NEXT: SENSORY OVERLOAD NATIONALS

DSR’s Matco dragster, Infinite Hero look to defend titles in two weeks at NHRA Four-Wide Nationals near Charlotte Don Schumacher Racing and the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series are in the midst of their longest stretch of off weekends through the last 20 races in the 24-event national tour. And when the series resumes April 22-24 it will be at the most unique event of the series when the 40,000 horsepower fire up at once during the seventh annual Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway near Charlotte Motor Speedway. A year ago at Charlotte, DSR swept the nitro categories when Antron Brown in Top Fuel and Jack Beckman left the event with NHRA Wally trophies. The Four-Wide is the most impressive spectacle in motorsports when four nitro-fueled machines line up side by side on one of the sport’s fastest circuits for qualifying, and then on Sunday, the first two to cross the finish line in four-car heats advance to the next round. For ticket information: CharlotteMotorSpeedway.com or NHRA.com

Brown, Matco/U.S. Army team get DSR back on track with victory at Las Vegas in NHRA Mello Yello Series The desert was a fitting place for Don Schumacher Racing to end a drought and that’s what Antron Brown and the Matco Tools/U.S. Army team accomplished Sunday when they won the NHRA Nationals outside of Las Vegas. Brown and his team led by crew chiefs Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald with assistant Brad Mason, delivered the first Mello Yello Drag Racing Series title of the young season to DSR dragsters that ended a dry spell during which DSR’s three Top Fuel teams were unable to advance past the second round of the first three events.

“It’s huge, especially considering where we came from. We had a rough start to this year, and it’s just the way it goes sometimes,” Brown said. “We had a couple of things we had to change – we had to change our (tuning) combination around because we have different parts and pieces. We started off and it wasn’t like our car wasn’t running well. It was running great. “You come out and you just want to win and you want to win early but then you end up pushing too hard. On race day today, the car was just like a bracket car. It ran 3.84 seconds, an .84, an .82 and an .84. It did exactly what it needed to do to get us these round wins. “This has made us learn more and grow more, and you’re able to get results like that after learning from when things aren’t going right.” The 55th win of Brown’s professional career that includes 16 in Pro Stock Motorcycle, moved the reigning and two- time Top Fuel world champion to second in points after starting the weekend ranked 10th. He now trails points leader of Racing by 38 points after the fourth of 24 events in the Mello Yello Series.

In Funny Car at Las Vegas, Jack Beckman and the Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car team that is funded by Terry Chandler, led DSR by advancing to the second round after winning the pole with his eighth track record elapsed time. “We've been great at getting green hats this year. That's what you get for being the No. 1 qualifier,” said Beckman, who has won three of four poles this season. “We want the yellow hat - that's the one you get for winning the final round. So we have to keep picking away.” Two weeks before the Las Vegas visit, the Infinite Hero team led by crew chief Jimmy Prock with assistants John Medlen and Chris Cunningham, set the NHRA national elapsed time record with a run in 3.879 seconds in the Gatornationals at Gainesville, Fla.

Will Truitt brewing new career after 12 years at DSR

Don Schumacher Racing general manager Will Truitt leaves DSR today to pursue a business career outside of motorsports that will allow him to spend more time at his Indianapolis home with his young family including a 21-month- old daughter. He will be the vice president of operations for Quaff ON! Brewing and Big Woods restaurants, which opens its fourth location in early May in Speedway, Ind. Will, 35, began working at DSR upon graduating in 2004 from Eastern Illinois University. He began working in DSR’s hospitality operations and show car program, then spent five years in public relations and marketing before becoming GM in July 2011. During his career at DSR, the largest team in professional racing has won 242 of its 268 NHRA national event titles and 13 of 14 NHRA world championships. “Will started at DSR as a show car driver and, once he got his foot in the door, excelled at every step of his DSR career,” Don Schumacher said. “We appreciate everything Will has accomplished at DSR and wish him well in his new venture.” The following are Will’s reflections on his stellar career at DSR:

