Second half starts even better than first half for DSR, challenging Western Swing up next The 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series started very good when Matt Hagan and the Mopar Express Lane/Rocky Boots team with the all-new 2015 Dodge Charger R/T body won the season-opening Funny Car title at Pomona, Calif. That began a fantastic run through the first 12 events of the 24-race series with DSR winning 9 of 12 Funny Car titles, led by Matt’s four, and six of 12 in Top Fuel. The second half of the season started even better Sunday as DSR swept the nitro titles for the 49th time since 2003 when Tony Schumacher and the U.S. Army team led by crew chief Mike Green the Make-A-Wish team led by John Collins with driver Tommy Johnson Jr. advanced to their respective winner’s circles.

It was Tony’s 80th win in his career and third of the year while it was the first of the season for Johnson, who was the last of the seven DSR teams to qualify for the $100,000 Traxxas Nitro Shootouts to be held during the U.S. Nationals over Labor Day Weekend. The victories give DSR a total of 257 NHRA Wally trophies including 10 of a possible 13 in Funny Car and seven of 13 in Top Fuel this year. The DSR crews have been extremely busy this week before taking this weekend off that will be cherished.

ALL-TIME DSR WINS ON WESTERN SWING BY ACTIVE DRIVERS Denver: 9

(Antron Brown 2, Tony Schumacher 2, Spencer Massey 2, Jack Beckman 2, Ron Capps 1)

Sonoma: 9 (Ron Capps 4, Antron 3, Tony 2)

Seattle: 9 (Tony 4, Antron 1, Jack 1, Matt Hagan 1, Ron 2)

When DSR’s 14 race rigs head west for Denver early next week they will not return for three weeks and that means loading up with enough quality Don Schumacher Motorsports parts to produce a successful swing from Denver to Sonoma, Calif., and finally to Seattle before making the 2,300-mile return trip home. DSR is intent to have a more successful Western Swing than it did last year when no team went to a winner’s circle and only one, Antron Brown and the Matco Tools/U.S. Army team, advanced to a championship round. That’s in contrast to previous years when DSR collected 27 wins in 59 championship rounds on the Western Swing, and Antron (2009) and Tony Schumacher (2008) are two of only eight drivers to ever win all three stops in the same year.

After Seattle, the Mello Yello series resumes two weeks later at Brainerd, Minn., then returns to test the following week at Lucas Oil Raceway Park in Brownsburg, Ind., to get ready for the following week’s U.S. Nationals that will close out the regular season. After Indy, the top-10 in each of the four Mello Yello pro categories advance to compete for world championships over the year’s last six events beginning at Charlotte when points are reset with the regular season champion restarting with a 30-point lead and the rest of the field is separated by 10-point increments. A new wrinkle to this year’s 61st edition of the “Big Go” at Indy will be that traditional race points will be enhanced by 50 percent increasing the normal points by 1.5 times; the event winner will earn 150 points instead of 100, runner-up gets 120 instead of 80, semifinals losers get 90 instead of 60, second-round losers get 60 instead of 40 and first-round losers get 30 instead of 20. Each entrant who makes one qualifying runs picks up 15 points instead of 10.

ROUTE 66 NATIONALS, Joliet, Ill. – July 12

Tony, TJ give DSR 49th double-up as Tony retakes points lead Don Schumacher’s hall-of-fame drag racing career began in a garage behind his parent’s

Chicago home, and in 2003 as owner of Don Schumacher Racing he made another statement at his hometown track. That was the first time DSR swept NHRA nitro titles at the same event and it was at Route 66 Raceway in what is now the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. On Sunday, DSR won the Top Fuel and Funny Car trophies marking the 49th time the team has doubled-up by sweeping the nitro titles. This time it was new Top Fuel points leader Tony Schumacher with the U.S. Army team led by crew chief Mike Green and Tommy Johnson Jr. with the Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger R/T with crew chief John Collins. It was the third straight year DSR has won both nitro titles near Chicago.

