NHRA: Matco Tools Operation Sold To Schumacher Racing

[FFighter_21]

NHRA: Matco Tools Operation Sold To Schumacher Racing
Written by: Craig Wack
Go2Geiger.com http://www.go2Geiger.com
10/27/2009
Porter, TX



Go2geiger.com learned Tuesday that Mike Ashley Racing's Top Fuel operation has been sold in its entirety to Don Schumacher Racing.

Antron Brown's world has been turned upside down once more after the Matco Tools team he drives for changes hands under trying circumstances. (NHRA) » More Photos

The sale includes the Matco Tools Top Fuel dragster driven by Antron Brown, who first rose to prominence riding a Pro Stock Motorcycle for DSR. The team has been assured that it will remain intact for the final two races of the NHRA Full Throttle Series season.



"I don't have a comment at this time, but I'm a businessman and am always looking for opportunities that benefit Don Schumacher Racing," Schumacher said when reached for comment early Tuesday morning. 



High ranking members of Brown's team were informed of the sale late Monday night as it prepared for this weekend's NHRA Las Vegas Nationals. 



The move comes hot on the heels of last week's civil complaint filed by the Department of Justice in Central Islip, N.Y., against Ideal Mortgage Bankers, Ltd., which does business under the name Lend America. The complaint sought a court-ordered injunction to prevent the company from making loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration. The complaint also seeks relief against Mike Ashley, Lend America’s

Executive Vice President and Chief Business Strategist.

Ashley and Lend America successfully blocked part of the complaint later that week when a federal judge allowed the company the ability to continue originating FHA-insured loans. Judge Joseph F. Bianco denied U.S. Attorney Benton J. Campbell’s request for a restraining order that would have prevented Lend America's parent company, Ideal Mortgage Bankers, from making the loans. Lend America was a sponsor of Ashley's racing operation.



Brown is in fourth place in the Top Fuel standings heading into this weekend's race. He is 81 points behind leader Tony Schumacher with two races left in the season. The team has five wins (including a sweep of the Western Swing) in nine final-round appearances. 



This is the third time this calendar year that Brown's team has changed hands. Ashley acquired the team in January from Tim Buckley, who had splintered off from the now-defunct David Powers Motorsports.

[JPM42]

That is crazy.

[moparbob]

Wow...

[harley2001]

Thats gotta suck for Antron now.

[ronmcc]

Mike Ashley is becoming the Brett Favre of the NHRA
http://www.competitionplus.com/index.php/drag-racing/news/12381-dsr-qacquiresq-assets-from-mar
Written by Bobby Bennett Tuesday, 27 October 2009 14:08


For the fourth time in less than two seasons, Top Fuel driver Antron Brown will answer to a new boss.

Don Schumacher Racing on Tuesday acquired the racing assets of the Matco Tools Top Fuel from Mike Ashley Racing. The sale was finalized on Tuesday afternoon and continues the longstanding relationship between Matco Tools and DSR.

The Matco Tools team will remain intact with Brown piloting the bright blue Matco-backed rail tuned by Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald. The team will next compete at the ninth annual Las Vegas NHRA Nationals, Oct. 29-Nov. 1, at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

“The opportunity recently arose to purchase the assets of Mike Ashley Racing and we felt we couldn't pass it up,” said Schumacher. “We at DSR have had a longtime association with Matco Tools and to be able to continue our relationship through a primary sponsorship is invaluable to everyone involved.

“I welcome back Antron to our team as well as Brian Corradi. Antron did a wonderful job riding the U.S. Army motorcycle and he has since developed into an outstanding Top Fuel racer. He has always been a great representative for his sponsors, so I know he will continue to be an excellent spokesperson not only for Matco Tools, but for DSR as well.”

Brown returns to DSR following five years of riding the U.S. Army Pro Stock Motorcycle Suzuki to six wins for Don Schumacher Racing from 2003-07. The former college track star won 16 races and earned 11 poles on his Suzuki during 10 seasons in the Pro Stock Motorcycle ranks before making the jump to Top Fuel in 2008. Corradi also has worked with DSR in the past, as tuner on two nitro teams.