By WILL TRUITT When I made the decision recently to leave the sport of drag racing and my nearly 12-year DSR tenure, I had some very good conversations about our past with our employees. Twelve years is a lifetime in racing. I was very fortunate to land at DSR right out of college, and to grow with them the entire time. The Schumacher family and Mike Lewis have been constant supporters of my career. I am very thankful for their time working with me, developing me and trusting me. Below are my top-10 memories (in chronological order) from more than 250 races, 13 championships and 242 Wally trophies.  2005 Joliet Fall Race. I had no idea, but I met my future wife at this race. Our relationship outlived that race quickly. We re-met at Englishtown in 2006 and never looked back. We have a ways to go to get to E-Town’s 47 years, but we like goals.  2006 “The Run.” Enough said! Well, a little more. “The Run” ended up No. 4 in NHRA’s Top 60 Moments celebrating its 60-year anniversary. I tried to get Tony to refer to himself in third person as the “Fourth Greatest Moment in NHRA history” in a top-end interview in Indy. He’s always game for a good laugh, but he chickened out, or forgot, or got distracted by a squirrel. What were we talking about?  2008 Army Top Fuel Win Streak. When we lost in the second round in Norwalk, I never would have thought that would be my last short Sunday for three months. Starting in Denver they kept winning, and winning and winning, just like the Energizer bunny.

 2008 Mike Lewis runner-up in Top Alcohol at Reading. All of us in the office watched more Sportsman racing that weekend than Nitro. It was great to see Mike going rounds on Sunday, and to be able to do that at his home track with all his family there was perfect.  2009 Army Top Fuel Championship. A lot of journalists and internet experts told us it was all over for Tony and the Army team when Alan Johnson left to start his own team in 2009. Luckily, Tony, Mike Green and his team didn’t listen. They went on to prove everyone wrong in very dramatic fashion. I have been watching sports my entire life, so to be involved in some way with something like this was unbelievable. My 2009 Army TF championship ring is the only one I ever wear to special events. It stands for heart, class, team and determination.  2012 Mike Lewis wins Hot Rod Reunion. Mike accomplished that in Paul Smith’s Brand-X Nostalgia Funny Car. Totally Bill Murray in Caddyshack. “It’s a Cinderella Story.”  2012 Antron and Jack become World Champions. These are two of the most genuine, kind, and positive racers in the sport. It was great to see them both become NHRA Champions.  2014 TJ back in Funny Car. He had worked with us at DSR for several years doing anything we asked of him, and he tested nearly every one of our cars. Thanks to Terry Chandler, he returned to driving a Funny Car, where he belongs.  2014 Ron and Tony double-up in Bristol. This race marked 10 years with DSR for me. Anytime these two double up, I call that Vintage DSR. They have been sharing the winner’s circle at DSR since 2005.  2015 True American Hero. Gary Linfoot, a paraplegic since his Army helicopter crashed eight years ago, stood for the National Anthem for the first time since the accident in Bristol using Exoskeleton technology. We were lucky to meet Gary and his wife Mari through the wonderful Infinite Hero Foundation program. They have been tremendous supporters of that program and Jack Beckman. They attend several races a year, and should you run into them, take time to meet them. Their story is amazing, and he is an American Badass. I leave with a full heart. I will always be a DSR fan, and I look forward to seeing our drivers continue to win races and championships. I’ll leave with something Don told me early in my managing years. I was standing firm on an issue, and he said, “Will, don’t look at everything as simply black or white.” I said, “Gee, where did I learn that.” He responded, “Yes, I know, but I want you to be a better manager than me.” That drove me for the rest of my DSR tenure, and it will continue to drive me throughout my career.

TV ratings for NHRA on Fox Sports 1 rocket to new high The NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES championship round on Sunday, April 3, from Las Vegas delivered 1,292,000 viewers on Fox Sports 1 (FS1), making it the most-watched NHRA event since at least 2002 and more than double last year’s event on ESPN2 that aired in prime time (576,000). In the Adult 18-49 demographic, the NHRA race scored 354,000 viewers, a 213% increase over last year’s 113,000.

ENCORE PRESENTATION The following press release was issued on April 1 by Don Schumacher Racing. Here is a replay in case you missed it: Don Schumacher to get back in the seat Monday at Las Vegas, plots return to NHRA Funny Car competition at U.S. Nationals LAS VEGAS (April 1, 2016) - Don Schumacher has wanted a way to help NHRA celebrate "50 Years of Funny Cars," and the hall-of-fame driver and team owner has decided how to do it. The five-time NHRA event winner as a driver will return to driving a Nitro Funny Car at this year's U.S.

