PAYING TRIBUTE TO DON SCHUMACHER
When it came time to find a sponsor to provide a bonus for the winner of the Top Fuel vs . Funny Car Shootout , Red Line Oil ’ s Mark Beatty jumped at the opportunity to reward Red Line customers and pay tribute to a late friend and legend of the sport . Red Line ’ s $ 10,000 bonus for the winner provided a financial incentive to win the unique shootout , but the Don Schumacher Nitro Superstar Award was the meaningful prize attached to the race .
Beatty was on site all weekend to support the event and visit customers . The longtime automotive brand director got the ultimate surprise Saturday morning when Wes Buck invited him to flip the starter ’ s switch to kick off the Top Fuel vs . Funny Car Shootout .
“ When Wes asked me to go to the starting line to flip the switch for the first pair of Top Fuel vs . Funny Car , my emotions went into overdrive ,” Beatty said . “ We did this at Bandimere Speedway for years with sponsors and guests , so I know the drill , right ? I have even spent hours upon hours starting cars at the track on bracket days and small events – been there , done that . Then came this opportunity . No fanfare , no hype . My guess is only three or four people even knew Wes invited me to ‘ flip the switch .’”
Beatty and Red Line worked with Schumacher as a sponsor , providing motor oil and lubricants towards the end of his career as a team owner . Beatty admittedly got caught up in the moment ’ s emotions as Billy Torrence and Ron Capps lined up for a shot at the Don Schumacher Nitro Superstar Award .
“ As I first pointed to the sky for Don , I then switched to the ‘ Love You ’ hand sign . That is when I started to cry right there between 22,000 horsepower ,” Beatty said . “ With tears running out from under my sunglasses , ‘ This is for you , Don ,’ is all I kept saying . Walking back , wiping my eyes and face ; no doubt everyone thought the tears were from the nitro fumes . Little did they know a group of friends from Drag Illustrated allowed me to do something I will never forget .” DI
126 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated . com Issue 187