Tony Schumacher makes a pit stop in Wellington to show off drag car

WELLINGTON — Tony Schumacher says he picked a job that requires him to work just six minutes a year. "The Sarge," as he's known in the racing world, will be on the clock for only about three seconds this weekend when he climbs into his drag car cockpit at the NHRA Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk. "It's only three seconds, but it's every decision I make all week," he said, signing autographs Thursday afternoon at Wellington Implement on Route 58. "It's everything I put in my mouth, everything I eat, every workout I do. It's all-consuming." Thousands of hours of practice go into those short races. The rest of the time is spent with fans, "and it's the greatest fan sport in the world," Schumacher said. Mike Kindig, an Elyria resident who collects radio-controlled cars, including 1/10th scale dragsters, took his grandson, Evan Bradley, to see Schumacher's show car in Wellington. "He's into RC cars too, so I wanted him to see the real thing," Kindig said. For decades he's watched racers burn rubber at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk and Lorain Raceway Park in South Amherst, listening to the roar of the engines. Carl Zimmerman traveled from Wadsworth to see Schumacher, whom he's watched race for many years. "He's consistent. That means a lot in the driving world," Zimmerman said. "He's the Dale Earnhardt Jr. of drag racing." Wellington Implement owner Tom Stannard made another comparison: The National Hot Rod Association event is "like the Super Bowl of racing," he said. Schumacher's car is sponsored by SCAG Equipment. The company's zero-turn mowers have been a big seller for Stannard's three stores in the past 15 years. So when he learned the driver was en route to Norwalk, Stannard arranged for a meet-and-greet and autograph signing. The orange-striped drag car that was unloaded in his parking lot quickly drew attention, and for good reason. "These are the fastest-accelerating vehicles on the planet," said Daniel Bartholomew, spokesman for Schumacher Racing. "I said vehicles — planes, trains, automobiles, rocket ships, we are going to accelerate faster than anything else." The car's 12,000-horsepower hemi launches it from 0 to 100 mph in 0.8 seconds — it's going full speed before it travels 60 feet. Schumacher said he spent his childhood watching his father, legendary racer Don Schumacher, and dreaming of one day having his own dragster. Now he's spent so many hours in the cockpit that all trace of fear has vanished. On the track, Schumacher said he achieves a zen-like state of mind and trusts the machine completely. It's an experience few fans will ever have, but fantasizing about driving captures their imaginations. "It's shock and awe," Schumacher said. "You can't drive it, but you can stand next to (the drag car) when it starts. You can bring your family to see it and say, 'That's the baddest car in the world.'" Contact Jason Hawk at (440) 329-7122 or news@lcnewspapers.com.