DSR sweeps Gatornationals for #244, #245

Now it’s on to the

Four-Wide

Don Schumacher’s return to the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series after health challenges the past three months couldn’t have gone much better Sunday during the 46th annual Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla. In addition to a “Welcome Back Don” banner his employees placed in one of DSR’s hospitality areas, two of his teams presented him with NHRA Wally trophies after Spencer Massey drove the Red Fuel Powered by Schumacher/Sandvik Coromant dragster to a final round win over DSR teammate Tony Schumacher for the Top Fuel title moments after DSR teammate Ron Capps and the NAPA AUTO PARTS 2015 Dodge Charger R/T won the Funny Car title to become the second winningest driver in Funny Car history. It marks the 43rd time DSR has won two professional titles at the same Mello Yello event and second straight this year to increase the organization’s total to 245 wins. After three of 24 Mello Yello events, DSR’s statistics are staggering:

DSR has won five of the six nitro event trophies; DSR has filled eight of 12 spots in championship rounds; DSR has won all three Funny Car titles with the all-new 2015 Dodge Charger R/T; DSR has won two of three Top Fuel titles; And DSR has combined for an eliminations record of 40-15.

But as Don and each of his drivers, crew chiefs and crew members will quickly say: Three races do not constitute a season. “My teams and all the guys back at the shop have done a phenomenal job,” Schumacher said. It was uplifting for DSR to have him back on the starting line wearing his customary red shirt over the weekend of the Gatornationals. “It's tremendously gratifying the way my teams have been able to come out and perform over the years, this year especially,” Don told a gathering of media after the championship rounds. “They've just done a phenomenal job. It certainly was a boost to see Capps, his veteran Funny Car driver, win in the category for the 43rd time that moves him to second on NHRA’s all-time list. And Capps blended the expertise of crew chief Rahn Tobler and his NAPA team with his starting line reactions that contributed greatly to two of his four round wins on Sunday. Capps was first to leave the line in the first round against Courtney Force that allowed him to advance and eliminate No. 1 qualifier Cruz Pedregon in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, Capps again was the first to leave and he beat Tim Wilkerson by a few inches at most. In the championship round, Capps ended rookie John Hale’s hopes of getting his first NHRA Wally trophy. “Tobler has been working on making our NAPA Dodge better and in that process I’ve been feeling like I’ve been driving a car that was behind the other cars so I’ve felt like I’ve had to be really up on the wheel all the time and that’s helped me,” he said of his quick reactions. Capps, who was runner-up at this year’s opener, moved to second in points and trails leader and DSR teammate Matt Hagan, who was upset in the first round, by 26 points. “Having Don here, there was a lot of incentive to get this win,” Capps said. “I know you've got a lot of these. Good to have you here. Love you.” In Top Fuel, Massey moved to third in points after using an outstanding reaction time of 0.020 seconds in the championship round that enabled his slower 3.882-second run to beat Schumacher’s 3.873. “Running Tony Schumacher in the final round, that car has been running extremely strong,” said Massey, who set a track record with a speed of 329.02 that his dragster tuned by crew chiefs Todd Okuhara and Phil Shuler did twice over the weekend. “We know how well that car can run and Tony can be deadly on the starting line. I had to do whatever I had to do. It worked out. It’s just crazy. “Just to be able to race against legends and do this, I never want it to end.” His name also became attached to a pair of other legends when his 18th career Top Fuel title tied him with Darrell Gwynn and Shirley Muldowney on the all-time win list. Six of DSR’s seven teams advanced past the first round. Surprisingly, the only one that didn’t was reigning Funny Car world champion and points leader Matt Hagan, who had won the past three Mello Yello events including the first two this season. It was the first time the Mopar/Rocky team lost in an opening round since at Epping, N.H., that is a span of 17 races.

Red Fuel/Sandvik crew members Jimmy Newlin, Ryan Odette and Marla O'Guin get a Mello Yello shower after winning their first NHRA event title.

DSR celebrates with two more trophies, more importantly Don’s return to the track By JEFF WOLF DSR PR Several decades ago as a substitute high school teacher I’d judge how good regular teachers were by the way their students behaved in their absence.

