The Big Go arrives 9th annual DSR Open House for Riley Kids, #RileyDreamRacer Funny Car add power to 60th annual NHRA U.S. Nationals Don Schumacher Racing gets one hometown race each year and it happens to be the biggest one of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. And this year s 60th annual edition of the U.S. Nationals that kicks off next Friday with the ninth annual DSR Open House to benefit the Riley Children s Foundation, which supports Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health, Camp Riley and the James Whitcomb Riley Museum Home could be the biggest one ever for the biggest team in motorsports.(rileykids.org) The six-day event, which is the longest of the season, awards the most prestigious NHRA Wally trophies of the year. It also offers $200,000 in bonuses for winners of the third annual Traxxas Nitro Shootouts for Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars. An unexpected addition over Labor Day Weekend will be DSR s Ron Capps and the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T team racing John Force for the event title from last weekend s weatherdelayed NHRA event at Brainerd, Minn. A special feature for DSR for the U.S. Nationals is a unique #RileyDreamRacer Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car that will be driven by Tommy Johnnson Jr. and supported by sponsor Terry Chandler and team owner Don Schumacher. DSR s Riley Kids and NAPA AUTO PARTS Funny Cars will be on display at Indianapolis International Airport from Aug. 26-Sept. 2. The #RileyDreamRacer team led by crew chief John Collins and assistant Rip Reynolds will have added help thoughout the week from Honorary Crew Chief A.J. Stinger, a 14-year-old former Riley patient and ambassador (read story below). Six of DSR s seven teams have clinched spots in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship six-race playoff that begins near Charlotte two weeks after the U.S. Nationals. Jack Beckman and his Valvoline SynPower Dodge Charger R/T now led by Todd Okuhara, DSR s director of racing, is in a dogfight to earn a berth in the Countdown when the field of the top- 10 drivers will be set after the U.S. Nationals and points are reset for the qualified drivers. Jack will begin the U.S. Nationals ranked 11th and only 16 points outside Ron Capps and the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car team will race John Force in the weather-delayed championship round of last weekend s NHRA Nationals at Brainerd, Minn. (AutoImagery.com photo) the top-10. Up to 33 points can be earned through qualifying and another 100 during Labor Day s championship eliminations.
I feel we painted ourselves into the corner, Jack said during a break in testing this week at Lucas Oil Raceway Park. I'm in a position I've never been in in my entire nitro career this far into the season without having a guaranteed spot into the Countdown. Jack is one of only four Funny Car drivers who have qualified for each Countdown since its inception in 2007; DSR teammate Ron Capps, John Force and Robert Hight are the others. It's just something that's unfamiliar to me, and it's been very frustrating. When I was a kid I thought I would give anything just to drive one of these cars. But I think once you've been to the top of the mountain you've won races, won a championship, you set your expectations a lot higher. So I think that we've made changes to go in the right direction to get this car into the Countdown. We just need to hope it's not too late. DSR, which has won nine of 16 Top Fuel titles and three of 16 Funny Car titles this year, is led by seven-time Top Fuel world champion Tony Schumacher at the U.S. Nationals. No Mello Yello driver has won the event more than the U.S. Army driver, who has won a record nine times in Top Fuel. I'm a better driver when the pressure is big, said Tony, who has won two of his record 74 career titles this year. I always have been. The easy races I tend to make mistakes on, the ones that don't matter. This one matters. And I know that people go oh, they're all the same. Well, this is Indy and you're not going to have that many chances to win it. Surprisingly, the only other active DSR driver to enter the prestigous U.S. Nationals winners circle is Matco Tools driver, Antron Brown, who owns three titles including 2011 in Top Fuel, and 2000 and 2004 in Pro Stock Motorcycles. DSR owner Don Schumacher also won the U.S. Nationals Funny Car title in 1970, which was first of five NHRA trophies earned by the hall-of-fame pioneer driver/owner. WEDNESDAY, Aug. 27 FRIDAY, Aug. 29-12 -1:15 p.m.: The Traxxas Shootout lottery - 10 a.m.