Tony Schumacher received his first Jerry Titus Memorial Trophy Saturday evening at the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association (AARWBA) awards ceremony at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Indianapolis. The Jerry Titus Memorial Trophy, named for the late journalist and racer, is given annually to honor the driver who earns the most total votes in balloting for auto racing's official All-America Team as selected by the membership of AARWBA.

Schumacher, 37, from Chicago, became the 37th winner of the prestigious trophy, which has been awarded to many of auto racing’s greats. Other NHRA stars to be honored with the coveted prize include Don Prudhomme (1976), Shirley Muldowney (1982) and John Force (1996, 1999, 2000 and 2002), the only four-time winner of the Titus award. A.J. Foyt (1975), Mario Andretti (1977, ’78 and ’84), Darrell Waltrip (1981), Dale Earnhardt (1987), Nigel Mansell (1993) and Jeff Gordon (1995, ’98 and ’01) also have received the honor.

Tony Schumacher received his first Jerry Titus Memorial Trophy Saturday evening at the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association (AARWBA) awards ceremony at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Indianapolis. The Jerry Titus Memorial Trophy, named for the late journalist and racer, is given annually to honor the driver who earns the most total votes in balloting for auto racing's official All-America Team as selected by the membership of AARWBA.

Schumacher, 37, from Chicago, became the 37th winner of the prestigious trophy, which has been awarded to many of auto racing’s greats. Other NHRA stars to be honored with the coveted prize include Don Prudhomme (1976), Shirley Muldowney (1982) and John Force (1996, 1999, 2000 and 2002), the only four-time winner of the Titus award. A.J. Foyt (1975), Mario Andretti (1977, ’78 and ’84), Darrell Waltrip (1981), Dale Earnhardt (1987), Nigel Mansell (1993) and Jeff Gordon (1995, ’98 and ’01) also have received the honor.

Schumacher, who was selected for the fourth time to the AARWBA All-America First Team, had a Titus-worthy year as he raced to five victories and closed the 2006 season by securing his third consecutive and fourth overall NHRA POWERade Series Top Fuel world championship in dramatic fashion. After falling behind 336 points at the season’s midpoint, Schumacher and his U.S. Army team rallied to post five victories in eight final rounds down the stretch to overtake Doug Kalitta for the championship at the season’s last race, the Auto Club NHRA Finals in Pomona, Calif. The intense drama came in the final round of that event, when Schumacher needed to win and set a national record to earn the championship. He did both, powering his machine to a national-record-setting run of 4.428 seconds and holding off Melanie Troxel at the finish line. He also set a single-season NHRA Top Fuel record for No. 1 qualifiers (13), and his five victories increased his career total to 35, tying him with Don Garlits for 11th-most in NHRA POWERade history (all categories) and fourth-most in Top Fuel. Schumacher and drag racing legend Joe Amato are now the only Top Fuel drivers in NHRA history to win three consecutive world championship titles.

“This award is clearly the result of the hard work and determination that my U.S. Army team put in throughout the season," Schumacher said. "Without their never-say-die attitude, I would not be in the position I am today. This is as much their award as it is mine.”

Force was recognized for his 14th selection to the AARWBA first team. The 57-year-old fan-favorite won his 14th POWERade world championship in 17 years with a consistent season in which he powered his Castrol GTX Ford Mustang to three wins in a category-leading eight final rounds. Force overtook season-long POWERade points leader Ron Capps for good in Reading, Pa., and he maintained the top spot in the standings in the final four events.

The other drivers presented with First Team awards were Sebastien Bourdais and Sam Hornish Jr. (Open Wheel), Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart (Stock Car), Jorg Bergmeister, Rinaldo Capello/Allan McNish and Scott Pruett/Luis Diaz (Road Racing, tie), Donny Schatz and Josh Wise (Short Track), Todd Bodine and Frank Kimmel (Touring Series) and J.R. Hildebrand and Travis Pastrana (At-Large).

Top Alcohol Funny Car standout Frank Manzo, who had 10 event wins – six national and four divisional – en route to his 10th NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series championship, was an At-Large selection on the Second Team.

Top Fuel runner-up Doug Kalitta, who led the season standings for most of the year, was named to the Drag Racing second team, along with Pro Stock champ Jason Line, who drove his Summit Racing Pontiac GTO to his first professional series crown. Top Alcohol Funny Car standout

AARWBA members have annually selected an All-America Auto Racing Team and Jerry Titus Memorial Trophy winner since 1970.



Jerry Titus Memorial Trophy™ Winners:

1970 Al Unser

1971 Mark Donohue

1972 George Follmer

1973 Mark Donohue

1974 Johnny Rutherford

1975 A.J. Foyt

1976 Don Prudhomme

1977 Mario Andretti*

1978 Mario Andretti*

1979 Rick Mears

1980 Johnny Rutherford

1981 Darrell Waltrip

1982 Shirley Muldowney

1983 Bobby Allison

1984 Mario Andretti*

1985 Bill Elliott

1986 Bobby Rahal

1987 Dale Earnhardt

1988 Geoff Brabham

1989 Emerson Fittipaldi

1990 Al Unser Jr.

1991 Harry Gant

1992 Juan Manuel Fangio II

1993 Nigel Mansell

1994 Al Unser Jr.

1995 Jeff Gordon*

1996 John Force**

1997 Tom Kendall

1998 Jeff Gordon*

1999 John Force**

2000 John Force**

2001 Jeff Gordon*

2002 John Force**

2003 J.J. Yeley

2004 Tony Kanaan

2005 Dan Wheldon

2006 Tony Schumacher

* three-time winner

** four-time winner