Nationals, which is not far from his Don Schumacher Racing headquarters near Indianapolis. He won the prestigious U.S. Nationals Funny Car title in 1970. "It's just the right time," said Schumacher, who has been working to regain his starting-line reactions with countless hours on a practice Christmas tree. "I'm getting better, and I'll be ready." The process begins Monday at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway after this weekend's NHRA Nationals when he will enter the cockpit of a new 11,000-horsepower Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car. "It took some convincing before my wife Sarah would agree to it. She finally gave her blessing when I promised she could be the one to direct me back to the starting line at Indy after my burnouts." Don Schumacher Racing has stated in several press releases that the main purpose for expanding its shop in Brownsburg, Ind., by 25,000 square feet is for a pending fourth Top Fuel dragster team. In reality, that added space is for a fifth Funny Car in which Don will compete in U.S. Nationals and at least five races in this year's Countdown to the Championship so he doesn't jeopardize his potential rookie-of- the-year status for the entire Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season in 2017. He plans to appeal to NHRA that because he has not competed as a driver for 42 years so he should be allowed to compete for the 2017 rookie-of-the-year honor. Another snag would appear to be that NHRA only allows one owner to field four teams in one nitro category and DSR already has four Funny Cars. But that won't be an issue because Schumacher's Dodge Charger R/T will be owned entered by Chris "The Greek" Karamesines. "I've known 'The Greek' since before I raced as a professional, and he said he'll add a Funny Car to his Top Fuel operation so this can happen. I'll race under his ownership. "He's been talking about wanting a younger driver on his team, and I'm perfect for that. I'm a lot younger than he is." Schumacher turns 72 late this year and Karamesines is 84, to adding Schumacher will drop the average age of drivers in Karamesines' operation from 84 to 78. "The Shoe" doesn't plan to continue his career extension past the 2017 season but will keep the Funny Car seat in the family. He will be replaced in 2018 by DSR vice president and his daughter Megan Fessel Schumacher, who will be dubbed "The Slipper." Schumacher will be available to for interviews. "Las Vegas is the perfect spot for me to talk about The Comeback," he said. "My Funny Cars were called Stardust because of support I received from the Stardust hotel and casino back in the day. "And doing this today on April 1 makes it even more memorable." NOTE: Don was unable to pursue he comeback because he was competing in a fishing tournament and has opted to devote more time to hooking wahoo than returning to a cockpit.

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AutoImagery.com photos of the race

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DSR drivers 2016: career statistics, standings (post Las Vegas 1)

DSR TOP FUEL ANTRON BROWN: Matco Tools/U.S. Army *2015 WORLD CHAMPION Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L 2016 2nd 4 1 0 0 2 1 0 0 6-3 CAREER 338 55 (39 TF/16 PSB) 43 69 89 79 44 3 574-280 Best Time, Speed: 3.680 sec.-national record, first 3.6 (2015, Brainerd); 331.12 mph (2015, Brainerd) TONY SCHUMACHER: U.S. Army Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L 2016 8th 4 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 2-4 CAREER 436 80 58 68 116 106 79 8 744-348 Best Time, Speed: 3.719 sec. (2015, Topeka); 330.55 mph (2014, Las Vegas 2) SHAWN LANGDON: Red Fuel Powered by Schumacher/Sandvik Coromant Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L 2016 13th 4 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0-4 CAREER 168 11 14 32 51 57 18 3 200-154 Langdon’s Best Time, Speed: 3.662 Sec. (quickest ever, 2015, Brainerd); 334.15 mph (with Alan Johnson Racing) DSR FUNNY CAR RON CAPPS: NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L 2016 3rd 4 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 8-2 CAREER 463 46 (45 FC/1 TF) 46 82 94 176 18 19 580-398 Best Time, Speed: 3.885 sec., (2015, Pomona 2); 327.19 mph (2015, St. Louis) JACK BECKMAN: Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L 2016 4th 4 0 0 1 3 0 3 0 5-4 CAREER 232 22 22 42 66 73 18 7 302-203

Best Time, Speed: 3.879 sec.-national record (2016, Gainesville); 329.26 (2016, Gainesville) MATT HAGAN: Mopar Express Lane/Rocky Boots Dodge Charger R/T Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L 2016 10th 4 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 1-4 CAREER 172 18 18 23 55 54 21 4 226-150 Best Time, Speed: 3.879 sec.-quickest ever (2015, Brainerd); 331.45 mph-national record (2015, Pomona 2) TOMMY JOHNSON JR.: Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger R/T Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L 2016 11th 4 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 1-4 CAREER 378 12 (10 FC/2 TF) 21 49 90 161 13 44 299-322 Best Time, Speed: 3.891 sec. (2015, Pomona 2); 326.08 mph (2015, Pomona 2)