-3 p.m.: DSR Open House for Riley Hospital drawings will be conducted during a press - 7 p.m.: Qualifying Session #1 conference open to the public and autograph session at Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis. SATURDAY, Aug. 30 SUNDAY, Aug. 3-12:30 p.m.: Traxxas Funny Car Shootout Round 1-4 p.m.: Traxxas Top Fuel Shootout Round 1-12:45 p.m.: Qualifying Session #4-4:15 p.m.: Qualifying Session #2-1:55 p.m. Traxxas Funny Car Shootout Semis - 5:25 p.m.: Traxxas Top Fuel Shootout Semis - 3:30 p.m.: Qualifying Session #5-7:45 p.m.: Traxxas Top Fuel Shootout Final - 4:20 p.m.: Traxxas Funny Car Shootout Final - 8:40 p.m.: Qualifying Session #3 - Capps vs. Force for Brainerd Funny Car title MONDAY, Sept. 1 11 a.m., championship eliminations Matt, Jack need your votes help DSR extend NHRA Traxxas Nitro Shootout win streak You are needed to help DSR s Jack Beckman and Matt Hagan become big winners two days before the U.S. Nationals begins. Jack and Matt are the only DSR Funny Car drivers not earning spots in the $100,000 eight-car Traxxas Nitro Shootout that will be held throughout the Aug. 31 (Sunday) U.S. Nationals qualifying sessions. The first seven drivers to win Mello Yello event titles this year were seeded into event their respective Traxxas Shootouts with the No. 8 spot to be determined by a lottery-style drawing Wednesday on Monument Circle in Downtown Indianapolis. The number of lottery balls a driver will carry into the weighted drawing is determined by how many votes are cast for them until noon (ET) Tuesday through the Traxxas Nitro Shootout logo at NHRA.com. Locked into the Shootouts for DSR are: Antron Brown, Tony Schumacher and Spencer Massey, Top Fuel; and Ron Capps and Tommy Johnson, Funny Car. DSR has won Shootout titles in each of the past two years: Jack a year ago, and Spencer in the 2012 inaugural event. The Traxxas Nitro Shootout for Top Fuel will be conducted Aug. 30 (Saturday) with rounds at 4, 5:25 and 7:45 p.m. The Traxxas Nitro Shootout for Funny Car is the following day with rounds at 12:30, 1:55 and 4:15 p.m.
QUALIFIERS: Ron Capps and Tommy Johnson Jr. of DSR, Alexis DeJoria, Courtney Force, John Force, Robert Hight and Cruz Pedregon in Funny Car; Antron Brown, Tony Schumacher and Spencer Massey of DSR, Doug Kalitta, Richie Crampton, Shawn Langdon and Khalid albalooshi in Top Fuel. DSR OPENS ITS HOUSE AUG. 29 TO HELP RILEY KIDS 9th annual events grows in popularity, adds features Fans and friends of Don Schumacher Racing are invited to join the biggest team in professional racing at the 9th annual Don Schumacher Racing Open House in one week to benefit Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health and Camp Riley. The popular Open House, which kicks off the NHRA U.S. Nationals at nearby Lucas Oil Raceway Park on Aug. 29 (Friday), attracted a recordcrowd of more than 4,000 fans last year and boosted DSR s contributions to Riley past the $240,000 mark. Riley Children s Foundation is the official local charity of Don Schumacher Racing, which fields seven professional teams in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and has won 11 NHRA world championships and 231 NHRA event titles. The free, festive event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on that Friday will feature a giant car and bike show, entertainment and appearances by each of DSR s seven professional drivers along with drag racing pioneer and team owner Don Schumacher at DSR headquarters at 1681 E. Northfield Drive in Brownsburg. DSR s support for Riley, Indiana s only comprehensive hospital dedicated exclusively to the care of children, takes a 320-mph leap forward thanks to DSR sponsor Terry Chandler and Schumacher who opted to put driver Tommy Johnson Jr. in a special Riley Funny Car for the U.S. Nationals. The #RileyDreamRacer Dodge Charger R/T was unveiled June 25 in the lobby of Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health in Downtown Indianapolis and remained there until Aug. 8. Former Riley youth ambassador A.J. Stinger, 14, will be the Honorary Crew Chief for Tommy and the #RileyDreamRacer Dodge and be the honored guest at the Open House. The Marion, Ind., resident, who is in his fourth year of remission from cancer, will wear a custom driver s protective suit matching Tommy s. The beautiful Funny Car also will be displayed at Indianapolis International Airport with DSR s NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge from Aug. 26 to Sept. 2.