Brown has driven the Matco Tools dragster to five wins in nine final-round appearances this season. In July, he became just the seventh professional driver to sweep the grueling Western Swing (Denver, Seattle and Sonoma, Calif.). Brown also has seven No. 1 qualifying awards and has earned top speed of the meet honors at 13 races this season. Brown clocked the fastest run at 1,000-foot racing at 319.75 mph at Bristol, Tenn., in May and holds the NHRA national speed mark at 319.60 mph. He has 23 career wins and is the only racer in NHRA history to win races and lead the standings in both Top Fuel and Pro Stock Motorcycle.

“This is a great opportunity to make this Matco Tools Top Fuel team even stronger,” Brown said. “I worked at DSR and Don gives his teams everything they need to win championships. It’s great to have some stability for our team and joining DSR is going to give our Matco team even more resources to win this championship this year and for many years to come. We’re excited to get back to racing for Matco and DSR this weekend at (Las) Vegas.” Tom Abbett, team manager for Mike Ashley Racing, will not be joining the team at their new home. He pointed out that this was not a “sale” but instead a “transfer” of the assets.
“Mike feels that it is in his best interests to concentrate on Lend America at this time and not have the distractions of the race team at this time,” Abbett said on Tuesday morning. “His primary focus is on Lend-America and while he loves drag racing, Lend America is his life and has been that for over 20 years. At the end of the day he needs to focus on his livelihood.”
Abbett added that Ashley hadn’t originally planned to return in 2009. Instead he’d planned to return in 2010.
“It was a heart wrenching decision for him to make,” Abbett said of Ashley's decision to transfer the team. “He needs to concentrate on Lend America and there’s no new government information that I can say is causing this. Mike felt it was in the best interest to transfer the race team to someone who could operate it and fund it like it needs to be so he can move on and concentrate on his family and company and the business, which is in a tough economic environment.
“Maybe he just picked a year too soon to come back into racing. Our intention was to sit out 2009 to return in 2010. Then the opportunity came along to purchase the Buckley team and Roger Burgess shut down operations. We still had the family of our former team to watch out for. We wanted to keep the team together. Unfortunately the unforeseen circumstances with the government dictate that he needs to focus on Lend America for now.”
Ashley, when contacted on Tuesday, offered the following comment.
“This whole thing caught us by surprise,” said Ashley of the Attorney General’s office filing a civil suit against his Lend America company. “Racing has always been my passion but right now my best interests are served in focusing on my company and fighting these allegations. I’m not going to sacrifice my family and this business for my racing passion. I felt it was in my best interest to transfer the team at this point.”
Related Story: Ashley Defends His Name and Company Following Gov't Suit
Advertisement

[ODSpice14]

Hopefully it means so job security for Antron cause I really like the guy but for some reason I think they will let him go. Mostly because he could be a threat to Tony.

[eclipseracer08]

Im glad my man Tony Schumacher is in the LEAD !!!! I like that US Army Dragster... I dont have any die-casts of it for 2009 yet ... but in about 2 weeks or so i should be getting in a 2009 US Army Hauler i ordered ! WIN THAT CHAMPIONSHIP TONY !!!! Wooooooooooooooooooooooooo

[FFighter_21]

If they are smart, and Don Schumacher is, he will keep Antron behind the wheel. He led the points almost all year didn't he? When this stuff started to happen is when the performance went in the crapper I believe. Prolly distracted.
He's a hot chauffeur and they will have big dollars now that they are owned by DSR.

[ODSpice14]

I think the points reset is what hurt Antron cause all the stuff with Mike Ashley just came down recently not at the beginning of the countdown.

Interesting point though about the big $ now that he is with DSR. Matco pulled out of DSR back after 08 I wonder how happy they are to be back at that camp or if they are just gonna finish the year out then pull back out?

[ronmcc]

The Matco Tools was a Blazemore Deal that Blazemore brought to DSR.I wouldnt be surprised if Matco pulled out and moved on.