“We’ve had great, great races here the last three years. To sweep any time at all is incredible, the guys are doing a

Tommy Johnson Jr. drove DSR's Make-A-Wish Dodge past teammate Matt Hagan in Sunday's championship round.

Tommy Johnson Jr. shared the winner's circle with his nephew, Gage.

phenomenal job. To be able to do this in front of family, friends, employees of DSR and Schumacher Electric with all of the fans here in Chicago is just phenomenal.” It was a Funny Car intrasquad battle when Johnson defeated teammate and points leader Matt Hagan, whose Mopar Express Lane/Rocky Boots team with crew chief Dickie Venables has won four titles this year but suffered his first championship round loss of the season. The victories give DSR a total of 257 NHRA Wally trophies including 10 of a possible 13 in Funny Car this year and seven of 13 in Top Fuel.

Antron Brown and the Matco Tools/U.S. Army team won the No. 1 qualifying spot with a track-record time of 3.729 seconds at 323.58 mph for their fourth pole of the season and the 41st of his career. Antron, however, lost in the semifinals to Larry Dixon that allowed Tony to take the points lead

Tony celebrates his 80th win with his family.

Antron Brown and the Matco Tools team set a track record en route to winning their fourth pole of the year.

Another winner's circle

for the U.S. Army.

SUMMIT RACING NATIONALS, Norwalk, Ohio – July 15

Prock-led Infinite Hero team a force in Funny Car Crew chief Jimmy Prock and the Infinite Hero team have transformed driver Jack Beckman and

their 2015 Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car has been transformed into a forceful wrecking machine and it won for the third time this year and moved up two spots to No. 3 in points by winning at Norwalk, Ohio, over Fourth of July Weekend. Jack’s third title of the season equals the most he has won in one season. But this victory was special because of Jimmy’s dismissal from John Force Racing late last year that enabled him to join DSR.

Jack, the 2012 Funny Car world champion, along with Prock’s assistants John Medlen and Chris Cunningham, ended the day for all three John Force Racing Funny Car teams when they eliminated John Force in the first round, Robert Hight in the quarterfinals and Courtney Force in the championship round. Beckman defeated Tim Wilkerson in the semifinals. It was reminiscent of the Mello Yello event near Atlanta in 2009 when Jack sequentially beat John Force, Hight, Wilkerson and Courtney’s older sister, Ashley Force Hood for the title.

“We came (to Norwalk) with a brand new front half on the (chassis) and an entirely new bellhousing combination because that’s what Jimmy Prock does,” Jack said. “We ran the first three qualifying runs this weekend then switched back to our old combination and it smoked the tires again. It only made it down the track one time in (four qualifying sessions) and we ended up 11th and got John Force in the first round. But we ended up in the winner’s circle. This race was awesome because of what we had to overcome.” Don Schumacher Racing came with less than one-hundredth of a second of sweeping nitro titles at a Mello Yello event for the 49th time when Doug Kalitta’s 3.823-second run slipped passed the 3.918 by Antron Brown and DSR’s Matco Tools/U.S. Army team in the final round of Top Fuel. Despite the runner-up finish, Brown was able to take a 20-point lead in the championship standings over teammate Tony Schumacher, who erased a two-point deficit to Brown in Norwalk qualifying and the former world champions started Sunday tied for the points lead. Also in Funny Car, Matt Hagan (Rocky Boots/Mopar) was upset in the second round by Courtney Force after he set Norwalk records for elapsed time on Friday night and then improved on that to earn his third pole of the year with run of 3.973 that his career best and ninth quickest ever. He also set the track speed record at 322.96 mph Friday. Hagan increased his points lead to 120 over teammate Ron Capps (NAPA AUTO PARTS Intrepid Fallen Heroes) and with Beckman moving up to third it gives DSR the 1-2-3 spots in Funny Car and in Top Fuel DSR is 1-2 with Brown and Schumacher, respectively.