Popular DSR Open House features returning will be: Indy Hi-Winders Car Show; DSR/Riley Silent Auction in which bidders can participate in person or via the Internet; DSR Driver Autograph Session at noon; Giant Nitro Nostalgia Cacklefest when at least 10 classic dragsters and Funny Cars will fire their motors at the same time; Raminator Monster Truck; 330-mph Art Show featuring artists nationally renowned Kenny Youngblood, Bruce Tatman and Thomas Patsis; DSR CNC/Machine Shop tours; Food Truck Corral with Nacho Mama, Greiner s Subs, Gypsy Café, WyliePalooza, Der Pretzel Wagen and more; And more surprises! First Big Go Block Party a big success at Brownsburg NHRA, Don Schumacher Racing and other Mello Yello drivers spent Tuesday evening ar the highly successful inaugural Big Go Block Party at Town Hall in the heart of Brownsburg, Ind., to get excitement flowing for the U.S. Nationals. The event featured DSR and other pro drivers along with having several show cars on display. A school supply drive for Brownsburg Community Schools also was held with a driver dunk tank. Antron Brown gets a lift from Nitro, the mascot for the Indy Fuel pro hockey team during the block party Tuesday evening in Brownsburg while DSR teammates stand by. Receive a $50 rebate (in the form of a Goodyear Visa Prepaid Card) or two (2) vouchers that can be deemed for two general admissions tickets to any NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series race good through the end of the 2015 race season when you purchase a new set of four (4) qualifying Goodyear tires (Assurance CS TripleTred All Season tires; Assurance ComforTred Touring tires; Assurance TripleTred All Season tires; Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 tires; Eagle F1 Asymmetric All Season tires; Wrangler All Terrain Adventure tires and Wrangler Duratrac tires) from www.tirerack.com between 12:00:00 a.m. EDT on 8/11/14 and 11:59:59 p.m. EDT on 10/31/14 by going to www.tirerack.com and following the on-screen instructions to be eligible to receive an Invoice Number that you can use to submit an online claim for the vouchers or the rebate. VOUCHERS ONLY AVAILABLE WHILE SUPPLIES LAST. Vouchers expire 11/30/15. Issuer terms and conditions apply to rebate card; see front and back of card for terms. After submitting your claim, allow 10 business days to receive your vouchers and 6-9 weeks to receive your rebate card. You must submit your claim by December 31, 2014, and you must be at least 18 years of age and a legal resident of the US to qualify for this offer. Void where prohibited by law and outside the United States. Additional terms and conditions apply. See rebate form and terms and conditions located at www.goodyearticketoffer.com for details. Sponsor: Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, 200 Innovation Way, Akron, OH 44316. NHRA and the NHRA logos are registered trademarks of the National Hot Rod Association and used with permission. All rights reserved.