2016 NHRA MELLO YELLO STANDINGS – (through Las Vegas 1) (Official after Las Vegas 1; four of 24 events; wins in parenthesis, DSR drivers in CAPS) TOP FUEL FUNNY CAR 1. Brittany Force (1) 307 ----- 1. (1) 341 ---- 2. ANTRON BROWN (1) 269 -38 2. John Force 294 -47 3. Doug Kalitta 267 -40 3. RON CAPPS (1) 289 -52 4. Steve Torrence (1) 249 -58 4. JACK BECKMAN 271 -70 5. Clay Millican 242 -65 5. Del Worsham 283 -78 6. JR Todd 229 -78 6. 265 -96 7. Dave Connolly 217 -90 7. Chad Head 236 -105 8. Terry McMillen 209 -98 8. Alexis DeJoria (1) 233 -108 9. TONY SCHUMACHER 190 -117 9. Tim Wilkerson (1) 221 -120 10. Leah Pritchett (1) 188 -119 10. MATT HAGAN 150 -191 13. SHAWN LANGDON 130 -177 11. TOMMY JOHNSON JR. 149 -192

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DSR track records – through Las Vegas 1 2016 TRACK Top Fuel ET Top Fuel MPH Funny Car ET Funny Car MPH Atlanta Brainerd Massey 332.75 - 2015 Hagan 3.879-2015 Hagan 329.58-2015 Bristol Schumacher 3.745 - 2015 Charlotte Massey 332.18 - 2012 Johnson 3.971 - 2015 Hagan 322.27 - 2011 Chicago Brown 3.729 - 2015 Dallas Beckman 3.909 - 2015 Beckman 326.32 - 2015 Denver Englishtown Brown 3.725 - 2015 Massey 329.91 – 2012 Epping Schumacher 3.742 2015 Massey 327.91 - 2015 Gainesville Massey 329.02 - 2015 Beckman 3.879-2016 Beckman 329.26-2016 Houston Schumacher 3.726 - 2015 Massey 330.07 - 2015 Indy Schumacher 328.54 - 2014 Beckman 3.936 - 2015 Beckman 323.74 - 2015 Las Vegas Brown 3.722 - 2015 Langdon 332.67 - 2015 Beckman 3.9116, 2016 Norwalk Hagan 3.973 - 2015 Hagan 322.96 - 2015 Phoenix Schumacher 329.91 - 2015 Pomona Beckman 3.884 - 2015 Hagan 331.45-2015 Reading Brown 3.701 Beckman 3.897 Seattle Massey 328.30 - 2015 Beckman 3.912 - 2015 Beckman 322.88 - 2015 St. Louis Hagan 3.883 - 2015 Hagan 330.47 - 2015 Sonoma Brown 3.707 - 2015 Beckman 3.921 - 2015 Hagan 325.77 - 2015 Topeka Brown – 5 Massey – 7 Beckman – 8 Hagan – 6 Schumacher – 3 Schumacher – 2 Hagan – 3 Beckman – 4 Langdon – 1 Johnson - 1

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ABOUT DON SCHUMACHER RACING Don Schumacher Racing, headquartered near Indianapolis in Brownsburg, Ind., fields seven professional NHRA teams in the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. In Top Fuel, the U.S. Army dragster driven by eight-time world champion Tony Schumacher, the 2012 and 2015 NHRA Top Fuel world champion Matco Tools/U.S. Army dragster driven by Antron Brown and the Red Fuel/Sandvik Coromant dragster driven by 2013 world champion Shawn Langdon; and in Funny Car, two-time world champion Matt Hagan in the Mopar Express Lane/Rocky Boots 2016 Dodge Charger R/T, 2012 NHRA world champion Jack Beckman in the Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge, the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge of Ron Capps and the Make-A-Wish Dodge driven by Tommy Johnson Jr. DSR has won 268 NHRA national event titles and 14 world championships. Follow Don Schumacher Racing at ShoeRacing.com, on Twitter at @shoeracing and Facebook.com/shoeracing

Leah Vaughn [email protected] Jeff Wolf [email protected] Allie Bland [email protected]