Hello 2015 we re baaaack! DSR ready to pick up where it left off at Pomona

Transcription

1 Hello 2015 we re baaaack! DSR ready to pick up where it left off at Pomona One week from today, Don Schumacher Racing will open the 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series at Pomona, Calif., intent on starting the season the way the past year ended if not better. The seven-team DSR organization left Pomona in November with world championships for Tony Schumacher and the U.S. Army Top Fuel team and Matt Hagan and the Mopar Express Lane/Rocky Boots team, which also won the World Finals event title. Those accomplishments pushed DSR s world championship total to 13 with Tony adding his eighth and Matt his second. DSR s all-time best NHRA pro event title total grew to 240, including 235 in the past 16 seasons for an impressive average of 15 NHRA Wally trophies per year. The most important goal this season is for team owner Don Schumacher to be able to join his teams at the track as soon as possible. Don, who won DSR s first five titles from 1970 to 1974, is in the midst of radiation treatments after successful cancer surgery shortly after celebrating his latest world championships with his teams and family. Don attended some of the final testing sessions of the preseason two weeks ago at Palm Beach International Raceway as a good dose of nitro is an integral element of any post-surgical recovery. It also provided a boost to DSR teams and staff to see their boss although the 70-year-old Shoe hasn t missed a beat this year as he continues to lead DSR through another growth spurt. The best way to get you ready to join us for another championship season is to get a look at the DSR rockets that will run next weekend at the first of 24 events in the Mello Yello Series and that includes the new edition of the 2015 Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car body. Tony Schumacher's U.S. Army dragster and new 2015 colors Spencer Massey and the Red Fuel Powered by Schumacher/Sandvik dragster and paint scheme by DSR graphic designer Aaron Holland

2 The new Matco Tools paint scheme will be unveiled during the Matco Tools Expo. You'll have to wait until the Phoenix event to see Antron's new Matco Tools dragster! Two-time world champion Matt Hagan and the 2015 Mopar Express Lane/Rocky Boots Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car Ron Capps and the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T Tommy Johnson Jr.'s Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger R/T Jack Beckman's new Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T Photo by Mark J. Rebilas

3 HAGAN ON ICE 2-time champ enjoys day in Detroit with Dodge, Mopar family Two-time NHRA Funny Car world champion Matt Hagan hitched a ride on the Zamboni iceresurfacing machine during the Jan. 20 NHL game at Detroit between the Red Wings and Minnesota Wild. The wild ride was made available by Coca-Cola and Mello Yello to salute Hagan s 2014 championship season in the Mopar Express Lane/Rocky Boots Dodge Charger R/T. It was my first NHL hockey experience so that was a lot of fun, said Matt, who was featured in the next day s Detroit Free Press sports section. It was a really special deal to ride the Zamboni. I didn t realize how much ice they scrape up off the rink. It was really cool. The chilly ride capped Matt s day in Detroit that began with a visit to Fiat Chrysler Automobile (FCA) headquarters in Auburn Hills, Mich., for a 2014 NHRA championship victory lap for employees with SRT Road Racing champions Kuno Wittmer (IMSA/Viper) and Cameron Lawrence (TA2/Challenger). On Tuesday morning, Matt met with the engineers and designers at SRT that helped develop his 2015 Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car before touring the FCA wind tunnel where his new 2015 Dodge Charger R/T was evaluated. From there he enjoyed an hour-long autograph session with FCA employees before lunch with Mopar CEO and president, Pietro Gorlier, a photo shoot and another meet and greet with Mopar and Magneti Marelli employees. It was a jam packed day and an awesome experience, Matt said. The wind tunnel was really amazing. You hear about it and then you get to see it and it s just awesome. We had a great autograph session with the Mopar employees and then rolled right into a photo shoot for some of the Mopar calendars, posters and stuff for their dealerships. The time I got to spend with Pietro Gorlier is just invaluable. I really enjoyed that. Staggering stats for DSR in 2014 DSR now owns 13 world championship trophies and 240 NHRA event titles, which is the most by any team in the sport. DSR finished the year with 21 event titles (14 in Top Fuel, 7 in Funny Car) DSR swept nitro titles at four events bringing its total to 41 double-ups The U.S. Army team won the Traxxas Nitro Shootout in Top Fuel during the U.S. Nationals In this year s Countdown to the Championship six-race playoff, DSR s U.S. Army and Mopar/Rocky teams each won three titles in their respective categories. In Top Fuel, DSR won five of the six titles with the Red Fuel Powered by Schumacher and Matco Tools teams also visiting the winner s circle. Consider these statistics since the first Countdown playoff in 2007: DSR has won five of the eight Top Fuel championships with the U.S. Army team and driver Tony Schumacher winning it four times; In Funny Car, DSR has won three world titles and no team has won more in the past eight years and that includes DSR winning three of the last four championships including Matt Hagan winning this year and in 2011, and Jack Beckman winning in 2012; The Mopar/Rocky team s record in elimination rounds was an astounding 18-3 and not far back was the U.S. Army team with a 15-3 mark. Tommy Johnson Jr. with the Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger R/T team finished third in points for T.J. s best career finish since turning pro in 1989.

