DRIVER
TONY SCHUMACHER: "The Sarge"
No one in NHRA Top Fuel history has accomplished what Tony "The Sarge" Schumacher has behind the wheel of his U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster. Schumacher owns seven world titles, 69 career wins, 119 final round appearances and 71 career poles. He has compiled the most wins among Top Fuel drivers and ranks fifth on the all-time pro victories list behind John Force, Warren Johnson, Bob Glidden and Kenny Bernstein. The 2012 season only added to his great accomplishments by finishing in the top five in points for the 11th straight season and qualifying for every race, bringing his qualifying streak to 223; second on the NHRA active driver list.
Schumacher continues to demonstrate the mental, emotional and physical strengths of our Army Strong Soldiers, similar to his championship run in 2009. Working with an entirely new race crew, "The Sarge" piloted the U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster to his sixth consecutive Top Fuel crown. He also captured the prestigious U.S. Nationals for the ninth time in his career surpassing "Big Daddy" Don Garlits for the most all-time Top Fuel wins at that event.
Tony’s 2008 season was one for the NHRA record books as well. With the U.S. Army colors adorning his Top Fuel dragster, Schumacher secured his Top Fuel-record sixth career world title, and became the winningest driver in Top Fuel history with his 53rd career win at ZMax raceway in Charlotte, N.C. During his record-setting season, he also set marks for most consecutive Top Fuel victories in a single season (7) and most consecutive round wins (31).
"The Sarge" made NHRA U.S Army racing history in 2007 when he rallied from 67 points down in the standings to earn his fourth straight world championship. His 2007 title tied him with Don "The Snake" Prudhomme for most consecutive titles with the U.S. Army as his sponsor. Another dramatic comeback came during Schumacher’s 2006 world championship win. Tony grabbed the 2006 crown with a victory during the final round at the last race of the year, while setting a national elapsed-time record for the quarter-mile (4.428-seconds) in the process. It was the biggest comeback in NHRA history. The stunning comeback win came on the heels of back-to-back world championship seasons for Schumacher and the U.S. Army Top Fuel racing team in 2004-2005.
After watching his father, Don "The Shoe" Schumacher, dominate the NHRA Funny Car class in the 1970s, it was only a matter of time before a young Tony Schumacher began his drag racing career. While Tony turned professional in 1996, it was three years later when the California native had his coming-out party driving for his dad’s newly formed Top Fuel team. In his first full NHRA season, he captured his first world championship, and set the foundation for a historic career in racing.
Born on December 25, 1969, Schumacher lives in the Chicago suburbs with his wife, Cara; two sons, Anthony and Michael; and daughter, Jacqueline.
The presence of any information identifying private companies or other non-federal entities does not constitute an endorsement by the Department of the Army or the Department of Defense.
- NHRA Video Blog 1 - Army Racing Team
- NHRA Video Blog 2 - Army Racing Team
- NHRA Video Blog 3 - Army Racing Team
- NHRA Video Blog 4 - Army Racing Team
- NHRA Video Blog 5 - Army Racing Team
- NHRA Video Blog 6 - Army Racing Team
NHRA VIDEO BLOG 5
Army Racing Team
Moderator: We're here with Tony Schumacher at the zMax Dragway in Charlotte, NC, the Carolina Nationals. Tony, tell us how your U.S. Army Top Fuel team is approaching this first race in the countdown to 1?
Tony Schumacher: I think aggressively would be an understatement, because we just came off a win at Indy, we have a great car, and we learned a lot there actually...we learned a great deal from the early runs on race day. To be able to get strong, we got beat in some very close races this year, but to get it figured out and turned around at the right time is always key. We do a lot of testing for this moment, this is a huge moment. And when it comes down to big races we prepare for them, we test for them, and we get ready for them. At Indy I said, "we're done playing." We figured it out, we got it, and all that testing is pushed aside and let's go out and win and that's what we did. And I think we're getting the right handle on it at the right time. We got not only my car, not only the U.S. Army car is going fast, but Cory Mac's Fram car/team car is doing an outstanding job. We're working so well together. I think we're going to gain off each other's car, we'll learn from watching the car run before us like we did today and we'll be good. I wouldn't want to race the Army car on any given day. We're a great team/best team I've ever seen and it's probably the driver.
Moderator: Now you're the defending champion of the Carolina Nationals and that was a major step in the right direction last year when you won this event in winning your 5th consecutive World Championship. I would imaging getting off on the right foot this weekend is extremely important.
Tony Schumacher: Well no question about it. We won last year. It was our 53rd win, which broke the record for Top Fuel being the winningest, I like to say winningest team ever. You know its winningest driver, but really its about team and obviously we all know that. Getting back to the place where you're undefeated, there's only been 1 race here and we've won it, that's key. So, we come to a track where we're good at. We've got guys who are more determined and digging deeper than anything I've ever seen before. We've been through a lot of adversity with my crew chief last year who we won 5 championships with leaving. And here we are at crunch time, basically a huge, huge weight of the world moment and we're going to have to pull it off. That's what it's about. That's what you're counting on, that's what we've prepared for, and that's what we plan on giving you.
Moderator: As always we like to close these video blogs with a message to the troops, to the hard working Soldiers. Obviously, you're going to be shooting for another World Championship this year, can you win for them? Obviously that's the goal.
Tony Schumacher: No question. I think the Army has been apart of me now for 10 years. Some of the guys that are overseas, some of you guys who are watching right now are part of the reason I was involved with your enlistment and to watch you guys grow and see you come back from trips is simply amazing. To hear the stories of what you guys are accomplishing over there and the great things you're doing is really keeps me invovled because you know I don't sell beer and I don't sell tools, I sell a way of life and I ask people to put themselves in harms way to do a job and I have to believe in that. Man I believe 110% what we're doing. You guys are amazing. Americans are so behind you. It's a blessing to drive your car.
Moderator: Good luck this weekend. We'll come back again with another video blog in a couple weeks and hopefully we'll have a better idea of where you'll be standing and in serious contention for another World Championship.
Tony Schumacher: No question about it. Army Strong! We'll see you soon.
