“But I have to warn Antron, which I have, this isn’t an easy business. It’s a very difficult business, and you can lull yourself into believing, ‘Oh, yeah, this much income is coming in,’” Schumacher explained. “But nothing comes in from the end of Pomona, the last race, until Pomona the next race and you have a payroll and, and, and, and. These expenditures go on. And yeah, your sponsors will start to send you money in January and February, but you spend a lot more than is coming in. It’s not as easy as you can make it look on an Excel spreadsheet. It’s easy to lull yourself into an unrealistic expectation.”
Brown is going into this new venture with his eyes wide open — and he is still excited. After a couple of seasons at John Force Racing, crew chief Brian Corradi is returning to the team he worked with for years. He’ll work side by side with Mark Oswald and Brad Mason. Steve and Samantha Bryson have invested in the team with their Global Electronics Technology sponsorship, and Toyota and TRD will be stepping up.
“Getting Brian Corradi back was a part of it and a big step in going forward as a team,” Brown said. “To have all of this come together, I’m just pinching myself. It’s a dream come true. One of the great things we have going forward is that TRD and Toyota will be a crucial and vital part of this. They’ve helped me establish a lot of things, and they’ve been my road map.
“To lean on them from the team standpoint as a partner, but also from the technology standpoint where they step up more and more each and every year has been a blessing,” Brown continued. “I can’t thank them enough. TRD brings a lot of new ideas and parts and pieces. It’s like Christmas every time at the race track with them. I’ve been incredibly fortunate that Toyota and Matco Tools both have been with me all these years, from our start in Top Fuel racing.
“I think we have all of the right people in place, so I’m not going to have to be juggling too much,” he said. “I’m not going to micromanage. I’m going to let them do what they do, and I can focus on driving and keeping our partners happy. Everything else will take care of itself.”
Schumacher appreciates Brown’s enthusiasm.
“Antron’s a very creative individual who’s very energized and loved by everybody. He’s very successful in putting things together,” Schumacher said. “There’s not a business that’s easy. I don’t care what business it is. I’m here to help Antron and hopefully nurture him through this and it be the right thing and the right decisions get made along the way.”
News of Brown’ desire to own his team sparked concern about the future of DSR and what impact a possible exit by 76-year-old Schumacher might have on the sport. But Schumacher clarified his role in Brown’s team and laid some rumors about himself to rest.
“It’s a work in progress,” he said of Antron Brown Motorsports. “It’s my team at this point. I’m running the team and everybody works for DSR. All of that is still in place. He has formed Antron Brown Motorsports and I support that and am trying to help him work in that direction. His goals are beyond having just one Top Fuel car.
“I would not be here if I did not have a passion for this sport and love for this sport. I’m not looking to exit and go anywhere,” Schumacher said. “And if I could assist every one of my employees to better themselves and take another step in life, at this point in my life, that’s what I’m here to try to do.
“I will be involved with Antron Brown Motorsports for however long he does that. I will be part of that organization ongoing,” Schumacher continued. “I have no interest in stepping away and thinking I’m going to put my feet up on a lounge chair. That isn’t me. I can’t do that. That is not the reason that this is in the works. It’s a goal that Antron has. If I can assist him and help him accomplish it the right way, it’ll be great. But I won’t let him stub his toe. He’ll have my total assistance in any way I can help.”