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Don Schumacher Racing has announced the passing of its founder, motorsports icon Don Schumacher. The NHRA team owner and Funny Car pioneer had spent the past several months privately battling lung …
Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) has announced the passing of their founder, Don Schumacher, who battled lung cancer for several months before succumbing to illness-related complications on December 20th at the age of 79. Schumacher was a motorsports icon and made significant contributions to the NHRA community as a successful team owner and advocate for safety innovation. His impact extended beyond drag racing, and he was honored with lifetime achievement awards from NHRA and inductions into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.
Schumacher began his career as a match racer in the 1960s and ’70s before taking a break to grow his family business, Schumacher Electric. Under his leadership, the company became a global corporation employing thousands of people. In 1998, he returned to NHRA Drag Racing and founded DSR with his son Tony Schumacher, leading the team to numerous championship titles and expanding it into a multi-car powerhouse. He developed champions, revitalized careers, and is the only team owner with wins in all four of NHRA’s professional categories.
Schumacher’s legacy includes 19 NHRA world championships and 367 Wally trophies, with additional success in the Factory Stock Showdown Series. Throughout his career as a driver, he prioritized safety, introducing innovations such as a roof-mounted escape hatch and a fire suppression system activation lever. As a team owner, he funded the development of a protective canopy for Top Fuel cars. Schumacher will be remembered as a fierce and compassionate leader who left an indelible mark on the motorsports community.
