Schumacher Racing the team to beat at zMax Dragway

If there’s a team to beat in NHRA races at zMax Dragway, Don Schumacher Racing is at the top of the list.

Between team owner Don Schumacher’s seven full-time teams – three in Top Fuel, four in Funny Car – they’ve combined to win 14 titles at zMax entering this weekend’s NHRA Carolina Nationals.

Schumacher Racing’s win total increases to 16 if you count last year’s Carolina Nationals, which had to be completed in Dallas, Texas, after rain and track problems at zMax delayed the elimination rounds.

So what’s the secret?

“Just hard work,” said Schumacher, whose race teams have 262 NHRA titles since 1970. “Just hard work. My guys have just really worked really, really hard on their combinations, in working together and their performance.”

Schumacher Racing has won at the Carolina Nationals six times (eight if you count the 2014 races), and eight times at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, the only NHRA race in which four lanes are used.

The team has also pulled off a Top Fuel-Funny Car title sweep at zMax Dragway four times – at the Four-Wide Nationals twice (2013 and 2015), and the Carolina Nationals twice (2008 and 2011).

“Obviously, the secret is that Don has surrounded himself with good people,” said defending Funny Car series champ Matt Hagan, a two-time winner at zMax.

“Your people are the heart and soul of the operation. He’s surrounded himself with some smart, talented individuals, and some talented drivers. Folks that innovate, work hard and do a great job.”

That talent will be put to the test at this weekend’s Carolina Nationals, the first race in the NHRA’s six-event “Countdown to the Championship.”

All seven DSR teams are in contention entering the Countdown. Tony Schumacher and teammate Antron Brown are 1-2 in Top Fuel points, with Shawn Langdon (on loan from Alan Johnson Racing) sixth; Jack Beckman, Matt Hagan and Tommy Johnson Jr. are 1-2-3 in Funny Car points, with Ron Capps sixth.

“Part of it is that we’re great when it matters, and it matters now,” said eight-time Top Fuel series champ Tony Schumacher, who won the inaugural race at zMax in 2008.

“We’re a great performance team when the weight of the world is sitting on our shoulders. The first race in the Countdown is always critical. It’s a must win, and that’s when we’re at our best.”

This story was originally published September 19, 2015 at 4:06 PM with the headline "Schumacher Racing the team to beat at zMax Dragway."