Don Schumacher will be forever remembered as a drag racing legend. During the upcoming NHRA Route 66 Nationals, May 17-19, he will be honored during a trackside Celebration of Life ceremony
Schumacher privately battled lung cancer before succumbing to illness-related complications on Wednesday, December 20, 2023.
The Route 66 Nationals outside of Chicago, Ill., provides the perfect backdrop as Schumacher is a native of the Chicago area.
The celebration will take place in a trackside tent for a community-wide, and the ceremony will begin promptly at 11:30 a.m. NHRA on FOX lead broadcaster Brian Lohnes will deliver the opening remarks, followed by a moment of silence led by Racers for Christ.
Schumacher had a longstanding relationship with Racers for Christ, having hosted the group’s Sunday services in the DSR hospitality tents for many years. At 11:45 a.m., there will be an autograph session featuring former DSR drivers and riders signing a special Don Schumacher commemorative hero card.
Schumacher was a well-known philanthropist, often utilizing his team’s fleet of race cars to raise money and awareness for causes near and dear to his heart. To honor Schumacher’s commitment to giving back, attendees will be able to purchase a raffle ticket in exchange for a $10 donation to MD Anderson Cancer Center. Schumacher and his longtime friend and DSR sponsor partner Terry Chandler both received treatment at MD Anderson during their respective battles with cancer. Raffle prizes will include one of two 40” x 26” framed pieces of art featuring every DSR car through 2022, including the cars Schumacher himself piloted in the 1960s and ‘70s, one of the three large-scale Don Schumacher commemorative banners on display during the Celebration of Life ceremony, and Schumacher Electric DSR 117 and DSR 145 battery chargers.
For those not in attendance who would like the opportunity to win one of the commemorative banners or the second framed car art piece, bids can be placed via an online auction, also benefitting MD Anderson. Additionally, fans may choose to support the Schumacher family’s fundraising efforts by making a monetary donation to MD Anderson, and can do so by visiting the auction link. Additional available auction items include a framed, race-worn Don Schumacher signature red DSR shirt, a Don Schumacher Wonder Wagon vintage die cast, a framed photo of Schumacher on the starting line, and an eight-bank Schumacher Electric DSR 127 battery charging station.
Fans following along at home should be sure to tune into the May 19th NHRA Route 66 Nationals broadcast, which will include tributes to Schumacher by several former DSR drivers and crew chiefs. The finals are slated to air on FS1 at 4 and 10 p.m. ET.
The trackside Celebration of Life ceremony and autograph session are open to all. Those interested in participating should plan to gather in the tent by 11:15 a.m. on Friday morning. Remarks will begin promptly at 11:30, and the DSR autograph session will immediately follow, beginning at approximately 11:45 a.m. The online auction is now open for bids and will close on Friday, May 17 at 5 p.m. CT.
