DSR rolls to Brainerd, Indy after 4-of-6 Western Swing wins

Two races remain in Mello Yello regular season, Countdown looms One year after Don Schumacher Racing was shut out of Western Swing winner’s circles for the first time since 2002, Tommy Johnson Jr. and the Make-A-Wish Funny Car team won on Aug. 9 near Seattle to give DSR 4 of 6 titles on this year’s three-race Swing. The grueling 5,600-mile roundtrip trek included stops at Denver, Sonoma, Calif., and Seattle, and DSR returned to headquarters in Brownsburg, Ind., with more than just four NHRA Wally trophies that pushed its total to 13 in Funny Car and eight in Top Fuel over the first 16 races in the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. Jack Beckman (Infinite Hero) posted the three quickest runs ever in a Funny Car including a national record run and Matt Hagan (Rocky Boots/Mopar) logged the fastest run ever.

“The DSR Funny Cars have won all kinds of races so I had to catch up because I only had one,” said Tommy, who won for the second time this year with crew chief John Collins and assistant Rip Reynolds in their 2015 Dodge Charger R/T. The win by Tommy and the Make-A-Wish team moved them to third in points behind teammates Matt Hagan (Rocky Boots/Mopar Express Lane), who is in the lead, and Jack Beckman (Infinite Hero), who is second and only five points behind Hagan.

A Wally winning day for the Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger R/T. From Left: assistant crew chief Rip Reynolds, sponsor Terry Chandler, Tommy Johnson Jr. and crew chief John Collins.

Quickest in history by Jack Beckman and Infinite Hero team.

In addition to Tommy’s Swing title, Jack won twice and Top Fuel teammate Antron Brown won once. DSR now has won 261 national event titles including 21 this year. For Jack and the Infinite Hero team, which along with Matt have clinched spots for the six-race Countdown to the Championship playoff, the weekend was memorable as its Dodge was dominant throughout including its run of 3.912 seconds at 322.88 mph in Seattle that is the

quickest ever by a Funny Car. That followed the previous weekend at Sonoma when Jack recorded a time of 3.921 that at the time was the quickest ever, and he was able to back up that time with another run at Sonoma within 1 percent of that time to set the NHRA national elapsed time record. “If you would’ve told me three weeks ago that we would make the three quickest runs in Funny Car history, back up the national record, win two races and close within five points of Hagan and (his crew chief Dickie) Venables I would say sign me up for that,” said Jack, who has won five times this year. Top Fuel points leader Tony Schumacher (U.S. Army) and Antron Brown (Matco Tools) also have earned spots in the Countdown.

SONOMA: July 31 - Aug. 2 Jack, Jimmy, Infinite Hero team dominate; Antron wins Top Fuel The memorable weekend at Sonoma Raceway near San Francisco included the 50th time since 2003 that DSR has left an NHRA Mello Yello event with at least two trophies after Antron Brown won for the fourth time this season with the Matco Tools/U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster team and Jack Beckman won for the fifth time with the Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car team. It is the third time in four races when Jack left with the Wally trophy and only the second time in his career that he’s won back-to-back races, the other was on the Western Swing (Seattle and Denver) in 2007. It is the sixth time this season DSR swept the nitro classes. Antron and Jack also earned No. 1 qualifying positions. “I think the world of Jimmy to say the least. I’m thrilled he’s come on board,” said DSR owner Don Schumacher. “I’m hoping that he’s having a great, great time. That’s really the special part about it.

Spencer Massey (Red Fuel/Sandvik Coromant) set a Pacific Raceways record in Top Fuel with a speed of 328.30 mph

“Antron and Brian and Mark have won a lot for DSR but to me this is a real special weekend and a real special win for Jimmy Prock. Jack got to ride that horse but Jimmy is the one who built the horse.” The successful weekend also includes the quickest ever run in a Funny Car by Jack with Prock and assistants John Medlen and Chris Cunningham that set the national elapsed time record at 3.921 seconds to earn the Infinite Hero team a 20-point bonus. Matt Hagan and the Mopar/Rocky recorded the fastest run ever by a Funny Car on a 1,000-foot course when their Dodge reached 325.77 mph on a run Friday when he recorded his career best time at 3.967 seconds.

Brown tightened the Top Fuel points race when he beat teammate and points leader Tony Schumacher (U.S. Army) in the semifinals and cut Schumacher’s lead to 37 points. Despite all of those DSR highlights in Napa wine country, it will be hard for anyone to match what the Infinite Hero team accomplished. In addition to what has been noted, the team earned 147 out of a possible 150 points during the event and only Hagan in 20011 has done that before in NHRA. “Everything about this win makes it extra special, but I haven’t had a bad win this year,” said Jack, who earned his second pole of the year and 12th of his career before ending the day with his 20th win. “Since we got the trophy and qualified first and set the national record it’s icing on top of icing on top of the cake. It couldn’t have been any better.” Of Beckman’s eight runs down the Sonoma track, the Infinite Hero Dodge ran in the 3-second range on five runs.

