Johnson
arrived at Schumacher Racing with three NHRA Top Fuel world titles, 29
career victories and 49 career number one qualifying efforts on his
resume. Over the years, Johnson has emerged as one of the most innovative
and successful crew chiefs in NHRA Top Fuel racing. As team owner and Crew
Chief, he guided Gary Scelzi, former Top Fuel driver for Team Winston and
now a Funny Car driver in the Schumacher Racing stable, to four NHRA Top
Fuel crowns in 1997, 1998 and 2000. Now, Johnson can say he has another
Top Fuel crown with the capture of the 2004 NHRA Top Fuel Championship.
"How ironic that the guy who battled us tooth-and-nail for a few
years is now working for us," said team owner Don Schumacher.
"We're hoping that Alan will provide the spark needed to get the U.S.
Army team back into contention for the championship."
Pit Crew Members
Jason McCulloch - Assistant Crew Chief
Responsible
for day-to-day supervision of all team activities at the direction of the
Crew Chief. Directs pre-race and post-race pit work. Manages parts
inventories, orders parts and supplies, oversees travel and personnel
scheduling.
Brian
Michael Husen - Shop Supervisor & On-the-Road Manager, Ignition & Supercharger
Specialis
Oversees
transportation of all team haulers, equipment and over-the-road crew.
Maintains superchargers and ignition systems between events and services
systems between runs.
Roger
Whitworth - Clutch Specialist
Responsible
for preparation of all clutch components at the race shop. Assists with
dyno-analysis. Services clutch between runs at events.
Ryan
Pephtel - Cylinder Head Specialist Responsible for preparation of all cylinder heads, valves, valve springs and assembly. Replaces cylinder heads for each run at events.
Nick
Peters - Short Block Specialist Responsible for assembly of short blocks at race shop and at events.
Services the bottom end of engine between runs, inspecting bearings and
exchanging rods and pistons.
Jeremy
Gutierrez - Bottom End Specialist
Assists
with assembly of short blocks at the race shop. Services the bottom end of
engine between runs, inspecting bearings and exchanging rods and pistons.
Larry
Miglizzi - Consultant/Track & Clutch
Inspects
each NHRA track and monitors changing conditions throughout each event.
Conducts thorough analysis of clutch components from dyno results and
track performance. Advises crew chief on set up and lane selection
Joe
Arena - Fuel Specialist
Responsible
for mixing fuel mixture of 90% nitro methane and 10% methanol and for
filling tank according to crew chief instructions to assure proper front
end weight.
Randy
Crago - Wheels/Tires, Mechanical Assistance, Video
Mounts,
dismounts, balances and inspects all four wheels and tires plus spare
sets. Assists all crew members as called upon. Videotapes each run.
Background
Tony Schumacher grew up watching his father Don "The Shoe" Schumacher dominate the NHRA Funny Car field. So it was only a matter of time before Tony began racing. By the age of 19, he was ready to compete in the NHRA. His skills earned him the opportunity to drive the jet dragster of Wayne Knuth, but this meant leaving the pro circuit. For two years, Tony toured the country driving the world's fastest jet-powered car, regularly approaching speeds of 300 mph.
In 1995, Tony was ready to rejoin the NHRA and formed his own race team competing in the NHRA Alcohol Funny Car class and earning his first win. Midway through the 1996 season, a supercharger explosion stopped his run for the Funny Car championship, but opened the door to a surprising opportunity to drive a Top Fuel Dragster. His first NHRA appearance in a Top Fuel Dragster landed him in the finals of the biggest race of the year at the U.S. Nationals.
In June 1998, Don Schumacher formed his own race team and Tony became the driver of the Top Fuel Dragster. By 1999, Tony and his new team had all the pieces in place for a championship run. Every race saw improvement, and this led to his record breaking 330 mph run in Phoenix and the National Championship crown. The 2000 season started where they had left off, running for the championship. In the fall, the U.S. Army partnership began with a win at the U.S Nationals in Indy. However, a devastating crash the following week ended his championship run. After missing only three races, Tony returned for the final race of the season and managed to hold on to second place in the final points standings.
The 2001 season saw Tony post the fastest speed ever for a Top Fuel Dragster with a shocking 333 mph. In 2002, Tony recorded top speed in six events and captured two wins, including the U.S. Nationals. The end of the 2003 season found Tony in the top 10 for the fifth consecutive season, finishing third overall. Ending on a fast note, Tony set a new national record for elapsed time in Reading, PA with a run of 4.41 seconds.
The 2004 season ended with Tony capturing his second NHRA Top Fuel Championship. Along the way, he set the single season win record with 10 wins. The team placed the Army dragster in 13 of the 23 finals for the season and held the points lead for all but one race during the season. This momentum is sure to carry over into the 2005 season.
General Characteristics
Exterior
Wheelbase:
300 in (25 feet: front axle to rear axle centerlines)