If the kids were unruly, it was likely that was how they behaved every day in class. If they were attentive and diligently worked on assignments left for me to implement then it was accurate to assume their everyday teacher was respected and loved. That’s one way to describe how Don Schumacher Racing – from front office, to fabrication and machine shop, merchandising and hospitality to crew chiefs, crews and drivers – performed their tasks for the three months their boss and mentor Don Schumacher has fought a battle that is tougher than any quest for an NHRA Wally trophy or world championship ever have been. On Sunday in the NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla., Don was able to enjoy a storybook chapter in his fight against head and neck cancer that began two days after winning Top Fuel and Funny Car world championships on Nov. 16 in the 2014 season-finale at Pomona, Calif. Seeing Don with his customary red shirt, black pants and focused look on the starting line behind each of his seven teams was comforting for not only members of the DSR family but for also competitors, NHRA and knowledgeable fans aware of his vast contributions to the sport since he drove a Dodge into his first winner’s circle in the U.S. Nationals on Labor Day in 1970 near Indianapolis. Since then, he has led DSR to 13 world championships and 245 NHRA national events. He has helped pioneer safety enhancements. And he currently enables more than 110 DSR employees to provide comfortable livings for their families. While Don looked great and smiled often and marked key wins on Sunday with his trademark fist pump, don’t be fooled into thinking he is completely off recovery road. “Better every day,” Schumacher said. “Having cancer is a long-term battle and a long-term fight for anybody who has ever had it. It's fighting every day. I'm recovering. Things are good, it's going along. I'm looking to just continue on and do what I do. “Coming out here this weekend, first time I've been out and about, this was really a refreshing move for me to come out and get back involved. Not only this, but back involved in life. It's really important for all of us to do that. “My key to fighting this cancer was early detection. I've been slashed and burned and just kind of deal with it from there. It's a barbaric way of treating the disease, but that's the best they have at this point. “Five years from now, 10 years from now, it's going to be a whole different world for treating cancer and beating cancer. I just look forward to being part of that.” The sign of great leaders is how their troops respond in their absence. Just like a good school teacher.

From left, Ron Capps, Don Schumacher, Megan Fessel Schumacher and Spencer Massey enjoy a happy time after Sunday's NHRA Gatornationals.

Antron returns to Four-Wide to defend Top Fuel title in world’s most powerful race What’s twice as loud and powerful as a 20,000-horsepower drag race? Well, that’s easy to answer: It’s the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway near Charlottte Motor Speedway and this year’s edition of Mello Yello sensory overload. Consider that each time a group of four 10,000-horsepower nitro cars fill the lanes and produce 40,000 horsepower that it is more power than in the combined total of a 43-car NASCAR lineup … actually, it would be more than the combined power of 53 NASCAR stock cars. The most unique event of the year on the planet is next weekend and it’s one in which DSR has enjoyed success.

Antron Brown and the Matco Tools team won the title last year marking the third straight year DSR has left with the Top Fuel title; Spencer Massey, who won the last Mello Yello event in Gainesville, Fla., won the coveted Four-Wide titles in 2012 and 2013. In Funny Car, DSR’s Matt Hagan (2013) and Jack Beckman (2011) each have won the quad title. Antron likes to compare it to a massive, no-holds-barred wrestling match. “We usually only race against one car but the Four-Wide is like a battle royal where you’re wrestling

everybody. In the final round you’re racing the best of the best and there's three you have to beat. “Last year’s final round showed how competitive it was when all four of us ran within one-thousandth of a second of each other and a couple of us ran the same ET. It’s a grueling race but it’s one we always look forward to going to because it is unique. “You can’t get anything more action packed than having four nitro cars on the starting line at the same time.”

Antron soon will hit the road Antron Brown certainly will have an edge on the straightaways and also be a force in the turns when he competes in the April 18 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Pro/Celebrity Race prelude to the following day’s IndyCar race on the 1.97-mile street course in downtown Long Beach, Calif. Antron and the other 17 participants will race in 210-horsepower Scion FR-S race-prepped cars, navigating high speeds and demanding turns to benefit “Racing for Kids,” a national fundraising program supporting children’s hospitals throughout the United States. He spent Thursday in Los Angeles for Toyota Motorsports Day and on Friday headed to road course for testing. The announced field of intensely competitive personalities includes: actors Alfonso Ribeiro, Robert Patrick and Mekhi Phifer, former NFL and Olympic athlete Willie Gault, Olympian Dara Torres and musicians Mark McGrath and John Rzeznik among the drivers from film, television, music, sports and fashion who will compete in the. Antron will be in the Pro Division, which will start 30 seconds behind the others. Fans can follow the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on Facebook at GrandPrixLB, Twitter @ToyotaGPLB (#TGPLB) and Instagram at ToyotaGPLB.

