Austin’s Fastest

By AFM Team – July 1, 2016
Photography by Brian Fitzsimmons

Tony Schumacher

Eight-time Top Fuel world champion

shoeracing.com

Residence: Austin, Texas
Wife: Cara
Children: Anthony, Michael and Jacqueline
DOB: December 25, 1969
Height/Weight: 5’8”, 158 pounds


On Track Accomplishments:

– Driver of the U.S. Army Top Fuel Dragster for Don Schumacher Racing
– Made first start in Top Fuel in 1996 U.S. Nationals in Indy
– Won his first championship in 1999
– Won six consecutive championships from 2004 – 2009
– Won his eighth championship in 2014
– All-time leading winner in Top Fuel with 80 victories


In his own words:

“In this business so much of it is mental. If I am mentally prepared to go into battle, I have a great chance of winning. To be mentally prepared, my body has to be physically prepared. I put my time in the gym keeping myself toned through repetition. Push-ups. Pull-ups. I work on cardio a couple days a week. You have to remember I only work six minutes a year. Well, that’s all the time I’m in the car, but I put in the preparation so that I can be at my best for every one of those seconds. Mentally strong and physically fit.”

“Diet is important. I’m 46 years-old and my body can’t handle things it may have 20 years ago, heck even 10 years ago. Again, it’s all about preparation. I’m in the car Friday, Saturday and Sunday. What I do Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday is what helps me perform at my best.”

“The other thing about my job is that I represent the U.S. Army and have been asked to be part of several of their training activities. Jumping from airplanes. Firing rounds of ammunition. And the same is true in that environment. You have to be prepared both mentally and physically.”

Get to know Alexis DeJoria. Keep Reading!

 

Alexis DeJoria 

Four-time Funny Car winner

alexisdejoria.com

Residence: Dripping Springs, Texas
Husband: Jesse James
Daughter: Isabella
DOB: September 24, 1977
Height/Weight: 5’8”, 130 pounds


By the Numbers:

4: Funny Car wins
4: No. 1 starts
10,000: amount of horsepower Alexis’ Tequila Patrón Toyota Camry Funny Car produces
332.18: Alexis’ fastest speed (mph)
5: No. of years Alexis has competed in the Funny Car category
11: No. of years Alexis has competed in the NHRA
771: Alexis’ car number
3.875: number of seconds it takes Alexis to cover 1,000-feet in her nitro Funny Car
5: No. of g-forces Alexis feels when launching her Patrón Funny Car
-6: No. of negative g-forces Alexis experiences after pulling her parachutes at the end of a run
24: No. of races in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series
2: No. of times the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series visits the state of Texas (Houston & Dallas)


Additional Accomplishments:

– Made first start in Funny Car in September 2011 at the NHRA Texas Fall Nationals in Dallas
– Has finished in the Top Ten in the past two years
– First woman to break the four-second barrier in the Funny Car category
– First female to compete in 100 Funny Car events (2016 season-opener, Pomona, Calif.)
– Only driver to have wins in each the SuperComp, Top Alcohol Funny Car, and Funny Car categories
– Won the prestigious U.S. Nationals 
– First person to make a test lap at Austin’ Circuit of the Americas
– Races for Kalitta Motorsports


In Her own words:

“Our sport is just as much mental as it is physical, yet it is very important for me to stay fit in mind, body and soul. I do a combination of cardio, weight training and yoga to balance everything out. It’s important for me to do upper body strength training in order to be able to combat the race car when cylinders get dropped and all of that extra horsepower and pressure is being pushed to one side or the other.” 

“It’s very easy to stay fit in Austin. It’s one of the ‘fittest’ cities I’ve ever lived in. There’s such a wide selections of places to go, and things to do, to help maintain a healthy and fit lifestyle.” 

“I try to eat very healthy on the road, as well as at home. I eat lots of fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and I also drink a lot of green juices.”

 
 

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