4 Spencer Massey in the Red Fuel dragster shot up to second in points after winning the title at Las Vegas two weeks before Pomona and finished the year ranked third in Top Fuel. Antron Brown and the Matco Tools team led the Top Fuel category with six titles including five of the first 18 events. Ron Capps and the NAPA AUTO PARTS team led by crew chief Rahn Tobler and assistant Eric Lane will remember a strong finish to 2014 that included a second qualifying run at Pomona that earned the No. 3 seed. Their final ranking of eighth for the season is misleading because the team finished only 61 points out of third. Another dragster driver at DSR Matt Sackman earned his NHRA Top Dragster competition license at Palm Beach International Raceway in Florida last weekend and Matco Tools driver Antron Brown was honored to sign off on his application. Sackman, 21, is starting his second season as a member of the Matco Tools crew. His best run in the dragster was 6.51 seconds in a quartermile at 206 mph. You re pumped up and excited when you see one of your close friends and crew members living their dream, Antron said. It s one of those deals where you just feel good inside. Sackman, the tire specialist and clutch assistant for Antron, will share driving the dragster with his brother, Zach. The car is owned by their parents, Darren and Marie Sackman. Matt came out here with Zach and their Top Dragster. That s what NHRA is about. You see families out here together having fun and enjoying themselves. Brad Mason, our assistant crew chief is helping him get the car ironed out. It s a really, really sweet deal when we all support each other. It gives you a great sense of pride when you see everyone out here together. DSR starts 2015 with a new champion The first champion in Don Schumacher Racing s inaugural DSR Pick-ems NFL contest was crowned at the end of the regular season with the trophy and winner s check going to Leah Vaughn, DSR s social media manager. She survived a hotly contested three-way battle that came down to Leah, DSR general manager Will I Have a Baby to Feed Truitt and merchandising manager Blake The Pickin Snake Elliott. ANTRON BROWN, Matco Tools/U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster Last event (Nov. 16, 2014, at Pomona): Qualified No. 2; lost in semifinals to Morgan Lucas Winternationals: Qualified No. 3; lost in first round to Clay Millican. Career at Winternationals: Wins 0; Runner-ups 2 (2012, 2009); Poles 2 (2009, 2008) Career at Pomona: Wins 3; Runner-ups 3; Poles th CAREER (31 TF/16 PSB) Best Time, Speed: 3.701*/** sec. ( , Reading, Pa.); mph ( , Reading)