Matt Hagan hangs out in the U.S. Army interactive zone on the NHRA midway during the Gatornationals.

Ron Capps and Spencer Massey play Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots with the Wally trophies they won

Sunday in the Gatornationals.

Spencer Massey faced DSR teammate Tony Schumacher in the championship round of the Gatornationals.

At right, Jack Beckman's parachute

assistant at the Gatornationals was Alan, a 13-year-old he met at the event last

year.

Mopar/Rocky boys and a girl keep winning, get unique trophy

John Crone Memorial 5k Walk/Run

On behalf of Summit for Soldiers, we challenge you to walk/run in support of our country’s heroes

Saturday, April 18 Hendricks Regional Health-YMCA, Avon (outside trail)

Check-in/Registration 9:30 a.m.

$20 entry includes a race t-shirt, refreshments and prizes for winners!

Online registration closes April 16 secure.getmeregistered.com/get_information.php?event_id=121061

ALL PROFITS GO TO SUPPORT SUMMIT FOR SOLDIERS

Questions or comments? Contact Lexi Green at lexigreen361@gmail.com

This group – Michael Knudsen, Katie Knudsen, Brian James, Jason Davis – won its second championship in four months when its “Amateurs, Dude” team won the first annual Nitro Bowling League. In November, Michael, Brian and Jason won the NHRA Funny Car world championship with the Mopar/Rocky team.

DSR fabricator and metalwork artist Tom Patsis created this trophy for the bowling league. For other stunning works by Tom visit ColdHardArt.com

DSR drivers 2015: career statistics, standings - thru Gainesville (3 of 24) TOP FUEL

TONY SCHUMACHER: U.S. Army – ’14 Top Fuel World Champ Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L 2015 3rd 3 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 7-2 CAREER 411 78 55 64 107 99 77 8 710-325 Best Time, Speed: 3.720 sec. (2015, Phoenix); 330.55 mph (2014, Las Vegas 2) ANTRON BROWN: Matco Tools/U.S. Army Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L 2015 2nd 3 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 7-3 CAREER 313 47 (31 TF/16 PSB) 41 65 84 73 37 3 524-263

Best Time, Speed: 3.701 sec.-NHRA record (2012, Reading, Pa.); 328.78 mph (2012, Reading)

SPENCER MASSEY: Sandik Coromant/Red Fuel Powered by Schumacher Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L 2015 5th 3 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 7-2 CAREER 123 18 14 28 29 31 7 2 197-102

Best Time, Speed: 3.728 sec. (2012, Englishtown, N.J.); 332.18 mph, (2015, Pomona; 2012, Charlotte 1)

FUNNY CAR

MATT HAGAN: Mopar Express Lane/Rocky Boots Dodge Charger R/T – ’14 Funny Car World Champ Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L 2015 1st 3 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 8-1 CAREER 147 16 16 21 44 46 18 4 197-127

Best Time, Speed: 3.975 sec. (2015, Phoenix); 324.83 (2015, Phoenix)

RON CAPPS: NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L 2015 4th 3 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 7-2 CAREER 438 44 (43 FC/1 TF) 43 76 88 169 16 18 545-376

Best Time, Speed: 3.964 sec., (2012, Englishtown, N.J.); 320.89 mph (2012, Englishtown)

TOMMY JOHNSON JR.: Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger R/T Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L 2015 6th 3 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 3-3 CAREER 349 10 (8 FC/2 TF) 15 45 83 152 10 47 258-295

Best Time, Speed: 3.999 sec. (2014, Joliet, Ill.); 322.73 mph (2014, Pomona 1)

JACK BECKMAN: Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L 2015 15th 3 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1-2 CAREER 207 15 20 37 59 69 10 7 252-185

Best Time, Speed: 3.986 sec. (2012, Reading, Pa.); 320.30 mph (2012, Charlotte 1)

2015 NHRA MELLO YELLO CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (DSR drivers in CAPS)

TOP FUEL FUNNY CAR DRIVER (WINS) POINTS BEHIND DRIVER (WINS) POINTS BEHIND 1. Shawn Langdon (1) 281 --- 1. MATT HAGAN (2) 267 --- 2. TONY SCHUMACHER (1) 268 -13 2. RON CAPPS (1) 241 -26 3. SPENCER MASSEY (1) 250 -31 3. Del Worsham 213 -54 4. ANTRON BROWN 241 -40 4. Robert Hight 177 -90

