NHRA Gatornationals
Event 1 of 21
Gainesville Raceway
Gainesville, Fla.
March 8 – 10, 2024
TONY SCHUMACHER
Driver of the Leatherwood Distillery Top Fuel Dragster
NHRA Gatornationals Event Highlights:
Five-time event winner (2004, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2017)
Four-time runner-up (2000, 2011, 2012, 2015)
Three-time No. 1 qualifier (2006, 2011, 2017)
2023 NHRA Gatornationals Recap:
Qualified 10th; Quarterfinal finish (defeated Josh Hart in E1; defeated by Steve Torrence in E2)
Career Statistics:
555 races; 86 wins, 88 No. 1 qualifiers
Noteworthy:
An eight-time NHRA Top Fuel world champion, Schumacher begins his campaign for a ninth series title when the season commences this weekend
Debuts with a new primary partner, Leatherwood Distillery, at Gainesville
Leads the Top Fuel class in number of wins at Gainesville (five)
Fan Events:
Thursday, 3/7, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m., Tony Schumacher and Ida Zetterström, Leatherwood Distillery bottle signing event at Gainesville Wine and Spirits (7415 NW Fourth Blvd)
Quotable:
“What a perfect place to start the season. Gainesville Raceway is one of my best tracks on tour. We’ve had a lot of wins there as the winningest team and I always love going there. Throughout the course of history, Gainesville has always been early on in the season and so, it’s just one of those events where you’re happy, things are just starting to get going, you’re building momentum, and, you’re in the beautiful state of Florida with the palm trees. Plus there’s always a huge, huge crowd; it’s a special place to race cars. I’ve been doing this a long time, so when I get excited to go to a race track, you know it’s a great track. It takes a lot to get me excited because this has been my job for so long, but Gainesville is one that I always look forward to.”