More live, more hours, replays NHRA switching channel to FOX Sports 1 in 2016

NHRA and FOX Sports officials jointly announced Monday that starting in 2016 the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series will be televised by FOX Sports 1 (FS1) with four events airing on the FOX national broadcast network during each season of the long-term agreement, providing the world’s fastest motorsport with live coverage of a majority of its events.

The agreement calls for FS1 to provide coverage of Friday and Saturday qualifying and Sunday eliminations for each NHRA Mello Yello Series event, with a minimum of 16 Sunday eliminations shows to be presented in a live coverage format, and the remainder shown either in weekend afternoon or primetime time slots.

Four of those live elimination shows will air on the FOX national broadcast network.

“We’re excited about (this) announcement from NHRA that we will be moving to Fox Sports 1 next year,” Don Schumacher said. “That will give us many more live shows, regular air times and four of our races will be broadcast on a popular network like Fox.

“NHRA is the last motorsport that ESPN carries regularly and Fox Sports 1 is becoming the go-to network for race fans. This will expose our extreme sport to new audiences and that will be great for everyone in NHRA Mello Yello drag racing.”

The Sunday elimination shows will consistently be presented in three-hour programs and the Friday/Saturday qualifying shows will be two-hours of coverage. In addition, FS1 and FS2 will provide multiple re-airs for all of the events. FS1 also will provide coverage of select NHRA Lucas Oil Drag

Racing Sportsman Series events. In total, FOX national networks will feature more than 450 hours per year of NHRA programming.

The deal also includes NHRA racing on FOX Sports Racing in Canada and the Caribbean, as well as FOX Sports GO, the critically acclaimed app that provides live streaming video of FOX Sports content at home or on the go, and now available in 70 million households. Customers of participating video providers may access the live stream of FOX Sports’ NHRA programming through the FOX Sports GO app for iOS, Android, Fire Tablets and Fire Phones, Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, select Windows devices, and on desktops through FOXSportsGO.com. Fans can download the mobile app for free from the iTunes App Store, Google Play, Amazon App Store and Windows Store.

“Committing to 16 live events, including four on the FOX broadcast network, certainly demonstrates the commitment and excitement level we have for the National Hot Rod Association,” said Jamie Horowitz, President of FOX Sports National Networks. “As home to the strongest and most diverse collection of racing properties on television, adding NHRA drag racing to the weekly lineup absolutely solidifies FOX Sports as the leader in motor sports television.”

Sonoma Raceway to induct Ron Capps into Wall of Fame NHRA Funny Car driver Ron Capps has developed an

impressive resume in more than two decades of competition at Sonoma Raceway. The popular NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series driver will add another accomplishment to that list when he is inducted into the Sonoma Raceway Wall of Fame during the NHRA Sonoma Nationals later this month.

Capps, a native of San Luis Obispo on California’s central coast, has posted four Funny Car victories in Sonoma (1997, 2010, 2011 and 2013), as well as two runner-up finishes. Capps grew up racing on dragstrips throughout California, including Baylands Raceway and Lions Drag Strip, before making his first start at Sonoma in 1994 at was then called Sears Point Raceway.

In his Sonoma debut, Capps recalls that he piloted John Mitchell’s “Montana Express” Top Alcohol Dragster, and went on to beat his hero Jay Payne on a holeshot.

But the on-track statistics tell only a portion of the story, as Capps has become an active supporter of the Sonoma chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities (SCC). Capps was among the first drivers to attend and participate in SCC’s annual NHRA Tour de Charity karting event, as well as the Eric Medlen Nitro Night fundraising dinner, and he’s missed only one event since their inceptions. These events have combined to raise more than $250,000 since 2002.

