Veteran tuner Jon Schaffer has been named crew chief for Paul Lee Racing’s Nitro Funny Car entry in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, the team announced Monday. Schaffer joins longtime consultant John Medlen and assistant crew chief Seth Randall in leading the operation for the 2026 season.
The move follows a breakthrough year for driver and team owner Paul Lee, who finished sixth in the Funny Car points standings in 2025 and earned his first career class victory at the Phoenix national event. It marked the strongest season of Lee’s NHRA career and established the program as a consistent contender.
Schaffer brings extensive top-level Funny Car experience and is expected to play a central role in sustaining and advancing that momentum. The team views the addition as a step toward greater consistency and performance across the full season.
“We’re building on something special from last year,” Lee said. “The momentum we created in 2025 gives us a strong foundation, and bringing Jon Schaffer on board is a fresh start that raises the bar for our entire program.”
Lee said Schaffer’s background and approach align with the team’s existing structure. He also emphasized the importance of continuity with Medlen and Randall remaining in key leadership roles.
“Jon’s talent, experience, and approach fit perfectly with what John Medlen, Seth Randall, and our team are building,” Lee said. “I’m excited about where this can take us.”
Schaffer said the team’s 2025 performance demonstrated it belongs among the sport’s top Funny Car operations. He pointed to the Phoenix win and points finish as evidence of the program’s upward trajectory.
“This team proved last season that they belong at the top level of Funny Car competition,” said Jon Schaffer. “Paul’s win in Phoenix and the sixth-place points finish show what this group is capable of.”
Schaffer said collaboration will be a key focus moving forward. He noted the opportunity to work alongside Medlen and Randall as a major factor in accepting the role.
“I’m excited to work with John Medlen and Seth Randall and help build on that momentum,” Schaffer said. “There’s a lot of potential here, and I’m looking forward to contributing my experience to help this team keep moving forward.”
Randall, a longtime member of the Paul Lee Racing organization, has been elevated to assistant crew chief after serving in multiple technical roles. The promotion is intended to preserve institutional knowledge while expanding leadership capacity.
“I’m more than ready for the season to get started,” Randall said. “We worked extremely hard in 2025 to build momentum, and it’s exciting to be able to continue that with this group.”
Randall said working alongside Schaffer and Medlen provides an opportunity to grow while maintaining continuity. He credited the team’s internal progression for helping position the program for sustained success.
“Being able to work alongside John Medlen and Jon Schaffer is a great opportunity,” Randall said. “I’m proud to step into the assistant crew chief role and help keep pushing this team forward.”
Paul Lee Racing will continue to be supported by partners including McLeod, FTI Performance, Silver Sport Transmissions, Competition Clutch, Independence Driveline, Mainline Sales, PowerEdge, DENSO, Red Line Oil, Gates, Lincoln Electric, Justice Brothers, SRI, Daido Metal, Advanced Sleeves, Cometic Gaskets, Fischer Honda, IGTG, Seefried Ranch, Boninfante, OptiTorque, Riken Rings, ShurTape, ProThings, Goodyear, and Sam & Kris Maus.
“We’re building something that’s sustainable and competitive, and this is another step in that direction,” Lee said.
