JCM Racing Pre-Race Report: Indianapolis

Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals

Event 14 of 20

Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park

Indianapolis

Aug. 30 – Sept. 2, 2024

Driver Information:

TONY SCHUMACHER

Driver of the Leatherwood Distillery Top Fuel Dragster

NHRA U.S. Nationals Event Highlights:

10-time U.S. Nationals champion (2000, 2002 - 2004, 2006 - 2009, 2012, 2016)

Two-time runner-up (1996, 2005)

Four-time No. 1 qualifier (2005 - 2007, 2014)

2023 NHRA U.S. Nationals Event Recap:

Qualified 12th; First round exit (defeated by Mike Salinas in E1)

Last Event (Brainerd):

Qualified 13th; First round exit (defeated by Tony Stewart in E1)

2024 Statistics:

13 races; one national event win, two runner-up finishes, one Mission #2Fast2Tasty win

Career Statistics:

568 races; 87 wins, 88 No. 1 qualifiers

Noteworthy:

With an unprecedented 10 U.S. Nationals victories, Schumacher is the winningest Mission Foods Series driver in Indianapolis Raceway Park history

Made his Top Alcohol Funny Car debut at the 1995 event

Advanced to the final round in 1996 during his Top Fuel debut

Schumacher’s late father Don Schumacher captured his first NHRA national event win during the 1970 U.S. Nationals race

Quotable:

“Every time we arrive in Indy, it feels like I’m coming home. It’s the first place I got to race a Top Fueler, back in ’96, and has been amazing to me ever since. We tested very well last week and are looking forward to a tough but fantastic weekend.

“Of course, everyone has their eyes on the points right now. We have the opportunity to move up a spot or two this weekend but it’ll be what it’ll be. It’s fun to sit back and look at the points and evaluate where you might possibly end up but evaluating and guessing never really turns out the way you expect. It doesn’t matter what you think is going to happen. All that matters is where you end up. You can't get happy or mad about it because your performance during the year has led you to being in that spot. I’ve been 330 points in the lead before to go into the Countdown, but at that point, everything is reset anyways and you’ve got to ‘cowboy up’ and charge hard for the next six races. That’s what makes a champion.”

IDA ZETTERSTRÖM

Driver of the JCM/VP Racing Fuels/Edelbrock/COMP Cams/Dodge Top Fuel Dragster

Last Event (Brainerd):

Qualified 14th; Semifinal finish (defeated Steve Torrence in E1, Bye round in E2; defeated by Shawn Langdon in E3)

Noteworthy:

The European racer made her NHRA debut at the Brainerd Nationals and will compete in the remainder of the events on the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Series schedule as she pursues NHRA’s Road to the Future award

Advanced to the semifinals in Brainerd to secure a spot in the Indianapolis edition of the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge

Relocated to the Indianapolis area from the Aland Islands in Finland to be close to the JCM Racing shop earlier this year

Fan Events:

Friday, 6:45 – 7:15 p.m., Dodge driver autograph session, Dodge midway display

Saturday, 10 – 10:30 a.m., Mission #2Fast2Tasty driver autograph session, Mission Foods midway display

Saturday, noon – 12:30 p.m., Dodge driver autograph session, Dodge midway display

Quotable:

“I’m looking forward to the Indy race and continuing to build upon our Brainerd momentum. We had a really solid start as a team, so it was nice for us to be able to show the fans what we’ve been working so hard on all season. This is the biggest race of the year. There are 20 Top Fuel dragsters entered into this weekend’s race, so that definitely adds to the excitement. Everyone is going to really have to earn their spot to make it into the Monday show, there are no ‘gimmes.’

“I’m also excited to compete in my first Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, which we earned by going to the semifinals in Brainerd. That will be an extra, fun element for us this weekend. I have a lot of friends and family flying in for this event, so this will be the closest thing to a home race for me. Not to mention, with our team being based right down the street in Brownsburg, many of our crew guys’ families are coming out, so we’ll have lots of support this weekend. We had a very successful test session on Monday in Brainerd, which made me feel really good about the direction we’re headed, and I can’t wait to get back into the car.”