JOLIET, Ill. (July 8, 2017) - A tradition started two years ago by the late Terry Chandler continued Saturday when several Make-A-Wish families were guests at the 20th annual NHRA Route 66 Nationals near Chicago.
In her stead as host was Tommy Johnson Jr., who visited with the children and handed out stuffed animals and collectible diecast replicas of Terry's Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car. He did a stellar job and put smiles on their faces, but it wasn't Terry.
She was laid to rest Saturday in a private ceremony in New Mexico. She will be honored before championship eliminations begin at noon (CDT) Sunday, and a celebration of her life is planned for the U.S. Nationals over Labor Day Weekend near Indianapolis.
The two teams she has funded the past few seasons in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualified strongly with Johnson qualified sixth and Don Schumacher Racing teammate Jack Beckman and the Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge will be seeded No. 2 when racing begins to start the second half of the 24-race series.
"Everyone at DSR wants to win this trophy for Terry and I can't tell you how much it especially would mean to my team and Jack's," said Johnson, who won at Chicago with Terry in 2015.
Terry's teams have won the last two Route 66 Funny Car titles with Beckman following Johnson last year.
"Today was a tough day for everybody at DSR and more specifically for our Infinite Hero team and Tommy's Make-A-Wish team," Beckman said.
"We qualified second with a great Dodge. We won last year with Terry and we want to defend that title for Terry. It's sad and the silver lining is that we know are continuing with her legacy of helping people."
The Infinite Hero Dodge Powered by Pennzoil has won two of the past three event titles.
It has been a stellar weekend in Top Fuel for Leah Pritchett and DSR's Papa John's Pizza team, which qualified second after being the quickest car in three of the four qualifying sessions.
"We had an incredible day," said Pritchett, who has three wins this season and is ranked second in points with her team led by crew chief Todd Okuhara and assistant Joe Barlam.
"We got all six bonus points in qualifying today. I couldn't be prouder of our team earning nine out of 12 points. That's strong. It's a testament to their hard work. We feel good."
CHARITY CHALLENGE
Pritchett hopes her luck holds up on Sunday when she's in her Papa John's Pizza Top Fuel dragster after she was able to beat "Papa John" Schnatter Saturday afternoon at Route 66 in the third round of the Charity Challenge match race when her Dodge lost traction and smoked the tires but Schnatter left the starting too soon and was disqualified.
That gives Pritchett a 3-0 lead in the series.
The biggest winner, however, was the Infinite Hero Foundation, Challenge's designated charity. Schnatter, and DSR owner Don Schumacher each contribute $10,000 at Challenge races to the Infinite Hero Foundation (InfiniteHero.org) to provide grants to help agencies providing care and treatment to military members who return home with physical or psychological injuries.
So far this year, the Challenge has generated $60,000 to Infinite Hero.
On Saturday, Mount Zion, Ill., native Chad Watson, a retired Marine, accepted a $20,000 check on behalf of Infinite Hero. Watson earned his BA from Indiana University and his MBA from Notre Dame after he lost a leg below the knee to an IED blast in 2007 while on a mission at Fallujah, Iraq.
DSR TOP FUEL DRAGSTERS
No. 1 qualifier: Brittany Force (John Force Racing) 3.711 sec., 323.04 mph
LEAH PRITCHETT, Papa John's Pizza Top Fuel dragster
Crew chief: Todd Okuhara; Assistant: Joe Barlam
SUNDAY'S CHAMPIONSHIP ELIMINATIONS
First round: Troy Coughlin
QUALIFYING RESULTS
Qualified: No. 2
FRIDAY: 3.763 sec., 326.48 mph, (Session 1); 8.668, 82.92, (Session 2)
SATURDAY: 3.817 325.30, (Session 3); 3.723, 326.56, (Session 4)
CHICAGO BY THE NUMBERS
Last event (June 15), Norwalk, Ohio: Qualified No. 4, lost in semifinals to Doug Kalitta
A year ago at Chicago: Qualified No. 9, lost in semifinals to Antron Brown
Career at Chicago: Wins 0; Runner-ups 0; Poles 0
TONY SCHUMACHER, U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster
Crew chief: Mike Green; Assistant: Phil Shuler
SUNDAY'S CHAMPIONSHIP ELIMINATIONS
First round: Blake Alexander
QUALIFYING RESULTS
Qualified: No. 5
FRIDAY: 3.827 sec., 314.24 mph, (Session 1); 3.758, 325.37, (Session 2)
SATURDAY: 3.842, 319.98, (Session 3); 3.821, 321.50 , (Session 4)
CHICAGO BY THE NUMBERS
