The Legend Continues
When Don Schumacher hung up his helmet and disbanded his Stardust Funny Car Team in 1974, a huge sigh of relief was heard from rivals like Gene Snow and Raymond Beadle in Texas, Pat Foster and Don Prudhomme in California and the late “Jungle Jim” Liberman in Pennsylvania. “The Shoe” was at the top of his game in 1974 when he retired to devote full time energy to his family business, Schumacher Electric Corporation, outside of Chicago.
As a driver, Schumacher is remembered for his unequaled record in match races across the country. As the sport reached its early stages of organization, Don won the 1972 Coca-Cola Cavalcade of Stars Championship, the 1973 AHRA World Championship, five NHRA National Event titles and nine IHRA event titles. His Plymouth Barracuda Funny Cars were dubbed “Stardust” and they were usually listed in the record books with runs like 6.18 seconds at 241.95 MPH in 1974. He was an early ambassador to England where he set long-standing records with the same 1970 Plymouth that he drove to a U.S. Nationals victory.
As a car owner, Don’s record was even more impressive. His engine, clutch, and aerodynamic advancements made his Funny Cars the leading performers in the country and his safety innovations, like roof-mounted escape hatches, reduced the threat of fire-related injuries at a time when many Funny Car drivers suffered serious burns.
Taking a business-like approach decades ahead of other racers, Don secured major sponsorship from Wonder Bread for a four-car fleet of Chevrolet Vega Wagon Funny Cars at a time when most racers were willing to trade sponsorship on their cars for free hotel rooms.
In late 1974, with five-year-old son, Tony, one-year-old daughter, Tara, and another daughter, Samantha, on the way and a family business in need of his supervision, Don announced his retirement from drag racing. To no one’s surprise, Don approached his business with the same work ethic and professionalism which made him a racing champion. Today, Schumacher Electric Corp. is the world’s foremost manufacturer of battery chargers with numerous additional product lines, like Schumacher Electric Welders, in widespread distribution.
More than 700 employees work in the four Schumacher Electric Corporation manufacturing facilities located in Mt. Prospect and Hoopeston, Ill. Rensselaer, Ind. and Brownsville, Tex., with additional offshore resources.
Don’s interest in drag racing returned when son Tony began racing NHRA sportsman cars in the early 1990s. As Tony progressed from driving sportsman cars to a 300 MPH Jet Dragster, a 250 MPH Alcohol Funny Car and two years at the wheel of the Peek Brothers’ 300 MPH Top Fuel Dragster, Don’s passion kicked into high gear. With Don’s business savvy and Tony’s exceptional driving and public relations talent, the Schumacher team would have enormous potential.
Don signed a Top Fuel sponsorship agreement and began assembling his new race team in July 1998. And in its first full year with a major sponsor, Schumacher Racing captured the 1999 NHRA Winston Championship. Schumacher’s racing effort helps his sponsors reach an additional two million potential customers that annually attend NHRA drag racing events around the country.
In 2000, Don Schumacher Racing partnered with the U.S. Army in what’s already been labeled as one of the greatest sponsorships in NHRA drag racing. Four years later, Don Schumacher delivered to the U.S. Army its first NHRA POWERade Top Fuel world title -- an amazing feat to be sure.
Don Schumacher has always been a winner, leader and a great role model for his son. He has enjoyed great success as a Funny Car owner and driver and as an entrepreneur with his business interests. There is no question that his commitment to his Top Fuel team will produce more event victories for Tony and the team.
