
2-4
CAREER
436
80
58
68
116
106
79
8
744-348
Best Time, Speed: 3.719 sec. (2015, Topeka); 330.55 mph (2014, Las Vegas 2)
SHAWN LANGDON: Red Fuel Powered by Schumacher/Sandvik Coromant
Pts
Events
Wins
Rup Semi
Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ
W/L
2016
13th
4
0
0
0
0
4
0
0
0-4
CAREER
168
11
14
32
51
57
18
3 200-154
Langdon’s Best Time, Speed: 3.662 Sec. (quickest ever, 2015, Brainerd); 334.15 mph (with Alan Johnson Racing)
DSR FUNNY CAR
RON CAPPS: NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T
Pts
Events
Wins
Rup
Semi Qtr
1st rd Poles DNQ
W/L
2016
3rd
4
1
1
0
1
0
1
1
8-2
CAREER
463
46 (45 FC/1 TF)
46
82
94
176
18
19 580-398
Best Time, Speed: 3.885 sec., (2015, Pomona 2); 327.19 mph (2015, St. Louis)
JACK BECKMAN: Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T
Pts
Events
Wins
Rup
Semi Qtr
1st rd Poles DNQ
W/L
2016
4th
4
0
0
1
3
0
3
0
5-4
CAREER
232
22
22
42
66
73
18
7
302-203
Best Time, Speed: 3.879 sec.-national record (2016, Gainesville); 329.26 (2016, Gainesville)
MATT HAGAN: Mopar Express Lane/Rocky Boots Dodge Charger R/T
Pts
Events
Wins
Rup
Semi Qtr
1st rd Poles DNQ
W/L
2016
10th
4
0
0
0
1
3
0
0
1-4
CAREER
172
18
18
23
55
54
21
4 226-150
Best Time, Speed: 3.879 sec.-quickest ever (2015, Brainerd); 331.45 mph-national record (2015, Pomona 2)
TOMMY JOHNSON JR.: Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger R/T
Pts
Events
Wins
Rup
Semi Qtr
1st rd Poles DNQ
W/L
2016
11th
4
0
0
0
1
3
0
0
1-4
CAREER
378
12 (10 FC/2 TF)
21
49
90
161
13
44 299-322
Best Time, Speed: 3.891 sec. (2015, Pomona 2); 326.08 mph (2015, Pomona 2)
2016 NHRA MELLO YELLO STANDINGS – (through Las Vegas 1)
(Official after Las Vegas 1; four of 24 events; wins in parenthesis, DSR drivers in CAPS)
TOP FUEL
FUNNY CAR
1. Brittany Force (1)
307
----1. Robert Hight (1)
341
2. ANTRON BROWN (1) 269
-38
2. John Force
294
3. Doug Kalitta
267
-40
3. RON CAPPS (1)
289
4. Steve Torrence (1)
249
-58
4. JACK BECKMAN
271
5. Clay Millican
242
-65
5. Del Worsham
283
6. JR Todd
229
-78
6. Courtney Force
265
7. Dave Connolly
217
-90
7. Chad Head
236
8. Terry McMillen
209
-98
8. Alexis DeJoria (1)
233
9. TONY SCHUMACHER 190
-117
9. Tim Wilkerson (1)
221
10. Leah Pritchett (1)
188
-119
10. MATT HAGAN
150
13. SHAWN LANGDON
130
-177
11. TOMMY JOHNSON JR. 149
----47
-52
-70
-78
-96
-105
-108
-120
-191
-192
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DSR track records – through Las Vegas 1 2016
TRACK
Atlanta
Brainerd
Bristol
Charlotte
Chicago
Dallas
Denver
Englishtown
Top Fuel ET
Epping
Schumacher 3.742 2015
Gainesville
Houston
Indy
Las Vegas
Norwalk
Phoenix
Pomona
Reading
Seattle
St. Louis
Sonoma
Topeka
Top Fuel MPH
Funny Car ET
Funny Car MPH
Massey 332.75 - 2015
Hagan 3.879-2015
Hagan 329.58-2015
Massey 332.18 - 2012
Johnson 3.971 - 2015
Hagan 322.27 - 2011
Beckman 3.909 - 2015
Beckman 326.32 - 2015
Beckman 3.879-2016
Beckman 329.26-2016
Beckman 3.936 - 2015
Beckman 3.9116, 2016
Hagan 3.973 - 2015
Beckman 323.74 - 2015
Hagan 331.45-2015
Massey 328.30 - 2015
Beckman 3.884 - 2015
Beckman 3.897
Beckman 3.912 - 2015
Hagan 3.883 - 2015
Beckman 3.921 - 2015
Massey – 7
Schumacher – 2
Langdon – 1
Beckman – 8
Hagan – 3
Johnson - 1
Hagan – 6
Beckman – 4
Schumacher 3.745 - 2015
Brown 3.729 - 2015
Brown 3.725 - 2015
Schumacher 3.726 - 2015
Massey 329.91 – 2012
Massey 327.91 - 2015
Massey 329.02 - 2015
Massey 330.07 - 2015
Schumacher 328.54 - 2014
Brown 3.722 - 2015
Langdon 332.67 - 2015
Hagan 322.96 - 2015
Schumacher 329.91 - 2015
Brown 3.701
Brown 3.707 - 2015
Brown – 5
Schumacher – 3
Beckman 322.88 - 2015
Hagan 330.47 - 2015
Hagan 325.77 - 2015
And don’t forget to follow us:
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ABOUT DON SCHUMACHER RACING
Don Schumacher Racing, headquartered near Indianapolis in Brownsburg, Ind., fields seven professional NHRA
teams in the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. In Top Fuel, the U.S. Army dragster driven by eight-time world
champion Tony Schumacher, the 2012 and 2015 NHRA Top Fuel world champion Matco Tools/U.S. Army dragster
driven by Antron Brown and the Red Fuel/Sandvik Coromant dragster driven by 2013 world champion Shawn
Langdon; and in Funny Car, two-time world champion Matt Hagan in the Mopar Express Lane/Rocky Boots 2016
Dodge Charger R/T, 2012 NHRA world champion Jack Beckman in the Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge, the NAPA
AUTO PARTS Dodge of Ron Capps and the Make-A-Wish Dodge driven by Tommy Johnson Jr.
DSR has won 268 NHRA national event titles and 14 world championships.
Follow Don Schumacher Racing at ShoeRacing.com, on Twitter at @shoeracing and Facebook.com/shoeracing
Leah Vaughn
[email protected]
Jeff Wolf
[email protected]
Allie Bland
[email protected]