Last event (June 15), Norwalk, Ohio: Qualified No. 8, lost in second round to Doug Kalitta
A year ago at Chicago: Qualified No. 6, lost in semifinals to J.R. Todd
Career at Chicago: : Wins 5 (2003, 2005, 2008, 2013, 2015); Runner-ups 2 (2010. 2004);
Poles 5 (2012, 2008, 2005/1-2005/2, 2003)
ANTRON BROWN, Matco Tools/U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster
Crew chiefs: Brian Corradi, Mark Oswald; Assistant: Brad Mason
SUNDAY'S CHAMPIONSHIP ELIMINATIONS
First round: Doug Kalitta
QUALIFYING RESULTS
Qualified: No. 7
FRIDAY: 3.766 sec., 328.54 mph, (Session 1); 6.008, 112.76, (Session 2)
SATURDAY: 4.187, 209.79, (Session 3); 3.766, 326.32, (Session 4)
CHICAGO BY THE NUMBERS
Last event (June 15), Norwalk, Ohio: Qualified No. 5, lost in second round to Leah Pritchett
A year ago at Chicago: Qualified No. 4, won in championship round over J.R. Todd
Career at Chicago: Wins 5 (2016, 2014, 2012, 2001*, 2000*); Runner-ups 2 (2009, 2002*);
Poles 2 (2009, 2015) *Pro Stock Motorcycle
DSR FUNNY CARS
No. 1 qualifier: Robert Hight (3.851 sec., 334.73 mph-track records)
JACK BECKMAN, Terry Chandler's Infinite Hero Foundation 2017 Dodge Charger R/T
Crew chiefs: Dean Antonelli, John Medlen, Neal Strausbaugh
SUNDAY'S CHAMPIONSHIP ELIMINATIONS
First round: Bob Bode
QUALIFYING RESULTS
Qualified: No. 2
FRIDAY: 3.966 sec., 324.36 mph, (Session 1); 3.856, 330.23, (Session 2)
SATURDAY: 6.872, 100.56, (Session 3); 4.551, 182.38, (Session 4)
CHICAGO BY THE NUMBERS
Last event (June 15), Norwalk, Ohio: Qualified No. 9, won in championship round over Robert Hight
A year ago at Chicago: Qualified No. 2, won in championship round over Ron Capps
Career at Chicago: Wins 1 (2016); Runner-ups 0; Poles 0
MATT HAGAN, Mopar Express Lane 2017 Dodge Charger R/T
Crew chief: Dickie Venables; Assistant: Michael Knudsen
SUNDAY'S CHAMPIONSHIP ELIMINATIONS
First round: Del Worsham
QUALIFYING RESULTS
Qualified: No. 4
FRIDAY: 3.946 sec., 326.40 mph, (Session 1); 3.895, 332.10, (Session 2)
SATURDAY: 4.970, 158.20, (Session 3); 10.009, 74.92, (Session 4)
CHICAGO BY THE NUMBERS
Last event (June 15), Norwalk, Ohio: Qualified No. 1, lost in second round to Jack Beckman
A year ago at Chicago: Qualified No. 1, lost in semifinals to Ron Capps
Career at Chicago: Wins 3 (2014, 2013, 2010); Runner-ups1 (2015); Poles 1 (2016)
TOMMY JOHNSON JR., Terry Chandler's Make-A-Wish 2017 Dodge Charger R/T
Crew chief: John Collins; Assistant: Rip Reynolds
SUNDAY'S CHAMPIONSHIP ELIMINATIONS
First round: John Force
QUALIFYING RESULTS
Qualified: No. 6
FRIDAY: 4.274 sec., 216.69 mph, (Session 1); 3.913, 326.00, (Session 2)
SATURDAY: 4.214, 226.16, (Session 3); 4.083, 248.43, (Session 4)
CHICAGO BY THE NUMBERS
Last event (June 15), Norwalk, Ohio: Qualified No. 5, lost in semifinals to Jack Beckman
A year ago at Chicago: Qualified No. 8, lost in second round to Matt Hagan
Career at Chicago: Wins 1 (2015); Runner-ups 2 (2014, 2003); Poles 2 (2014, 2006)
RON CAPPS, NAPA INTREPID FALLEN HEROES FUND 2017 Dodge Charger R/T
Crew chief: Rahn Tobler; Assistant: Eric Lane
SUNDAY'S CHAMPIONSHIP ELIMINATIONS
First round: Jonnie Lindberg
QUALIFYING RESULTS
Qualified: No. 9
FRIDAY: 3.984 sec., 321.27 mph, (Session 1); 3.942, 292.08, (Session 2)
SATURDAY: 4.948 154,97, (Session 3); 4.074, 253.80, (Session 4)
CHICAGO BY THE NUMBERS
Last event (June 15), Norwalk, Ohio: Qualified No. 13, lost in second round to Tommy Johnson Jr.
A year ago at Chicago: Qualified No. 4, lost in championship round to Jack Beckman
Career at Chicago: Wins 1 (2005); Runner-ups 2 (2016, 2007, 2002); Poles 1 (2013)
About Don Schumacher Racing
Don Schumacher Racing, headquartered in Brownsburg, Ind., fields eight professional NHRA teams. In Top Fuel, the U.S. Army dragster driven by eight-time world champion Tony Schumacher, the Matco Tools dragster driven by three-time world champion Antron Brown and the Papa John's Top Fuel dragster driven by Leah Pritchett; and in Funny Car, 2016 world champion Ron Capps in the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T; 2011 and 2014 world champion Matt Hagan in the Mopar Express Lane Dodge Charger R/T, 2012 NHRA world champion Jack Beckman in the Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge, and the Make-A-Wish Dodge driven by Tommy Johnson Jr.
DSR has won 310 NHRA national event titles and 16 world championships.
Follow Don Schumacher Racing at ShoeRacing.com, on Twitter at @shoeracing and Facebook.com/shoeracing.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Jeff Wolf (wolfj@shoeracing.com), 702.524.1368
Leah Vaughn (vaughnl@shoeracing.com), 618.516.1988
