In a move reminiscent of last year’s Whit Bazemore dismissal, Don Schumacher has demoted Mike “Zippy” Neff to the role of “advisor” on the Mopar Oakley Dodge driven by Gary Scelzi. Todd Okuhara will step away from the Jack Beckman operation to replace Neff.

Phil Shuler, Okahara’s assistant, will assume the tuner role for Beckman.

“Todd and Phil have worked together for about a year and Don wants to put them on their own to see if they can handle it,” Neff said. “That way he’ll know for sure what he needs to do for next year.”

Don Schumacher said there was no demotion.

“There wasn’t a demotion,” Schumacher said. “He’s going to be an advisor for both the Mopar Oakley, MTS and Brut teams. With Mike’s decision to join John Force Racing, I needed to look toward the future for what we are going to do going forward. It was time to make an appropriate move in my mind. I wanted to put all three of my Funny Cars in the best position to win a championship.”

In a move reminiscent of last year’s Whit Bazemore dismissal, Don Schumacher has demoted Mike “Zippy” Neff to the role of “advisor” on the Mopar Oakley Dodge driven by Gary Scelzi. Todd Okuhara will step away from the Jack Beckman operation to replace Neff.

Phil Shuler, Okahara’s assistant, will assume the tuner role for Beckman.

“Todd and Phil have worked together for about a year and Don wants to put them on their own to see if they can handle it,” Neff said. “That way he’ll know for sure what he needs to do for next year.”

Don Schumacher said there was no demotion.

“There wasn’t a demotion,” Schumacher said. “He’s going to be an advisor for both the Mopar Oakley, MTS and Brut teams. With Mike’s decision to join John Force Racing, I needed to look toward the future for what we are going to do going forward. It was time to make an appropriate move in my mind. I wanted to put all three of my Funny Cars in the best position to win a championship.”

Neff was taken aback by Schumacher’s decision.

“It’s definitely not what I wanted to do,” Neff said. “It’s not fair to my team and Gary and everything we’ve done over the years.”

According to Neff, because of this arrangement and the Schumacher’s preparation for next year, he will be allowed to make test runs for John Force Racing in order to become acclimated to driving.

“Basically we agreed that I would help him to prepare for what he needed to do next year if he allowed me to do the same,” Neff said. “That’s where it’s at now. It should work well for both us although it really wasn’t what I wanted to do.

“Don wants me there in case this doesn’t work that he can put them back together and I can take back over. That’s the main reason he wants me to stay.”

Schumacher confirmed that Neff was a full-time employee for DSR and when he has an off opportunity that he’ll grant Neff permission to test with JFR.

Schumacher said that he manages the race teams on a day-to-day basis and when asked if immediate success by Okahara and Shuler would make Neff’s existence expendable, he stated that no one is ever really expendable.

“Changes always take place and no one is ever expendable on a team,” Schumacher said. “I don’t know what the future will hold for my team.”

Schumacher wants it perfectly clear this season is not sacrificed for the Mopar Oakley team.

“I believe in making this move will make our overall team better,” Schumacher said. “I look for Gary to continue to perform at the very top.”