Capps will be inducted prior to pre-event ceremonies on Sunday, Aug. 2. He will become the 19th member of the raceway’s Wall of Fame, joining fellow NHRA racers Warren Johnson (2005), John Force (2006), Gary Scelzi (2007), Doug Kalitta (2008) and Don Prudhomme (2011).

“I am so honored to even be mentioned with the people on the Sonoma Raceway Wall of Fame,” said Ron, driver of the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T for Don Schumacher Racing. “I have so many great memories in Sonoma, and it’s always truly felt like my home track. I love the facility, the fans and supporting the charity there, and it is incredibly special to be inducted.” Nationally, Capps is one of the most recognizable faces on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. He’s finished second in the Funny Car point standings four times (1998, 2000, 2005 and 2012) and earned 45 career event victories in 90 final-round appearances. He is currently ranked second in Funny Car point standings with two victories so far this season.

“Ron Capps is one of the greats of our sport and his record at Sonoma Raceway has been phenomenal. But beyond his success on the track, Ron understands the role pro athletes can play beyond the competitive arena, and his generous spirit is part of what has made him a crowd favorite,” said Steve Page, president and general manager of Sonoma Raceway. “We are proud to add Ron Capps’ name to the Sonoma Raceway Wall of Fame.”

DSR Open House is Sept. 4 10th annual DSR Open House for Riley a special affair Planning is underway for the unofficial kickoff of the biggest weekend in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing season. The 10th annual Don Schumacher Racing Open House to benefit Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health and Camp Riley shapes up to be the best ever and many traditional favorites will return bigger and better than ever. Through the generosity of DSR’s friends last year’s event raised $42,058 and combined with a bowling event in December has taken DSR’s total contributions to Riley to over $300,000. The free, festive event once again will feature the Indy Hi-Winders Car Club that is one of the best car and bike shows in Indiana with 100 percent of the $10 entry fee goes to Riley while special prizes await show winners.

Drag racing pioneer and hall-of-fame team owner Don Schumacher will participate in an autograph session along with his seven professional drivers including: Tony Schumacher, Matt Hagan, Antron Brown, Jack Beckman, Ron Capps, Spencer Massey and Tommy Johnson Jr. Stay tuned to ShoeRacing.com and other DSR social media avenues for details as they develop.

Big weight loss at DSR It’s important to minimize the weight of race cars, but DSR took that goal companywide the past three months in its first annual Weight-Loss Challenge sponsored by Don Schumacher and Terry Chandler. The biggest loser – winner – was Brian James of the Mopar Express Lane/Rocky Boots team who lost 63.6 pounds that was 32.7 percent of his original body weight. He checked in at 258.2 during the official weigh-in during the Las Vegas race on April 10 and tipped the scale at 194.6 on July 7. Runner-up was Anthony Davis, DSR’s fleet maintenance manager, who went from 256.2 to 198.8 and lost 57.4 pounds. Jeff “Gypsy” Mohr, DSR hospitality road manager, dropped 53.6 pounds and was third best. Brian was the grand prize winner in the competition based on percentage of weight loss, said DSR merchandise manager Kyle Cunningham, who created the healthy challenge that enabled DSR to shed a total of 417.2 pounds Other top efforts were by: Malcolm Clark (41.8 pounds), Frank Cervelli (41.2), Mike Anderson (40.4), Brad Robinson (35.8), Riley Horrall (22.4) and Brian Antrim (21.2).

