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²ÞËùÇ¿¼é team owner and Funny Car pioneer Don Schumacher passed away Dec. 20. Schumacher had spent the pastÌýseveral monthsÌýprivately battling lung cancerÌýbefore succumbing to illness-related complications.

Schumacher, who was 79 at the time of his passing,Ìýleaves a lasting legacy on not only the ²ÞËùÇ¿¼é community, where he etched his name as one of theÌýsport’sÌýmost successful team owners and a champion for the advancement of safety innovation, but on theÌýmotorsportsÌýcommunity as a whole. Schumacher’s contributions to the auto racing industryÌýreachÌýfarÌýbeyond drag racing andÌýhave beenÌýwidely recognized. In November 2022, Schumacher was honored at the ²ÞËùÇ¿¼é Awards Ceremony, where he was presented with the ²ÞËùÇ¿¼é’s Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2019, he wasÌýinductedÌýinto the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in Daytona Beach, Fla.,ÌýandÌýin May 2013, he was enshrined intoÌýtheÌýInternational Motorsports Hall of Fame in Talladega, Ala.ÌýHe also joined a prestigious list of straight-line racing legends when he was invited into theÌýInternational Drag Racing Hall of Fame in 2007.

A fierceÌýFunny CarÌýmatch racer in theÌý1960s and ‘70sÌýwho fielded multiple entries with top-notch drivers to fulfill the demand for bookings of his Stardust Funny Cars, Schumacher took a departure from motorsports inÌýthe early '70sÌýto grow the family business, Schumacher Electric.ÌýWhile operating Schumacher Electric,Ìýhe grew theÌýfamilyÌýbusinessÌýinto a global corporation.ÌýSchumacherÌýincreased the company value more than tenfold and employed thousands ofÌýpeopleÌýaround the globe.ÌýHe was known as a fierce and compassionate leader to all who worked with him.

In 1998, he returned to ²ÞËùÇ¿¼é Drag RacingÌýto build a team with son Tony Schumacher.ÌýDon Schumacher Racing (DSR) made its competition debut at the 1998 U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, and by the time the 1999 season had wrapped,ÌýDSR had clinched its first of many championship titles. Soon after, the single-car team exploded into a multicar powerhouse.Ìý

As theÌýpatriarchÌýofÌýDSR,ÌýSchumacher was a force to be reckoned with. More thanÌý25Ìýdrivers haveÌýraced for the legendaryÌýteam owner.ÌýHe created champions, introduced new personalities to the sport, and was responsible for the resurgence of several careers.ÌýSchumacher is the only team owner to have wins from each of ²ÞËùÇ¿¼é’s four Professional categories. He was also successful in the Factory Stock Showdown series, winning the 2018 title in only his second yearÌýofÌýcampaigning cars in the category.

His teams haveÌýamassed 19 ²ÞËùÇ¿¼é world championship titles and 367 Wallys, including the five he won while behind the wheel of a Funny Car. During his driving career, he contributed cutting-edge safety innovations for the new Funny Car category, including a roof-mounted escape hatch that allowed drivers to quickly exit when all-too-frequent fires occurred.ÌýHe was also the first to mount the lever that activated a fire suppression system onÌýhis Funny Car’s brake handle, so the driver could apply both while keeping one hand on the steering wheel.

As a team owner, he funded and spearheaded a projectÌýto develop aÌýprotective, enclosed canopy for Top Fuel dragsters, whichÌýhas since been adopted by multiple ²ÞËùÇ¿¼é teams. Schumacher was alsoÌýintent on utilizing his team’s fleet of race cars to raise money and awareness for various charities. Each year ahead of the U.S. Nationals, DSR hosts a pre-race event at its Brownsburg, Ind., headquartersÌýto benefitÌýRiley Hospital for Children, and for seven seasons, Schumacher, along with Terry and Doug Chandler, campaigned ‘giving cars.’ÌýThe program enabled nonprofits, such as the Infinite Hero Foundation, Make-A-Wish Foundation, and MD Anderson Cancer Center, to be recognized through a dedicated tribute livery at no cost to the organization.ÌýThe impactÌýSchumacherÌýhad both on and off theÌýracetrackÌýis undeniable.

ÌýIn more recent years, Schumacher turned his focus to growingÌýDon Schumacher Motorsports,Ìýmore commonly known as DSM Precision Manufacturing andÌýDSR Performance. DSR PerformanceÌýis considered one of theÌýsport’sÌýleadingÌýraceÌýengineeringÌýandÌýaftermarketÌýpartsÌýbrands. DSM Precision Manufacturing is a successful precision manufacturing supplier for the motorsports, defense, and aerospace industries. These entities will continue to honor the business legacy of Schumacher.Ìý

When not at aÌýracetrackÌýor leading his teams of employees, SchumacherÌýenjoyed spending time with hisÌýchildren,Ìýgrandchildren, fishing,Ìýand golfing.Ìý

Arrangements, including a celebration of life ceremony, will be announcedÌýat a later date. In lieu of flowers, the familyÌýsuggestsÌýÌýto MD Anderson Cancer Center.