Matt Hagan with crew chief Dickie Venables and the Mopar/Rocky team uncorked the fastest run ever at 1,000 feet in a Funny Car with a speed of 325.77 mph in 3.967 seconds that is the quickest of his career.

DENVER: July 24-26 Jack starts hot Western Swing with win by Infinite Hero Dodge The journey up the mountain often is better than the view once you get to the peak. This best sums up the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing season for Jack Beckman and Don Schumacher Racing’s Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car team and crew chief Jimmy Prock with assistants John Medlen and Chris Cunningham. Consider that the first time the quartet worked together was this year’s opener at Pomona, Calif., when the team failed to qualify to race in championship

eliminations. Since then, the climb up has been steady and on July 26 at Bandimere Speedway near Denver the Infinite Hero team funded by Terry Chandler won for the fourth time in 14 races and moved to second in the Mello Yello standings. The four wins is the most for Jack in one season. “Jimmy is just absolutely incredible, he’s bold,” Jack said. “Here’s the deal, we know what Jimmy is capable of, we know John Medlen’s reputation. I hope that this starts to

put Chris Cunningham on the map too because I wish you could see the way they interact. Chris is so much more than an assistant. (Chris) and Jimmy are bouncing ideas, and John has his own computer. The harmony there is perfect.” Team owner Don Schumacher added, “A gratifying win. It was tremendous for Jack to go out there and win this race for Mopar, for DSR and to take that Force car out in the final with John driving it.”

Sonoma Raceway president

Steve Paige presents

Ron Capps with a plaque

to honor his induction

onto Sonoma's Wall of Fame.

COUNTDOWN CLOSING IN Points increase awaits Indy elimination rounds This week’s event at Brainerd and the prestigious U.S. Nationals two weeks later near Indianapolis are the last races of the 18-event Mello Yello series regular season. After the Sept. 3-7 U.S. Nationals, the top-10 drivers in each of four Mello Yello pro categories will earn chances to win NHRA world championships in the Countdown to the Championship. Points standings will be reset with the top seed in each holding a 30-point edge over No. 2 and the other eight drivers separated by 10-point increments. Adding drama at Indy, is a new feature that increases the points paid out per round in eliminations from 20 to 30, and that can play havoc with the final regular season standings.

Jack’s fans flip over Infinite Hero challenge coins DSR eBay store offers collector coins, Infinite Hero race-tested firesuit

Jack Beckman has been the busiest driver at NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events this past month and not just because his Infinite Hero Funny Car team won two of the past three races along with running the three quickest times in NHRA Funny Car history. The popular driver from Southern California and former U.S. Air Force sergeant has a mission perhaps more important than the one driving his 2015 Dodge Charger R/T race car for Don Schumacher Racing. While most drivers promote products or services, Jack promotes the Infinite Hero Foundation (InfiniteHero.org) to raise funds for programs that drive innovation and the accessibility of effective treatments for military heroes and their families dealing with service-related mental and physical injuries. He carries at least 10 Infinite Hero challenge coins on each trip down the dragstrip and then autographs them and adds the time of the run to personalizes them for fans at the track who make a $100 donation to Infinite Hero. As an added bonus, Jack signs and numbers five coins after each event that are available at eBay.com’s DSR store. http://stores.ebay.com/donschumacherracing/ One of Jack’s Infinite Hero firesuits will be up for auction late this week with all proceeds going to Infinite Hero. Jack was extra busy during the three-race Western Swing when he won titles at Denver and Sonoma, Calif., and was a semifinalist Aug. 9 near Seattle. It also helped that during the Western Swing the team led by crew chief Jimmy Prock with assistants John Medlen and Chris Cunningham produced the three quickest runs ever in a Funny Car (3.912, 3.921 and 3.958 seconds). Jack estimates about $30,000 was raised at his pit area during the Western Swing that brings this year’s total to nearly $100,000. The challenge coin campaign began at the sixth race of the 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Series season. “The way our car has performed the last few races has had to help,” he said. “I could hardly keep up with the fans. It’s been a frenzy, and the more we win the more fans want those iconic coins.”

The coin is 1 3/4 inches in diameter.

