COLUMN: Schumacher Says No Change Is Needed

Don Schumacher is one of the most powerful men in drag racing.

Competitor. Innovator. Leader. Whatever you call him, Schumacher commands respect across the motorsports universe.

Schumacher made one point clear Sunday morning at Bristol Dragway: He’s not happy about some proposed changes in his high-stakes sport.

“We shouldn’t change what we’re doing,” Schumacher said. “We’re seeing the best side-by-side racing we’ve ever seen.”

Officials from the National Hot Rod Association technical department will return to Thunder Valley today for a nitro engine spec test with Funny Car driver Tim Wilkerson.

Monday’s experiment is believed to be the first step in an eventual return to the traditional 1,320 feet race distance for the nitromethane-fueled Funny Car and Top Fuel dragster classes.

To the dismay of many fans, the NHRA switched to the 1,000 feet distance last year for safety reasons. The death of Funny Car driver Scott Kalitta during a qualifying accident in New Jersey prompted the switch.

Schumacher favors keeping the distance at 1,000 feet for several reasons.

“We’re also seeing less down time from oil-downs and blow-ups, and it’s a safer form of racing,” Schumacher said, speaking from the elaborate Don Schumacher Racing compound at Bristol Dragway.

Schumacher offered an illustration of what a change back to the traditional distance for drag races could mean to drivers and teams.

“Currently if the cars run 318 miles per hour at the 1,000 foot distance, by the time they shut the engine off and drop the parachute at 1,320 feet they’re going about 275 mph,” Shumacher said.

“If they change it to where we’re running 1,320 feet again, it means the drivers are going 25 mph faster at the 1,320 foot mark and we’ve lost that 320 feet of shutdown area.

“I strongly feel a move back to 1,320 feet would be a mistake that will make obsolete millions of dollars of race parts and inventory. That cost to the team owners will ultimately get passed along.”

Schumacher, who has also rented Bristol Dragway today for a test session for his teams, said he would appreciate more communication and understanding from NHRA officials about the spec engine testing process.

“They haven’t talked to team owners and they haven’t talked to the Professional Owners Association,” Schumacher said. “It’s a shame. It’s very frustrating and very disappointing. There are a lot of adjectives you could use.

“I just don’t understand why. We’re supposed to be partners in this business. It’s not a way to treat a partner.”

NHRA vice president of technical operations Glenn Gray issued a statement Saturday assuring teams and fans that today’s test is simply part of an ongoing research process and that the data will be shared with all the teams.

Shumacher, who owns five NHRA teams this season, knows business and success. The Schumacher roster of drivers has won 128 national events since 1998. That resume includes six NHRA Full Throttle Top Fuel championships won by Schumacher’s son, Tony.

Factoring in the cost of salaries, taxes, shop maintenance and various other expenses, Schumacher said it costs his team nearly $15,000 every time one of his Funny Cars or Top Fop dragsters makes a run down the track.

That’s another reason why Schumacher prefers stability at the top levels of drag racing.

“We have to find ways to control and reduce the costs rather than spending a lot of money in developing a whole new engine program,” Schumacher said.

Like owners in other forms of motorsports, Schumacher emphasizes efficiency in his operation, which includes Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock motorcycles.

“This is a tough time for every business right now,” Schumacher said. “It’s difficult on the consumer and difficult on everyone else.

“Attendance and everything is down, but NHRA, the track owners, the promoters and the teams are making adjustments to try to reduce costs and pass that on to the spectator.

“The key is to keep the spectators as engaged and involved in the sport. I think the NHRA, Bruton Smith and everybody here at Bristol are doing a great job of that.”

As a driver, Schumacher is remembered as one of the most fierce match racers to ever compete in a Funny Car.

Schumacher also pioneered a variety of safety innovations, with advancements in the engine, clutch and aerodynamic areas.

“Things have come a long way from the time I joined the sport in the early 1960s to the time I retired in 1970s,” Schumacher said. “There were so many issues at that time, with the gas prices, energy crisis, interest costs and business softness.

“We didn’t know what was going to happen. There was even talk of putting mufflers on all of the cars for noise pollution.”

Through a mix of foresight, research and courage, drag racing has progressed into a nationally televised 24-event spectacle that crisscrosses the country.

“The NHRA and the sport have made great strides to get where we are now today,” Schumacher said. “Where are we going to be 10 years from now?”

It’s a question everyone in the sports needs to keep asking.”

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