Route 66 NHRA Nationals
Event 6 of 21
Route 66 Raceway
Joliet, Ill.
May 19 – 21, 2023
Top Fuel:
TONY SCHUMACHER
Driver of the SCAG Power Equipment Top Fuel Dragster
Route 66 NHRA Nationals Event Highlights:
Five-time event winner (2003, 2005, 2008, 2013, 2015)
Note: 2005 victory was from the discontinued Fall event
Two-time runner-up (2004, 2010)
Note: 2004 runner-up was from the discontinued Fall event
Seven-time No. 1 qualifier (2003, 2005 Spring and Fall, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012)
2018 Route 66 NHRA Nationals Event Recap:
Qualified third; First round exit (defeated by Billy Torrence in E1)
Note: NHRA did not compete in Chicago 2020 – 2022; Schumacher did not compete at the 2019 event
Last Event (Charlotte 1):
Qualified 12th; First round exit (defeated by Josh Hart, Steve Torrence in E1)
Career Statistics:
539 races; 86 wins; 88 No. 1 qualifiers
Noteworthy:
Winningest Top Fuel driver in Chicago history with five wins at Route 66 Raceway
Tied with Antron Brown and Jeg Coughlin Jr. for winningest Camping World Series driver at the Joliet facility
Leads the Top Fuel class in number of No. 1 qualifiers (seven) at Chicago
A Chicago native turned Austin transplant, Schumacher considers Route 66 Raceway to be a home track
The Joliet, Ill. event is a home race for primary partner, SCAG Power Equipment
Quotable:
“Super excited to get back to Joliet. When Route 66 Raceway was built, it was one of the premier super tracks and when it went away, it was really sad. Being a Chicago native, I have a lot of friends and family that would go there. Not to mention, with all of the success I’ve had at that facility, it’s certainly not one I want to see removed from the schedule. So, we’re happy it’s coming back and we’re on the verge of having our SCAG Power Equipment Top Fuel dragster run really fast. That track is extremely quick when the conditions are right, and we’re looking at perfect conditions this weekend. So, it is time for our first win this year and we’re going after it hard.”
Funny Car:
TIM WILKERSON
Driver of the SCAG Power Equipment/Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Mustang
Route 66 NHRA Nationals Event Highlights:
1999 event champion
2019 Route 66 NHRA Nationals Event Recap:
Qualified ninth; First round exit (defeated by Cruz Pedregon in E1)
Note: NHRA did not compete in Chicago 2020 – 2022
Last Event (Charlotte 1):
Qualified eighth; First round exit (defeated by Ron Capps, Bob Tasca in E1)
2023 Statistics:
Five races; one runner-up finish
Career Statistics:
575 races; 22 wins; 20 No. 1 qualifiers
Noteworthy:
Wilkerson’s 1999 triumph was his first Funny Car event win. He defeated John Force in the final round
As a lifelong resident of Illinois, Wilkerson considers Route 66 Raceway to be one of his home tracks
The Joliet, Ill. event is a home race for primary partner, SCAG Power Equipment
Quotable:
“I’m really excited to see that the Joliet race is back on our schedule again. It’s been a really good track for me throughout my career, and it was the site of my first Funny Car win. It was a pretty big deal in 1999 beating John Force in the finals, but really excited to get back there and see what our SCAG Power Equipment/LRS Ford Mustang can do this weekend. We’re going to have a huge contingent from SCAG, which will be great. They’re so excited to get all of their employees out to the track to check out our SCAG cars in action, and we would like nothing more than to put on a good show for them.”