5 * Quickest ever/** NHRA record SPENCER MASSEY, Red Fuel Powered by Schumacher/Sandvik Top Fuel dragster Last event (Nov. 16, 2014, at Pomona): Qualified No. 6; lost in first round to Shawn Langdon Winternationals: Qualified No. 5; lost in semifinals to Doug Kalitta. Career at Winternationals: Wins 1 (2012); Runner-ups 0; Poles 0 Career at Pomona: Wins 1; Runner-ups 1; Poles rd CAREER Best Time, Speed: sec. ( , Englishtown, N.J.); mph TONY SCHUMACHER, U.S. ARMY Top Fuel dragster Last event (Nov. 16, 2014, at Pomona): Qualified No. 9; lost in championship round to Morgan Lucas Winternationals: Qualified No. 10; lost in first round Khalid albalooshi. Career at Pomona Winternationals: Wins 2 (2008, 2004); Runner-ups 2 (2000); Poles 4 ( , 2013) Career at Pomona: Wins 6; Runner-ups 6; Poles st CAREER Best Time, Speed: sec. ( , Reading, Pa.); mph ( , Las Vegas 2) JACK BECKMAN, Infinite Hero 2015 Dodge Charger R/T Last event (Nov. 16, 2014, at Pomona): Qualified No. 7; lost in first round to Del Worsham Winternationals: Qualified No. 8; lost in first round to Tommy Johnson Jr. Career at Pomona Winternationals: Wins 0; Runner-ups 0; Poles 0 Career at Pomona: Wins 0; Runner-ups 1; Poles 1 Pts Events Titles Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ Win/Loss th CAREER Best Time, Speed: sec. ( , Reading, Pa.); mph ( , Charlotte 1) RON CAPPS, NAPA AUTO PARTS 2015 Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car Last event (Nov. 16, 2014, at Pomona): Qualified No. 3; lost in quarterfinals to Matt Hagan Winternationals: Qualified No. 5; lost in quarterfinals to Bob Tasca III. Career at Winternationals: Wins 2 (2009, 1998); Runner-ups 3 (2013, 2010, 2006); Poles 1 (1999) Career at Pomona: Wins 2; Runner-ups 4; Poles th CAREER (42 FC/1 TF) Best Time, Speed: sec., ( , Englishtown, N.J.); mph ( , Englishtown) MATT HAGAN, Mopar/Rocky Boots 2015 Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car Last event (Nov. 16, 2014, at Pomona): Qualified No. 6; defeated John Force in championship round after clinching the world championship in the semifinals Winternationals: Qualified No. 10; lost in championship round to John Force. Career at Pomona Winternationals: Wins 0; Runner-ups 2 (2011, 2014); Poles 0 Career at Pomona: Wins 3; Runner-ups 0; Poles 1

6 2014 1st CAREER Best Time, Speed: sec. ( , Sonoma, Calif.); mph ( , Charlotte 2) TOMMY JOHNSON JR., Make-A-Wish 2015 Dodge Charger R/T Last event (Nov. 16, 2014, at Pomona): Qualified No. 2; lost in semifinals to Matt Hagan Winternationals: Qualified No. 9; lost in quarterfinals to John Force Career at Pomona Winternationals: Wins 1 (2005); Runner-ups 0; Poles 1 (2001) Career at Pomona: Wins 1; Runner-ups 1; Poles rd CAREER (8 FC/2 TF) Best Time, Speed: sec. (2014, Joliet, Ill.); mph (2014, Pomona 1) 2014 NHRA MELLO YELLO CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (DSR drivers in CAPS) TOP FUEL FUNNY CAR Driver (wins) points behind driver (wins) points behind 1. TONY SCHUMACHER (5) 2, MATT HAGAN (4) 2, JR Todd (1) 2, John Force (3) 2, SPENCER MASSEY (3) 2, TOMMY JOHNSON JR. (1) 2, Shawn Langdon (1) 2, Courtney Force (4) 2, Doug Kalitta (2) 2, Robert Hight (5) 2, Steve Torrence 2, Del Worsham (1) 2, ANTRON BROWN (6) 2, Alexis DeJoria (3) 2, Khalid albalooshi (2) 2, RON CAPPS (2) 2, Richie Crampton (2) 2, Tim Wilkerson 2, Brittany Force 2, Cruz Pedregon (1) 2, JACK BECKMAN 1, NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series REGULAR SEASON 2013 DSR WINNNERS 2014 WINNERS 1. Feb. 6-9 Pomona, Calif. TF albalooshi FC J. Force 2. Feb Phoenix TF Tony FC Ron TF ANTRON FC DeJoria 3. March Gainesville, Fla. TF Antron/200 FC Gray TF Kalitta FC Hight 4. March Las Vegas TF Tony TF TONY FC DeJoria 5. April Charlotte, N.C. TF Spencer FC Matt TF ANTRON FC Hight 6. April Houston TF ANTRON FC Hight 7. May 16-18/19 Atlanta (PSM) TF Antron FC Gray TF SPENCER FC Hight 8. May Topeka, Kan. FC Gray TF SPENCER FC C. Force 9. May 29-June 1 Englishtown FC Matt TF Crampton FC C. Pedregon 10. June Bristol, Tenn. TF Langdon FC TOMMY 11. June Epping, N.H. TF Spencer TF TONY FC RON 12. June Chicago TF Tony FC Matt TF ANTRON FC MATT 13. July 3-6 Norwalk, Ohio FC Gray TF ANTRON FC J.Force 14. July Denver TF Spencer TF Todd FC Hight 15. July Sonoma, Calif. FC Ron TF albalooshi FC C. Force 16. Aug. 1-3 Seattle FC Matt TF Kalitta FC J. Force 17. Aug Brainerd, Minn. TF Spencer FC Ron TF Lucas FC RON (Indy) 18. Aug. 27-Sep. 1 Indianapolis TF Crampton FC DeJoria Traxxas FC Shootout/Jack Traxxas TF Shootout/TONY COUNTDOWN 2013 DSR WINNERS 2014 WINNERS 19. Sept Charlotte, N.C. TF TONY FC MATT 20. Sept Dallas TF TONY FC C. Force 21. Sept St. Louis TF Antron TF ANTRON FC C. Force 22. Oct. 2-5 Reading, Pa. TF TONY FC MATT

