Norwalk Pre-Race Report
NHRA Norwalk Nationals
Event 12 of 24 (Norwalk)
Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park
Norwalk, Ohio June 22-24, 2018
Noteworthy:
- Jack Beckman returns as the defending Funny Car event champion
- Beckman leads the Funny Car class in number of victories (three) at Norwalk
- Matt Hagan claimed the Funny Car pole in 2017
- Leah Pritchett will pull double-duty, competing in both Top Fuel and the Factory Stock Showdown series for the fourth time in 2018
- Tony Schumacher and Ron Capps enter Norwalk as the most recent event winners on tourDSR-Owned Track Records:
Funny Car, E.T.: 3.865-seconds, Matt Hagan (2017)
(Excerpt)
DSR Driver Information:
Funny Car
TOMMY JOHNSON JR.
Driver of the Make-A-Wish Foundation Dodge Charger R/T
2017 Norwalk Recap:
Qualified fifth; Semifinal finish (defeated J.R. Todd in E1, Ron Capps in E2; defeated by Jack Beckman in E3)
Last event (Bristol):
Qualified eighth; Quarterfinal finish (defeated Matt Hagan in E1; defeated by Courtney Force in E2)
2018 Season Statistics:
11 round wins; Ranked seventh in points
Career Statistics:
433 races; 17 wins (two Top Fuel); 15 No. 1 qualifiers (one Top Fuel)
Quotable:
“Norwalk is one of my favorite tracks on tour, and after last weekend when we ran pretty well with the new conditions, I’m excited about our chances. I think we’re pretty close to turning the corner, and Norwalk would be a great place to kick that off. The Baders are a great family, they’ve got a great facility, and I look forward to an entertaining weekend there.”
About Don Schumacher Racing
Don Schumacher Racing, headquartered in Brownsburg, Ind., fields seven professional NHRA teams. In Top Fuel, the U.S. Army dragster driven by eight-time world champion Tony Schumacher, the Matco Tools/U.S. Army dragster driven by three-time world champion Antron Brown and the Mopar/Papa John’s Pizza/Pennzoil/FireAde/U.S. Army dragster driven by Leah Pritchett; and in Funny Car, 2016 world champion Ron Capps in the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T; two-time world champion Matt Hagan in the Mopar Express Lane Dodge Charger R/T, and 2012 NHRA world champion Jack Beckman in Terry and Doug Chandler’s Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge and the Chandlers’ Make-A-Wish Dodge driven by Tommy Johnson Jr.
DSR also campaigns two Sportsman teams. The two-car Factory Stock Showdown duo is piloted by Pritchett and veteran Pro Stock racer Mark Pawuk. Both drivers compete in Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Paks.
DSR has won 323 NHRA national event titles and 16 world championships.
Follow Don Schumacher Racing at Shoeracing.com, on Twitter and Instagram at @shoeracing and Facebook.com/shoeracing.