5. Doug Kalitta 184 -97 5. John Hale 173 -94 6. Richie Crampton 159 -122 6. TOMMY JOHNSON JR. 172 -95

7. Brittany Force 140 -141 7. Alexis DeJoria 162 -105 7. Larry Dixon 140 -141 8. Cruz Pedregon 157 -110 9. J.R. Todd 139 -142 8. Courtney Force 157 -110 10. Steve Torrence 121 -160 10. Tim Wilkerson 145 -122 14. JACK BECKMAN 92 -175

NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series

Jan. 15-18 PBIR, Jupiter, Fla. – testing REGULAR SEASON 2014 WINNERS 2015 WINNERS 1. Feb. 6-8 Pomona, Calif. TF alBalooshi FC J. Force TF Langdon FC MATT #241 2. Feb. 20-22 Phoenix TF ANTRON FC DeJoria TF TONY #243 FC MATT #242 3. March 13-15 Gainesville, Fla. TF Kalitta FC Hight TF SPENCER #244 FC RON #245 4. March 27-29 Charlotte, N.C. TF ANTRON FC Hight TF FC 5. April 10-12 Las Vegas TF TONY FC DeJoria TF FC 6. April 24-26 Houston TF ANTRON FC Hight TF FC 7. May 15-17 Atlanta (PSM) TF SPENCER FC Hight TF FC 8. May 22-24 Topeka, Kan. TF SPENCER FC C. Force TF FC 9. June 5-7 Englishtown TF Crampton FC C. Pedregon TF FC 10. June 12-14 Epping, N.H. TF TONY FC RON TF FC 11. June 19-21 Bristol, Tenn. TF Langdon FC TOMMY TF FC 12. July 3-5 Norwalk, Ohio TF ANTRON FC J. Force TF FC 13. July 10-12 Chicago TF ANTRON FC MATT TF FC 14. July 24-26 Denver TF Todd FC Hight TF FC 15. July 31-Aug. 2 Sonoma, Calif. TF alBalooshi FC C. Force TF FC 16. Aug. 7-9 Seattle TF Kalitta FC J. Force TF FC 17. Aug. 21-23 Brainerd, Minn. TF Lucas FC RON (Indy) TF FC 18. Sep. 3-7 Indianapolis TF Crampton FC DeJoria TF FC Traxxas Shootouts TF TONY TF FC COUNTDOWN 2014 WINNERS 19. Sept. 18-20 Charlotte, N.C. TF TONY (Dallas) FC MATT (Dallas) TF FC 20. Sept.25-27 St. Louis TF ANTRON FC C. Force TF FC 21. Oct. 2-4 Reading, Pa. TF TONY FC MATT TF FC 22. Oct. 16-18 Dallas TF TONY FC C. Force TF FC 23, Oct. 30-Nov. 1 Las Vegas TF SPENCER FC Worsham TF FC 24. Nov. 13-15 Pomona, Calif. TF Lucas FC MATT TF FC

DSR TOTALS: TF = 14 FC = 7 TF= 1 FC= 3

DSR 2014 SEASON TOTALS

2 - World championships (Tony’s 8th in Top Fuel, Matt’s 2nd in Funny Car) 14 - Top Fuel event titles (Antron 6, Tony 5, Spencer 3)

7 - Funny Car event titles (Matt 4, Ron 2, Tommy 1, Jack 0)

DSR ALL-TIME TOTALS 13 - World championships (Tony 8, Matt 2, Antron 1, Jack Beckman 1, Gary Scelzi 1)

245 - NHRA Mello Yello event titles (Top Fuel 125, Funny Car 99, Pro Stock 3, Pro Stock Motorcycle 18)

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 and reigning world champion Tony Schumacher, the 2012 NHRA Top Fuel world champion Matco Tools/U.S. Army dragster driven by Antron Brown and the Red Fuel by Schumacher/Sandvik Coromant dragster driven by Spencer Massey; and in Funny Car, two-time and reigning world champion Matt Hagan in the Mopar Express Lane/Rocky Boots 2015 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 245 NHRA national event titles and 13 world championships.

Follow Don Schumacher Racing at ShoeRacing.com, on Twitter at @shoeracing and Facebook.com/shoeracing

Don Schumacher Racing ShoeRacing.com - (317) 858-0356

Jeff Wolf Leah Vaughn wolfj@shoeracing.com vaughnl@shoeracing.com (702) 524-1368, cell (618) 516-1988, cell