2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Jan. 15-18 PBIR, Jupiter, Fla. testing REGULAR SEASON 2013 DSR WINNNERS 2014 WINNERS 1. Feb. 6-9 Pomona TF albalooshi FC J. Force 2. Feb. 21-23 Phoenix TF Tony FC Ron TF ANTRON FC DeJoria 3. March 13-16 Gainesville TF Antron/200 FC Gray TF Kalitta FC Hight 4. March 28-30 Las Vegas TF Tony TF TONY FC DeJoria 5. April 11-13 Charlotte, N.C. TF Spencer FC Matt TF ANTRON FC Hight 6. April 25-27 Houston TF ANTRON FC Hight 7. May 16-18/19 Atlanta (PSM) TF Antron FC Gray TF SPENCER FC Hight 8. May 23-25 Topeka, Kan. FC Gray TF SPENCER FC C. Force 9. May 29-June 1 Englishtown FC Matt TF Crampton FC C.Pedregon 10. June 13-15 Bristol, Tenn. TF Langdon FC TOMMY 11. June 19-22 Epping, N.H. TF Spencer TF TONY FC RON 12. June 26-29 Chicago TF Tony FC Matt TF ANTRON FC MATT 13. July 3-6 Norwalk, Ohio FC Gray TF ANTRON FC J.Force 14. July 18-20 Denver TF Spencer TF Todd FC Hight 15. July 25-27 Sonoma, Calif. FC Ron TF albalooshi FC C. Force 16. Aug. 1-3 Seattle FC Matt TF Kalitta FC J. Force 17. Aug. 14-17 Brainerd TF Spencer FC Ron TF Lucas FC RON/J. Force 18. Aug. 27-Sep. 1 Indianapolis Traxxas FC Shootout/Jack TF FC COUNTDOWN 2013 DSR WINNERS 2014 WINNERS 19. Sept. 12-14 Charlotte, N.C. TF FC 20. Sept. 18-21 Dallas TF FC 21. Sept. 26-28 St. Louis TF Antron TF FC 22. Oct. 2-5 Reading, Pa. TF FC 23, Oct. 30-Nov. 1 Las Vegas TF Antron TF FC 24. Nov. 13-16 Pomona, Calif. FC Matt TF FC 3 IN A ROW / 4 IN A ROW NHRA MELLO YELLO STANDINGS (Official after 17 of 24 events; DSR drivers in CAPS; * clinched spot in Countdown to the Championship) TOP FUEL FUNNY CAR driver (wins) points behind driver (wins) points behind 1.* Doug Kalitta (2) 1,446 ------ 1. *Robert Hight (5) 1,326 ------ 2.* ANTRON BROWN (5) 1,354-92 2. *John Force (3) ** 1,308-18 3.* Shawn Langdon (1) 1,204-242 3.* RON CAPPS (1) ** 1,090-236 4.* TONY SCHUMACHER (2) 1,075-371 4.* TOMMY JOHNSON JR. (1) 1.052-274 5.* Steve Torrence 971-475 5.* Alexis DeJoria (2) 1,035-291 6.* SPENCER Massey (2) 953-493 6.* Courtney Force (2) 1,015-311 7.* Khalid albalooshi (2) 888-558 7.* MATT HAGAN (1) 1,009-317 7.* Brittany Force 888-558 8. Cruz Pedregon (1) 929-397 9.* Richie Crampton (1) 841-605 9. Del Worsham 900-426 10. JR Todd (1) 805-641 10. Tim Wilkerson 848-478 11. JACK BECKMAN 832-494 DSR driver statistics (Through Brainerd; 17 of 24 events) NOTE: These statistics do not include final round of Funny Car at Brainerd between Ron Capps and John Force that will be completed on Saturday of U.S. Nationals. TOP FUEL ANTRON BROWN: Matco Tools 2014 2nd 17 5 2 4 2 4 3 0 35-12 CAREER 303 46 30 TF/16 PSB 40 62 84 68 37 3 511-254 Best Time, Speed: 3.701*/** sec. (10-8-12, Reading, Pa.); 328.78 mph (10-8-12, Reading) * Quickest ever/** NHRA record TONY SCHUMACHER: U.S. Army 2014 4th 17 2 0 4 6 5 2 0 22-15 CAREER 401 74 53 63 107 96 74 8 686-319 Best Time, Speed: 3.736 sec. (10-6-12, Reading, Pa.); 330.30 mph (4-15-12, Charlotte 1) SPENCER MASSEY: Battery Extender Powered by Schumacher 2014 6th 17 2 0 1 9 5 0 0 19-15
CAREER 112 16 14 25 27 28 7 2 181-94 Best Time, Speed: 3.728 sec. (5-31-12, Englishtown, N.J.); 332.18 mph FUNNY CAR RON CAPPS: NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T ** 2014 3rd 16** 1 1 7 1 6 1 0 25-15 CAREER 427** 42 41 FC/1 TF 42 75 84 166 16 18 531-367 ** Has advanced to rain-delayed championship round of Brainerd event against John Force that will be contested during Saturday qualifying of the U.S. Nationals; win/loss record includes 3-0 effort at Brainerd. Best Time, Speed: 3.964* sec., (5-31-12, Englishtown, N.J.); 320.89 mph (5-31-12, Englishtown) TOMMY JOHNSON JR.: #RileyDreamRacer Dodge Charger R/T 2014 4th 17 1 1 3 8 4 1 0 21-16 CAREER 339 10 (8 FC/2 TF) 14 43 77 151 10 47 245-285 Best Time, Speed: 3.999 sec. (2014, Joliet, Ill.); 322.73 mph (2014, Pomona 1) MATT HAGAN: Mopar Express Lane/Rocky