7 23, Oct. 31-Nov. 2 Las Vegas TF Antron TF SPENCER FC Worsham 24. Nov Pomona, Calif. FC Matt TF Lucas FC MATT DSR total: 14 DSR total: NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Feb. 5-8 NHRA Winternationals Pomona Feb NHRA Nationals Phoenix March NHRA Gatornationals (PSM) Gainesville March NHRA Four-Wide Nationals (PSM) Charlotte April SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals Las Vegas April NHRA SpringNationals Houston May NHRA Southern Nationals (PSM) Atlanta May NHRA Kansas Nationals Topeka June 4-7 Toyota NHRA Summernationals (PSM) Englishtown June NHRA New England Nationals Epping June NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals Bristol July 2-5 Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals (PSM) Norwalk July 9-12 Route 66 NHRA Nationals (PSM) Chicago July Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals (PSM) Denver July 31-Aug. 2 NHRA Sonoma Nationals (PSM) Sonoma Aug. 7-9 NHRA Northwest Nationals Seattle Aug Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals Brainerd Sept. 2-7 U.S. Nationals (PSM) Indianapolis NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship Sept NHRA Carolina Nationals (PSM) Charlotte Sept AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals (PSM) St. Louis Oct. 1-4 NHRA Nationals (PSM) Reading Oct AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals (PSM) Dallas Oct. 29-Nov. 1 NHRA Toyota Nationals (PSM) Las Vegas Nov Auto Club NHRA Finals (PSM) Pomona Don Schumacher Racing, headquartered in Brownsburg, Ind., fields seven professional NHRA teams. In Top Fuel, the U.S. Army dragster driven by eight-time world champion Tony Schumacher, the 2012 NHRA Top Fuel world champion Matco Tools dragster driven by Antron Brown and the Red Fuel Powered by Schumacher dragster driven by Spencer Massey; and in Funny Car, 2012 NHRA world champion Jack Beckman in the Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T, 2011 and 2014 world champion Matt Hagan in the Mopar Express Lane/Rocky Boots Dodge, the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge of Ron Capps and the Make-A-Wish Dodge driven by Tommy Johnson Jr. DSR has won 240 NHRA national event titles and 13 world championships. Follow Don Schumacher Racing on Twitter and Facebook.com/shoeracing Don Schumacher Racing ShoeRacing.com - (317)