And it’s all for Riley Kids 10th annual DSR Open House kicks off U.S. Nationals weekend on Sept. 4 with NHRA’s best, car & bike show, silent auction, more! Much has changed at Don Schumacher Racing since opening its massive headquarters near Indianapolis in 2005. A year later, DSR invited the public to attend an open-house tour and began to raise funds and awareness for Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health. On Sept. 4, a Friday, the 10th annual DSR Open House will add to its contributions of more than $300,000 from DSR’s friends, fans and family for Riley Kids. The festive event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on that Friday will feature a giant car and bike show, “Cacklefest,” silent auction, various displays, contests and some of the area’s best food trucks. All seven DSR drivers will be joined by owner Don Schumacher for an hour-long autograph session. DSR’s support for Riley, Indiana’s only comprehensive hospital dedicated exclusively to the care of children, will extend for a second year to running the #RileyDreamRacer Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car with driver Tommy Johnson Jr. and funded by Terry Chandler. The Riley Kids Funny Car will be joined by the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge on display from Sept. 1 to Sept 8 in the Indianapolis International Airport.

DON SCHUMACHER RECEIVES ‘MOPAR PRESIDENT’S AWARD’ NHRA hall-of-fame Funny Car pioneer and team owner Don Schumacher was presented the “Mopar President’s Award” during the Mopar Mile-High Nationals for his outstanding contributions as a brand ambassador who upholds the qualities and values that add to Mopar’s legacy and reputation. Ross McGinnis, vice president Mopar Sales & Product Development, and Tricia Hecker, head of Mopar marketing, had the pleasure of presenting the award to Don on behalf of Mopar president and CEO Pietro Gorlier. The Mopar President’s Award was created to recognize motorsport pioneers and legends who have been affiliated with Mopar throughout their career. Previous recipients of the Mopar President’s Award include Allen and Roy Johnson (2013), the man regarded as the “Father of the HEMI,” Tom Hoover (2014), and drag racing legend “Big Daddy” Don Garlits (2015).

Tricia Hecker, left, and Ross McGinnis, far right, present Don Schumacher with the prestigious 'Mopar President's Award' during the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals.

DSR PHOTO PAGE, PROVIDED BY …

And don’t forget to follow us: Facebook.com/shoeracing

Twitter (@shoeracing) ShoeRacing.com

NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series results (NOTE: order of events only correct for 2015)

REGULAR SEASON 2013 DSR WINNNERS 2014 WINNERS 2015 WINNERS 1. Feb. 6-8 Pomona, Calif. TF Langdon/FC C. Force TF alBalooshi FC J. Force TF Langdon FC MATT 2. Feb. 20-22 Phoenix TF TONY/FC RON TF ANTRON FC DeJoria TF TONY FC MATT

3. March 13-15 G’ville, Fla. TF ANTRON/FC GRAY TF Kalitta FC Hight TF SPENCER FC RON 4. March 27-29 Charlotte TF SPENCER/FC MATT TF ANTRON FC Hight TF ANTRON FC JACK #100 5. April 10-12 Las Vegas TF TONY/FC Cruz TF TONY FC DeJoria TF Crampton FC J. Force

6. April 24-26 Houston TF Vandergriff/FC Cruz TF ANTRON FC Hight TF Kalitta FC RON 7. May 15-17 Atlanta (PSM) TF ANTRON/FC GRAY TF SPENCER FC Hight TF ANTRON FC Wilkerson 8. May 22-24 Topeka, Kan. TF Langdon/FC GRAY TF SPENCER FC C. Force TF Crampton FC JACK #250

9. June 5-7 Englishtown TF Langdon/FC MATT TF Crampton FC C. Pedregon TF ANTRON FC MATT 10. June 12-14 Epping, N.H. TF SPENCER/FC C. Force TF TONY FC RON TF TONY FC J. Force 11. June 19-21 Bristol TF S. Torrence/FC J. Force TF Langdon FC TOMMY TF Crampton FC MATT

12. July 3-5 Norwalk, Ohio TF alBalloshi/FC GRAY TF ANTRON FC J. Force TF Kalitta FC JACK 13. July 10-12 Chicago TF TONY/FC MATT TF ANTRON FC MATT TF TONY FC TOMMY 14. July 24-26 Denver TF SPENCER/FC Cruz TF Todd FC Hight TF Torrence FC JACK

15. Jul 31-Au. 2 Sonoma TF Langdon/FC RON TF alBalooshi FC C. Force TF ANTRON FC JACK 16. Aug. 7-9 Seattle TF Lucas/ FC MATT TF Kalitta FC J. Force TF Todd FC TOMMY 17. Aug. 21-23 Brainerd TF SPENCER/FC RON TF Lucas FC RON (Indy) TF FC

18. Sep. 3-7 Indianapolis TF Langdon/FC Hight TF Crampton FC DeJoria TF FC FC Traxxas JACK TF Traxxas TONY TF FC COUNTDOWN 2013 DSR WINNERS 2014 WINNERS 2015 WINNERS

