MOTORSPORTS legend Don Schumacher has died at 79 following a battle with lung cancer.
His racing team, NHRA, announced his death on Thursday citing illness related complications.
Schumacher was a successful drag racer and was part of the founding of the Funny Car class. He won around 70 percent of the 560 races he entered.
His legend grew exponentially when he became a car owner. His team collected 19 NHRA world championships and 362 Wally trophies.
He built one of the most impressive resumes in racing history, but took time off in the 1970s to develop his family’s electric company into a successful global business.
He returned to racing in 1998 as a car owner with his son Tony as his primary driver. Tony won 86 events for his father.
Outside of his success on the race track, he also made the sport much safer.
Among his safety breakthroughs were a roof-mounted escape hatch which made it easier for drivers to escape a fire.
He also created a fire-suppression system that allowed drivers to extinguish a fire without removing their hand from the steering wheel.
Schumacher had a battle with cancer in 2015, but was able to return to the track which thrilled drivers.
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“This is the best therapy,” Antron Brown, one of Schumacher’s’ drivers said.
“You can see the smile on his face and the joy in his heart for being part of this sport of NHRA drag racing.”
Schumacher shared how much drag racing meant to him after returning from his first cancer battle.
“I love what I do, and I will continue to do what I do,” Schumacher said after his return.
“I’m a businessman, and that’s what I do. I love racing. I love the sport of NHRA. I love my businesses. I love my family. I love what I do in life.”
NHRA announcer Alan Reinhart shared how much of a legend Schumacher was on Twitter.
“Even though he has scaled back his personal involvement the last few years, this is a tremendous blow,” Reinhart wrote.
“His influence will be felt for generations to come. And the company he built will continue to supply the sport.”
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Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
