Legendary NHRA team owner, Don Schumacher, died on Wednesday due to complications of a battle with lung cancer. Schumacher was 79.
We are deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of driver and legendary championship team owner Don Schumacher. Our hearts are with his family and friends.
More on Don?s life and legacy: https://t.co/xQTTP0PqDJ pic.twitter.com/jZsHQCGL8z
— NHRA (@NHRA) December 21, 2023
Schumacher has one of the most decorated careers in NHRA history:
- Motorsports Hall of Famer (2019)
- International Motorsports Hall of Fame (2013)
- Drag Racing Hall of Famer (2007)
- 367 Event victories as an owner
- 19 Championships as an owner
- 5 Funny Car Race Wins
In the 1960's and '70s, Schumacher was a Funny Car match racer. He fielded his Stardust Funny Cars with the world's best drivers at the time.
After his time there, Schumacher left motorsports as a whole to grow his family business, Schumacher Electric. During this time, Schumacher was able to increase the company value more than ten-fold while employing thousands of people around the world.
1998 saw the return of Schumacher to NHRA as he built a team with son Tony Schumacher. This was the birth of Don Schumacher Racing. The very next year in 1999, Don Schumacher Racing hoisted their first championship.
Schumacher managed to keep the family business going along with the drag racing program.
"Besides the drag racing, I have another 2,000 employees on the other side of my business," Schumacher said. "In every company, you have to make decisions and look at the people who are there and coming up and moving around and make the decision to put the right people in the right place and to do the right thing at the right time. Undoubtedly that's some unknown ability that I seem to have been lucky with."
Schumacher was able to use his team's success to raise money and awareness for a multitude of charities. Before the U.s Nationals every year, Don Schumacher Racing hosts a pre-race event at its Brownsburg, In Headquarters. This event is used to benefit Riley Hospital for Children. For seven years, had a program called 'Giving cars' which allowed non-profit organizations to have a tribute livery at no cost for the organization.
Don Schumacher made his presence known on and off the track. A figure in auto racing whos absence will be felt as the time goes on.
