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NITROGATE – A DON SCHUMACHER INTERVIEW
Will Don Schumacher bring legal action against the NHRA thus forcing his teams to park?
On the off chance you’re the only drag racing fan in North America – or the world, for that matter, considering the reach of the Internet -- who hasn’t already heard about it, last Sunday afternoon at the Summitracing.com Nationals in Las Vegas NHRA announced they had levied a fine of $100,000 against Don Schumacher for having “illegal” fuel in his pits. The merits of this action will ultimately be determined through the appeal process and, as appears likely, a court action instituted by Schumacher following that procedure.
Like him or despise him, Schumacher is arguably among the three most important team owners in the sport because of the sheer number of cars he fields, and the corporate sponsors he’s been able to attract. Say what you will, Schumacher-owned cars perform to the highest of levels, their drivers are universally personable, approachable and totally professional, and their sponsors couldn’t possibly be more high profile. From the U.S. Army to NAPA Auto Parts, Mopar and beyond, everything about Don Schumacher Racing says First Class in every respect.
A former competitor (he won Funny Car at the U.S. Nationals in the 70s), Schumacher is anything but a naïve newcomer. He has personally seen everything drag racing can and should be. But, at the same time that experience has often made him outspoken about what he believes to be important. In one instance he was fined by the NHRA for having had the temerity to utilize a “non-approved” catering service because he wanted a higher quality of food for his guests. He appealed that fine and lost, but let’s be honest here: When the appeal process is heard before the very people who have levied the fine in the first place, what are the odds of having it overturned? Kind of like appealing a tax argument in front of an IRS judge.
Although Schumacher issued a statement in Las Vegas, he spoke exclusively with Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com publisher Bobby Bennett on Thursday afternoon. The following is a transcript of that in-depth conversation.
Torco Racing Fuel's Competition Plus.com - Drag Racing's Internet Magazine - NITROGATE – A DON SCHUMACHER INTERVIEW