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Brian James: DSR's biggest 'winner'

DSR drivers 2015: career statistics, standings – thru Chicago; 13 of 24) DSR TOP FUEL

TONY SCHUMACHER: U.S. Army Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L 2015 1st 13 3 2 1 4 3 3 0 24-10 CAREER 421 80 56 65 111 101 79 8 727-333 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 13 3 2 3 2 3 4 0 25-10 CAREER 323 50 (34 TF/16 PSB) 42 66 85 76 41 3 542-270

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

SPENCER MASSEY: Sandvik Coromant/Red Fuel Powered by Schumacher Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L 2015 6th 13 1 0 4 3 5 1 0 15-12 CAREER 133 18 14 31 31 36 8 2 205-112

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 13 4 1 2 3 2 3 0 27-9 CAREER 157 18 17 23 48 47 20 4 216-135

Best Time, Speed: 3.973 sec. (2015, Norwalk); 324.83 (2015, Phoenix)

RON CAPPS: NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L 2015 2nd 13 2 3 1 1 6 0 0 20-11 CAREER 448 45 (44 FC/1 TF) 45 77 89 174 16 18 558-385

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

JACK BECKMAN: Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L 2015 3rd 13 3 1 1 3 4 1 1 19-9 CAREER 217 18 21 38 61 72 11 7 270-192

Best Time, Speed: 3.972 sec. (2015, Topeka); 322.65 mph (2015, Topeka)

TOMMY JOHNSON JR.: Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger R/T Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L 2015 6th 13 1 1 2 6 3 1 0 17-12 CAREER 359 11 (9 FC/2 TF) 16 47 86 155 11 47 272-304

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

2015 NHRA MELLO YELLO CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (Official after Chicago; 13th of 24 races; DSR drivers in CAPS) TOP FUEL FUNNY CAR DRIVER (WINS) POINTS BEHIND DRIVER (WINS) POINTS BEHIND 1. TONY SCHUMACHER (3) 1,028 ----- 1. MATT HAGAN (4) 1,024 ----- 2. ANTRON BROWN (3) 1,008 -20 2. RON CAPPS (2) 846 -178 3. Larry Dixon 848 -180 3. JACK BECKMAN (3) 835 -189

4. Doug Kalitta (2) 844 -184 3. Del Worsham 835 -189 5. Richie Crampton (3) 796 -232 5. John Force (2) 801 -223 6. SPENCER MASSEY (1) 752 -276 6. TOMMY JOHNSON JR. (1) 798 -226

7. Shawn Langdon (1) 696 -332 7. Cruz Pedregon 728 -296 8. Brittany Force 681 -347 8. Tim Wilkerson (1) 722 -302 9. J.R. Todd 651 -377 9. Robert Hight 667 -357 10. Steve Torrence 609 -419 10. Alexis DeJoria 658 -366

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 MATT 13. July 10-12 Chicago TF TONY/FC MATT TF ANTRON FC MATT TF TONY FC MATT 14. July 24-26 Denver TF SPENCER/FC Cruz TF Todd FC Hight TF FC 15. Jul 31-Au. 2 Sonoma TF Langdon/FC RON TF alBalooshi FC C. Force TF FC 16. Aug. 7-9 Seattle TF Lucas/ FC MATT TF Kalitta FC J. Force TF FC 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 = 7 FC = 10

DSR 2015 SEASON TOTALS

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

10 - Funny Car event titles (Matt 4, Jack 3, Ron 2, Tommy 1)

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

ABOUT DON SCHUMACHER RACING Don Schumacher Racing, headquartered near Indianapolis in Brownsburg, Ind., fields seven professional NHRA teams in the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. In Top Fuel, the U.S. Army dragster driven by eight-time and reigning world champion Tony Schumacher, the 2012 NHRA Top Fuel world champion Matco Tools/U.S. Army dragster driven by Antron Brown and the Red Fuel by Schumacher/Sandvik Coromant dragster driven by Spencer Massey; and in Funny Car, two-time and reigning world champion Matt Hagan in the Mopar Express Lane/Rocky Boots 2015 Dodge Charger R/T, 2012 NHRA world champion Jack Beckman in the Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge, the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge of Ron Capps and the Make-A-Wish Dodge driven by Tommy Johnson Jr. DSR has won 257 NHRA national event titles and 13 world championships.

Follow Don Schumacher Racing at ShoeRacing.com, on Twitter at @shoeracing and Facebook.com/shoeracing

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