NHRA NEWS: SCHUMACHER WINS AARWBA JERRY TITUS MEMORIAL AWARD
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: NHRA Communications, (626) 914-4761 NHRA Media Center Online: http://media.nhra.com SCHUMACHER NAMED AARWBA TITUS AWARD WINNER INDIANAPOLIS (Jan. 13, 2007) - Tony Schumacher received his first Jerry Titus Memorial Trophy Saturday evening at the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association (AARWBA) awards ceremony at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Indianapolis. The Jerry Titus Memorial Trophy, named for the late journalist and racer, is given annually to honor the driver who earns the most total votes in balloting for auto racing's official All-America Team as selected by the membership of AARWBA. Schumacher, 37, from Chicago, became the 37th winner of the prestigious trophy, which has been awarded to many of auto racing's greats. Other NHRA stars to be honored with the coveted prize include Don Prudhomme (1976), Shirley Muldowney (1982) and John Force (1996, 1999, 2000 and 2002), the only four-time winner of the Titus award. A.J. Foyt (1975), Mario Andretti (1977, '78 and '84), Darrell Waltrip (1981), Dale Earnhardt (1987), Nigel Mansell (1993) and Jeff Gordon (1995, '98 and '01) also have received the honor. Schumacher, who was selected for the fourth time to the AARWBA All-America First Team, had a Titus-worthy year as he raced to five victories and closed the 2006 season by securing his third consecutive and fourth overall NHRA POWERade Series Top Fuel world championship in dramatic fashion. After falling behind 336 points at the season's midpoint, Schumacher and his U.S. Army team rallied to post five victories in eight final rounds down the stretch to overtake Doug Kalitta for the championship at the season's last race, the Auto Club NHRA Finals in Pomona, Calif. The intense drama came in the final round of that event, when Schumacher needed to win and set a national record to earn the championship. He did both, powering his machine to a national-record-setting run of 4.428 seconds and holding off Melanie Troxel at the finish line. He also set a single-season NHRA Top Fuel record for No. 1 qualifiers (13), and his five victories increased his career total to 35, tying him with Don Garlits for 11th-most in NHRA POWERade history (all categories) and fourth-most in Top Fuel. Schumacher and drag racing legend Joe Amato are now the only Top Fuel drivers in NHRA history to win three consecutive world championship titles. "This award is clearly the result of the hard work and determination that my U.S. Army team put in throughout the season," Schumacher said. "Without their never-say-die attitude, I would not be in the position I am today. This is as much their award as it is mine." Force was recognized for his 14th selection to the AARWBA first team. The 57-year-old fan-favorite won his 14th POWERade world championship in 17 years with a consistent season in which he powered his Castrol GTX Ford Mustang to three wins in a category-leading eight final rounds. Force overtook season-long POWERade points leader Ron Capps for good in Reading, Pa., and he maintained the top spot in the standings in the final four events. The other drivers presented with First Team awards were Sebastien Bourdais and Sam Hornish Jr. (Open Wheel), Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart (Stock Car), Jorg Bergmeister, Rinaldo Capello/Allan McNish and Scott Pruett/Luis Diaz (Road Racing, tie), Donny Schatz and Josh Wise (Short Track), Todd Bodine and Frank Kimmel (Touring Series) and J.R. Hildebrand and Travis Pastrana (At-Large). Top Alcohol Funny Car standout Frank Manzo, who had 10 event wins - six national and four divisional - en route to his 10th NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series championship, was an At-Large selection on the Second Team. AARWBA members have annually selected an All-America Auto Racing Team and Jerry Titus Memorial Trophy winner since 1970. Jerry Titus Memorial Trophy(tm) Winners: 1970 Al Unser 1971 Mark Donohue 1972 George Follmer 1973 Mark Donohue 1974 Johnny Rutherford 1975 A.J. Foyt 1976 Don Prudhomme 1977 Mario Andretti* 1978 Mario Andretti* 1979 Rick Mears 1980 Johnny Rutherford 1981 Darrell Waltrip 1982 Shirley Muldowney 1983 Bobby Allison 1984 Mario Andretti* 1985 Bill Elliott 1986 Bobby Rahal 1987 Dale Earnhardt 1988 Geoff Brabham 1989 Emerson Fittipaldi 1990 Al Unser Jr. 1991 Harry Gant 1992 Juan Manuel Fangio II 1993 Nigel Mansell 1994 Al Unser Jr. 1995 Jeff Gordon* 1996 John Force** 1997 Tom Kendall 1998 Jeff Gordon* 1999 John Force** 2000 John Force** 2001 Jeff Gordon* 2002 John Force** 2003 J.J. Yeley 2004 Tony Kanaan 2005 Dan Wheldon 2006 Tony Schumacher * three-time winner ** four-time winner -30-