Tony Schumacher (drag racer)
| Tony Schumacher | |
|---|---|
Tony Schumacher (center, to the right of the U.S. Army soldier) and crew with 2009 Top Fuel championship trophy
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| Nationality | American |
| Born | December 25, 1969 |
| Related to | Don Schumacher |
| Top Fuel | |
| Years active | 1996-present |
| Teams | US Army |
| Wins | 76 |
| Poles | 61 |
| Best finish | 1st (8 times) in 1999, 2004-2009, 2014 |
Tony Schumacher (born December 25, 1969), is an American drag racer who is an eight-time NHRA Champion. He is the son of NHRA legend Don Schumacher. He attended St. John's Military Academy in Delafield Wisconsin and Schumacher is currently the driver of the U.S. Army Top Fuel Dragster.
Schumacher is currently competing in the NHRA Top Fuel class, of which he is an eight-time champion (breaking a record set by Joe Amato), winning six years consecutively (2004–2009). In 1999, he became the first driver to exceed 330 mph in competition. He also has the world record for the fastest 1/4 mile top fuel run: 337.58 mph, earned in 2005 at Brainerd, Minnesota. On September 14, 2008, at the inaugural NHRA Carolinas Nationals in Concord, North Carolina, Schumacher surpassed Joe Amato as the driver with most wins in NHRA Top Fuel history with his 53rd career victory. On April 15, 2012, at zMax Dragway, Schumacher was the first top fuel driver to reach the 330 m.p.h. mark in the 1,000 foot NHRA era. However, he did not keep the record long as Spencer Massey broke the record the same day going 332.18 m.p.h..
Schumacher is the son of former funny car driver Don Schumacher and drives for his father's multi-team organization. He has been sponsored for several years by the U.S. Army and his intense personality and buzzcut hairstyle has earned him the nickname "Sarge". "The Sarge" nickname originally applied to the dragster, but soon came to be affiliated with the driver himself.
At the end of the 2008 season, he parted ways with longtime crew chief Alan Johnson, who went on to form his own team, Al-Anabi Racing. Al-Anabi Racing consisted of Top Fuel driver Del Worsham and the driver Schumacher considers his biggest rival, Larry Dixon. Many fans and media members felt Schumacher would not have the success he had in previous years as Johnson was the Army Top Fuel team's tuner during his run of five consecutive titles. Schumacher met Dixon and Johnson in the semi-final round early in 2009 at The Strip in Las Vegas, beating his former crew chief's new driver. Schumacher went on to win the event and won the following race in Houston.
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