NHRA Gatornationals Pre-Race Report
NHRA Gatornationals
Event 1 of 21
Gainesville Raceway
Gainesville, Fla.
March 10-12, 2023
Top Fuel:
TONY SCHUMACHER: Driver of the SCAG Power Equipment 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)
2022 NHRA Gatornationals Recap:
Qualified 14th; First round exit (defeated by Steve Torrence in E1)
Last Event (Pomona 2, 2022):
Qualified eighth; First round exit (defeated by Clay Millican in E1)
Career Statistics:
534 races; 86 wins; 88 No. 1 qualifiers
TONY SCHUMACHER: Driver of the SCAG Power Equipment 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)
2022 NHRA Gatornationals Recap:
Qualified 14th; First round exit (defeated by Steve Torrence in E1)
Last Event (Pomona 2, 2022):
Qualified eighth; First round exit (defeated by Clay Millican in E1)
Career Statistics:
534 races; 86 wins; 88 No. 1 qualifiers
Noteworthy:
An eight-time NHRA Top Fuel world champion, Schumacher will begin his campaign for a ninth series title when the season commences with the Gatornationals
Leads the Top Fuel class in number of wins at Gainesville (five)
Quotable:
“What an awesome way to start a new year. Gainesville Fla., where we’ve had so much success, will be the kick off race to our 2023 season. We have a three-year deal with SCAG and a new teammate in Tim Wilkerson. It’s great to have (crew chiefs) Mike Neff and Jon Shaffer along with Phil Shuler. Seriously a power team. Let’s roll.”
Funny Car:
TIM WILKERSON: Driver of the SCAG Power Equipment/Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Mustang
NHRA Gatornationals Event Highlights:
2010 event champion
Two-time runner-up (2019, 2020)
2004 No. 1 qualifier
2022 NHRA Gatornationals Recap:
Qualified second; First round exit (defeated by John Force in E1)
Last Event (Pomona 2):
Qualified eighth; Quarterfinal finish (defeated J.R. Todd in E1; defeated by Ron Capps in E2)
Career Statistics:
570 races; 22 wins; 20 No. 1 qualifiers
TIM WILKERSON: Driver of the SCAG Power Equipment/Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Mustang
NHRA Gatornationals Event Highlights:
2010 event champion
Two-time runner-up (2019, 2020)
2004 No. 1 qualifier
2022 NHRA Gatornationals Recap:
Qualified second; First round exit (defeated by John Force in E1)
Last Event (Pomona 2):
Qualified eighth; Quarterfinal finish (defeated J.R. Todd in E1; defeated by Ron Capps in E2)
Career Statistics:
570 races; 22 wins; 20 No. 1 qualifiers
Noteworthy:
Made his professional NHRA debut at the 1996 Gatornationals
The 2023 Gainesville race marks a new era in Wilkerson’s career as he will hit the track as a co-owner of his Funny Car operation, Maynard Wilkerson Racing, after competing as the sole owner/operator of his race team for more than two decades
Wilkerson starts the season as a 49-time finalist and is looking to reach his 50th championship round at the Gainesville season-opener.
Quotable:
“Very excited about a new season, of course. First few runs of testing, the new parts are fighting me a little bit, along with the race track conditions, but by Friday we’ll have this thing turned around and acting like it’s supposed to. It’s not quite acting like the car I had last year just yet. That's why I always say, 'never brag about your kid or your car.' But all jokes aside, we’re very excited about the whole year and hopefully, we can get it figured out by this weekend and get this season started off on the right foot."
About JCM Racing:
Established in 2022, JCM Racing is a multi-car NHRA team owned by Joe and Cathi Maynard, along with their partners Eric and Kim Lehman, all of Clarksville, Tenn.Headliners for the JCM Racing team are the SCAG Power Equipment Top Fuel dragster driven by Tony Schumacher and the SCAG Power Equipment/Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Mustang Funny Car piloted by Tim Wilkerson. As an eight-time world champion and 86-time event winner, Schumacher is the most decorated Top Fuel driver in the history of the sport. Wilkerson is a 22-time Funny Car winner and an industry anomaly as he serves as both the driver and tuner of his 11,000-horsepower machine. NHRA Hall of Famer Don Schumacher, father of Tony Schumacher, is a minority owner of the SCAG dragster, while Tim Wilkerson Racing (TWR) co-owns the SCAG/LRS Mustang with JCM Racing.
JCM Racing also operates a driver development program, which currently lends support to three entries in NHRA’s Sportsman categories. Wyatt Wagner competes in Super Stock, Kayleigh Hill is a Super Comp racer, and Waylon Bennett tears it up in the Jr. Drag Racing League. Through the driver development program, JCM offers young talent the opportunity to hone in and perfect their driving skills as they work toward a career competing in NHRA’s professional ranks.
For more information, visit @jcmnitro on Twitter and Instagram, @JCMNitro on Facebook, and JCMNitro.com.