Boots Dodge Charger R/T 2014 7th 17 1 1 4 5 6 0 0 20-16 CAREER 137 11 15 20 42 45 15 4 170-122 Best Time, Speed: 3.986 sec. (7-26-2013, Sonoma, Calif.); 322.27 mph (9-17-11, Charlotte 2) JACK BECKMAN: Valvoline SynPower Dodge Charger R/T 2014 11th 17 0 1 2 6 8 0 0 13-17 CAREER 197 15 20 37 57 62 10 6 250-176 Best Time, Speed: 3.986 sec. (10-6-12, Reading, Pa.); 320.30 mph (4-15-12, Charlotte 1) DSR by the numbers for the U.S. Nationals ANTRON BROWN, Matco Tools Top Fuel dragster Last event Brainerd (Aug. 17): Qualified No. 1; lost in semifinals to Morgan Lucas A year ago at U.S. Nationals: Qualified No. 1; lost in first round to Morgan Lucas Career at U.S. Nationals: Wins 3 (2011, 2004, 2000); Runner-ups 0; Poles 3 (2013, 2011, 2009) SPENCER MASSEY, Battery Extender Powered by Schumacher Top Fuel dragster Last event Brainerd (Aug. 17): Qualified No. 7; lost in quarterfinals to Doug Kalitta A year ago at U.S. Nationals: Qualified No. 11; lost in first round to Billy Torrence Career at U.S. Nationals: Wins 0; Runner-ups 1 (2012); Poles 0 TONY SCHUMACHER, U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster Last event Brainerd (Aug. 17): Qualified No. 6; lost in semifinals to Doug Kalitta A year ago at U.S. Nationals: Qualified No. 2; lost in first round to Clay Millican Career at U.S. Nationals: Wins 9 (2012, 2006-09, 2002-2004, 2000); Runner-ups 2 (2005, 1996); Poles 3 (2005-07) JACK BECKMAN, Valvoline SynPower Dodge Charger R/T Last event Brainerd (Aug. 17): Qualified No. 10; lost in quarterfinals to Ron Capps A year ago at U.S. Nationals: Qualified No. 8; lost in championship round to Robert Hight; won Traxxas Nitro Shootout for Funny Cars Career at U.S. Nationals: Wins 0; Runner-ups 2 (2013, 2008); Poles 0 RON CAPPS, NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T Last event Brainerd (Aug. 17): Qualified No. 2; will race John Force during U.S. Nationals in weather-delayed championship round during U.S. Nationals A year ago at U.S. Nationals: Qualified No. 5; lost in second round to Tim Wilkerson Career at U.S. Nationals: Wins 0; Runner-ups 0; Poles 0 MATT HAGAN, Mopar Express Lane/Rocky Boots Dodge Charger R/T Last event Brainerd (Aug. 17): Qualified No. 3; lost in quarterfinals to Alexis DeJoria A year ago at U.S. Nationals: Qualified No. 1; lost in first round to Jeff Arend Career at U.S. Nationals: Wins 0; Runner-ups 0; Poles 2 (2013, 2010) TOMMY JOHNSON JR., #RileyDreamRacer Dodge Charger R/T Last event Brainerd (Aug. 17): Qualified No. 4; lost in semifinals to John Force A year ago at U.S. Nationals (in Top Fuel for Rapisarda Racing): Qualified No. 14; lost in first round to Steve Torrence Career at U.S. Nationals: Wins 0; Runner-ups 1 (2002); Poles 2 (2000, 1999) About Don Schumacher Racing Don Schumacher Racing, headquartered in Brownsburg, Ind., fields seven professional NHRA teams. In Top Fuel, the U.S. Army dragster driven by seven-time world champion Tony Schumacher, the 2012 NHRA Top Fuel world champion Matco Tools dragster driven by Antron Brown and the Battery Extender Powered by Schumacher dragster driven by Spencer Massey; and in Funny Car, 2012 NHRA world champion Jack Beckman in the Valvoline MaxLife Dodge Charger R/T, 2011 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 231 NHRA national event titles and 11 world championships. Follow Don Schumacher Racing at ShoeRacing.com, on Twitter at @shoeracing and Facebook.com/shoeracing.