19. Sept. 18-20 Charlotte TF Lucas/FC Hight TF TONY (Dallas) FC MATT (Dallas) TF FC 20. Sept.25-27 St. Louis TF ANTRON/FC J. Force TF ANTRON FC C. Force TF FC 21. Oct. 2-4 Reading, Pa. TF Langdon/FC J. Force TF TONY FC MATT TF FC

22. Oct. 16-18 Dallas TF Kalitta/FC Cruz TF TONY FC C. Force TF FC 23, Oc. 30-Nv. 1 Las Vegas TF ANTRON/FC J. Force TF SPENCER FC Worsham TF FC 24. Nov. 13-15 Pomona TF Langdon/FC MATT TF Lucas FC MATT TF FC

DSR TOTALS: TF = 11/FC = 12 TF = 14 FC = 7 TF = 8 FC = 13 DSR 2015 SEASON TOTALS

8 - Top Fuel event titles (Antron 4, Tony 3, Spencer 1)

13 - Funny Car event titles (Jack 5, Matt 4, Ron 2, Tommy 2)

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) 261 - NHRA Mello Yello event titles (Top Fuel 130, Funny Car 106, Pro Stock 3, Pro Stock Motorcycles 18)

2015 NHRA MELLO YELLO CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (Official after Seattle; 16 of 24 races; DSR drivers in CAPS) TOP FUEL FUNNY CAR DRIVER (WINS) POINTS BEHIND DRIVER (WINS) POINTS BEHIND 1. TONY SCHUMACHER (3) 1,289 ---- 1. MATT HAGAN (4) 1,177 ---- 2. ANTRON BROWN (4) 1,202 -87 2. JACK BECKMAN (5) 1,172 -5 3. Larry Dixon 1,034 -255 3. TOMMY JOHNSON JR. (2) 1,063 -114 4. Richie Crampton (3) 969 -320 4. John Force (2) 1,025 -152 5. Doug Kalitta (2) 944 -345 5. Del Worsham 1,004 -173 6. JR Todd (1) 896 -393 6. RON CAPPS (2) 988 -189 7. Shawn Langdon (1) 872 -417 7. Cruz Pedregon 872 -305 8. SPENCER MASSEY (1) 855 -434 8. Tim Wilkerson (1) 870 -307 9. Brittany Force 851 -438 9. Alexis DeJoria 819 -358 10. Steve Torrence (1) 835 -454 9. Robert Hight 819 -358

DSR drivers 2015: career statistics, standings (thru Seattle; 16 of 24 races) DSR TOP FUEL

TONY SCHUMACHER: U.S. Army Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L 2015 1st 16 3 3 3 4 3 3 0 31-13 CAREER 424 80 57 67 111 101 79 8 734-336 Best Time, Speed: 3.719 sec. (2015, Topeka); 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 16 4 2 3 2 5 5 0 29-12 CAREER 326 51 (35 TF/16 PSB) 42 66 85 78 42 3 546-272

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

SPENCER MASSEY: Red Fuel Powered by Schumacher/Sandvik Coromant/ Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L 2015 8th 16 1 0 4 3 8 1 0 15-15 CAREER 136 18 14 31 31 39 8 2 205-115

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

DSR FUNNY CAR

MATT HAGAN: Rocky Boots/Mopar Express Lane Dodge Charger R/T Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L 2015 1st 16 4 1 2 6 3 3 0 29-12 CAREER 160 18 17 23 50 48 20 4 218-138

Best Time, Speed: 3.967 sec. (2015, Sonoma); 325.77-Fastest ever (2015, Sonoma)

JACK BECKMAN: Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L 2015 2nd 16 5 1 2 3 4 3 1 29-10 CAREER 220 20 21 39 61 72 13 7 280-193 Best Time, Speed: (2015, Sonoma), 3.912-quickest ever (2015, Seattle); 323.43 mph (2015, Sonoma); 3.921 sec.-NHRA record

TOMMY JOHNSON JR.: Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger R/T Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L 2015 3rd 16 2 2 2 7 3 1 0 25-14 CAREER 362 12 (10 FC/2 TF) 17 47 87 155 11 47 280-306

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

RON CAPPS: NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L 2015 6th 16 2 3 1 3 7 0 0 22-14 CAREER 451 45 (44 FC/1 TF) 45 77 91 175 16 18 560-388

Best Time, Speed: 3.964 sec., (2012, Englishtown, N.J.); 324.12 mph (2015, Topeka)

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

Jeff Wolf wolfj@shoeracing.com

Leah Vaughn vaughnl@shoeracing.com