TONY SHOEMACHER READY TO CAPITALIZE ON HIS LEGENDARY TEXAS EXPERIENCE AT THE PLEX

Ennis, TX – As a resident of Austin, Schumacher considers the Texas Motorplex to be his home track. At the 2020 event, Schumacher was named a Texas Motorplex Legend and was the second person to be awarded the honor, which was first introduced in 2019.

With six Texas Motorplex triumphs, Schumacher is the winningest Top Fuel driver in the history of the facility Schumacher claimed his first NHRA national event win in 1999 at Dallas and went on to win his first of eight championships later that year.  The Maynard Family Racing Top Fuel dragster will fly the SCAG Power Equipment colors for the final time in 2022 this weekend Schumacher and the JCM team announced a partnership expansion with SCAG Power Equipment last month.

Starting in 2023, SCAG will serve as the primary backer of Schumacher’s 11,000-horsepower machine at all events through 2025. Before qualifying gets underway, team owners Joe and Cathi Maynard will be honored at the Austin Peay State University Naming Celebration of the Joe and Cathi Maynard Family Athletics Complex at Fortera Stadium in Clarksville, TN on Friday morning Named Austin Peay’s 2020 Philanthropists of the Year, Clarksville residents Joe and Cathi Maynard have given generously to the University since 2017, including improvements to the baseball field – now named Joe Maynard Field – and the softball park – known as Cathi Maynard Park.

Tony talks about his time at the Plex, “The Texas Motorplex will always be a special place for me. It was where I got my first win. I had gone to so many finals that year, in ’99, and to go out and win that race, and then go on to win the championship, it’ll always have a special place in my heart. Not only is that race track great, but Christie Meyer Johnson and Billy Meyer, and that whole family, they’re great people; they go to our church. It’s just awesome. I don’t get too jacked up about some tracks, but with the Motorplex, I do. It was literally the beginning of the drag racing ‘super stadium’ era.

“I love racing in Dallas. Texas is ‘my people,’ and I love going and racing in front of that crowd because they have a good time. We’ve got a bunch of friends coming out, we’re staying in a motorhome this weekend, and I can’t wait to hang out and have a great time with everyone.”

On being named a Texas Motorplex Legend: “Being named a Legend of Texas Motorplex the last time I raced there (2020), was a huge honor. I feel very proud of that. They can select anyone, and it was an honor that they chose me. That was the last time I raced in Ennis, so it’s just a track that has a lot of good memories for me.”

On flying the SCAG colors for the final time in 2022: “We have a huge SCAG crowd coming out this weekend – it’s getting bigger every race. Very much looking forward to next year. The car is getting better and better with the performance, and right now, we’re at the place we needed to be in at the beginning of the year. It’s hard when you start a new team. No one really knows each other; new people, new parts and pieces, but as you start to get the performance, it feels good. Obviously, we’ve won a race this year, but we’d love to win one in the SCAG colors, and this is our last opportunity to do that this season. That would be a big accomplishment for us.”

Countdown to the Championship Ranking: 12th

Dallas Event Highlights: Six-time event champion (1999, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2014), 2008 runner-up, Three-time No. 1 qualifier (2003, 2006, 2011)

2020 Dallas Recap: Qualified third; Quarterfinal finish (defeated Joey Haas in E1; defeated by Billy Torrence in E2)
Note: Did Not Compete in 2021

Last Event (St. Louis): Qualified sixth; Quarterfinal finish (defeated Leah Pruett in E1; defeated by Shawn Langdon in E2)

Career Statistics: 531 races; 86 event wins; 88 No. 1 qualifiers

2022 Statistics: 19 races; one win; one runner-up finish

Fan Events: Tony Schumacher and the SCAG Power Equipment Top Fuel dragster will be at Richardson Saw and Lawnmower (802 S. Central Expressway, Richardson) from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Thurs. 10/13

Later that evening, Schumacher will join several NHRA Camping World Series stars at the Texas NHRA FallNationals ‘Stampede of Speed’ Fanfest in downtown Waxahachie from 7 – 9 p.m.