Few figured Tony Schumacher would be able to lead the National Hot Rod Association’s Top Fuel class. Some even predicted that his pursuit of an unprecedented seventh Top Fuel championship would be rather pitiful.
This for a man who had won a record 15 of 24 events and raked in every driver-of the-year award in 2008.
But Schumacher’s team dramatically changed when Alan Johnson, who tuned Schumacher to five of his six series championships, left to form his Al-Anabi Racing team — and his entire crew bolted to join him. The consensus? Schumacher would fizzle.
But he’s won at Houston, Las Vegas, and Bristol, Tenn. He is 20-6 in elimination rounds.
“We started this year with everyone telling us we’d probably never win another race,” said Long Grove-resident Schumacher, who took up the guitar three years ago to help his concentration before “big moments.” “To be sitting here with three wins in the first eight races is very satisfying, I’m not going to lie.
“Our team is working so well right now. I don’t think there’s a guy on this team that would rather be somewhere else,” he said of his crew, lead by Mike Green. “It’s a group that wants to get up in the morning and go racing.”
With his guitar, Schumacher likes to sing Waylon Jennings songs to amuse himself before he feels that power of a semi truck plowing into the back of him, knocking him from zero to 100 m.p.h. in less than eight-tenths of a second.
One of his favorite Jennings’ songs goes like this:
Speeding my young life away
Tell me one more time just so I understand
Are you sure Hank done it this way?
No, Hank didn’t do it this way. Hank Williams had his own style.
Tony Schumacher has his.
He might seem crazy by average standards. The ride, the rush — Schumacher clearly loves the do-or-die drama. Two years in a row he earned the championship by winning the final round of the final race.
Schumacher losing his team? Jennings has a song for that.
Didn’t we shine?
Didn’t we share and care
And lay our hearts on the line?
Maybe it wasn’t meant to last
‘Til the end of time
Oh, but while it did
Didn’t we shine?
Schumacher still is shining.
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NHRA at Route 66, Joliet
What: NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series featuring four categories: Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle.
Where: Route 66 Raceway, Joliet.
Friday: Sportsman qualifying and eliminations, 8 a.m. Professional qualifying, 2:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Saturday: Sportsman eliminations, 8 a.m. Professional qualifying, noon and 3 p.m. Jeg’s All-Stars eliminations, 10:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Sunday: Final eliminations, 11 a.m.
2008 winners: Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel), Tony Pedregon (Funny Car), Kurt Johnson (Pro Stock) and Chris Rivas (Pro Stock Motorcycle)
Tickets: Available through Ticketmaster or call (815) 727-7223 (RACE).
General admission:
Thursday: Adults $13, juniors (12 years and under) free
Friday: Adults $41, juniors $11
Saturday: Adults $48, juniors $11
Sunday: Adults $56, juniors $11
