Don Schumacher Obituary, NHRA Drag Racing Legend died

Don Schumacher Obituary: It is with heavy hearts that the Schumacher family announces the passing of motorsports icon Don Schumacher. The NHRA team owner and Funny Car pioneer had spent the past several months privately battling lung cancer before succumbing to illness-related complications on Wednesday, December 20.

Schumacher, who was 79 at the time of his passing, leaves a lasting legacy not only to the NHRA community, where he etched his name as one of the sport’s most successful team owners and a champion for the advancement of safety innovation but also on the motorsports community as a whole. Schumacher’s contributions to the auto racing industry reach far beyond drag racing and have been widely recognized.

Don Schumacher Career

Although Schumacher’s amazing career in drag racing began with his first journey into the sport, it was his second foray that cemented his place as an all-time great. In the ’60s and ’70s, he was a dominant force in the Funny Car racing scene, winning prestigious events like the Coca-Cola Cavalcade of Stars in 1972 and the AHRA world championship in 1973. He had a remarkable 70% win percentage in 560 match races, in addition to five NHRA national titles and nine IHRA titles.

In 1974, Schumacher set several notable records during this time, most notably a 6.18 second time at 241.95 MPH in his “Stardust” Barracuda Funny Car. The impact Schumacher had on the drag racing industry remained even after he retired from driving that year to concentrate on his business and family.