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, 67 career wins, 110 final round appearances and 67 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 2011 season only added to his great accomplishments by finishing in the top five in points for the 10th straight season and qualifying for every race, bringing his qualifying streak to 200; 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 eighth time in his career tying "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 3
Army Racing Team
Announcer: We're here at Brainerd International Raceway for the Lucas Oil Nationals, this is three more races to go for the count down to one. Tell us what your goals and objectives are as you get ready for the post-season playoffs.
Tony: Well I think when you get down to the last couple of races you spend as much time as possible testing, getting ready so that we can turn over the countdown, down to seven races. Whether it's the chassis, the engine or the clutch, we have basically the car, the parts and pieces; we're going to carry out to the last seven races.
We don't want to switch, we don't want to run out of clutch discs, we don't want to run out of tires, we want to have want ever we going to use. So we'll test the next three weeks, cause we want to win the races, we want to get it to work effectively together and we've been testing for the last couple of races, but right now it's very important to get it figured out.
We also want to win, we don't want to sound like we're trying to lose any of the races, there's a few that really stand out, greatest races in Indianapolis. We've won it seven times, we have a chance this year if we win it eight times. Big Daddy Don Garlin is the winningest Indy Driver ever; it's something to hope for. If we can't win a championship, it's the race you'd have to win. It's something very few people ever have a chance to win. We'd been fortunate to win a lot, so we're going to go forward. Brainerd is very hot, we're going to see heat in the next couple of races anyway, so we've got to get used to it.
Announcer: Now you talk about wanting to win the next three races despite the testing that you'll be doing. Obviously your goal is always is to win races for the Soldiers.
Tony: Well no doubt about it. I wear the United States Army Uniform and all the Soldiers overseas doing their job and give them hopefully a little bit of inspiration. We've set up the media and send them the links where they can download and watch the races. We're out there doing a great job for the U.S. Army. Just showing them support that's really what its all about. The fans out here are so amazing, they really want the Soldiers to know that that they love them and that their behind them and that's what we're trying to do to give them a little piece of America out on the race track.
