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Tony Schumacher
Tony Schumacher Fun Facts
Tony Schumacher (born December 25, 1969 in California), is an American drag racer, currently competing in the NHRA Top Fuel class, of which he is a six-time champion (breaking a record set by fellow drag racer Joe Amato), winning the last six years consecutively (2004-2009). In 1999 he was the first driver to exceed 330 mph in competition. He also has the world record for 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 Charlotte, N.C., Tony surpassed Joe Amato as the winningest driver in NHRA Top Fuel history with his 53rd career victory.
Schumacher is the son of legendary 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."
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 consists of Funny Car driver Del Worsham and the driver Schumacher considers his biggest rival, Larry Dixon. Many fans and media members felt Schumacher would not see 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.
He enjoys playing guitar. He also co-owns and operates a home brewing and winemaking supply business called Perfect Brewing Supply. He is a distant relative of the 7 time Formula One world Champion Michael Schumacher.
The very first race Schumacher qualified for in his career was in 1996, at the MAC Tools U.S. Nationals, qualifying 16th. However, during that event, tragedy struck during qualifying when then points leader Blaine Johnson was killed in an accident. Schumacher would've raced Blaine the following day, he honored the fallen driver, as he idled down the track. He would make it all the way to the finals, before losing to his current DSR teammate, Cory McClenethan. In 2007, Schumacher joined Michael Anthony (ex Van Halen Bassist) on stage at the Chicago Theater.
In 2008, along with 14 time Funny Car Champion John Force, and former champion Funny Car, and Top Fuel driver Kenny Bernstein, in concert with NHRA's track safety programs, Schumacher helped develop a sensor that detects any engine backfire in a nitromethane engine, and takes corrective steps to protect the driver, shutting down the fuel pump, and deploying the parachutes. This experiment was as a direct result of the death of Funny Car driver Scott Kalitta, and according to several drivers should dramatically cut down on the number of accidents caused by engine explosions.
