Life in the fast lane: Clarksville couple are new majority owners of NHRA racing team
With cars reaching speeds of zero to 100 mph in less than a second, a Clarksville couple is living life in the fast lane as new majority owners of an NHRA racing team.
Joe and Cathi Maynard have expanded their partnership with Don Schumacher Racing to become majority owner of the NHRA Top Fuel operation with driver Tony Schumacher.
“Cathi and I are more than excited to continue in our favorite sport as the majority owners of the JCM Racing Team. It is our strong desire to build a new legacy with Tony (Schumacher) at the wheel while maintaining the legacy of Don and DSR through our partnership," Joe said in a statement.
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The Maynard family has been busy investing in Clarksville, with their 18,700-sqaure foot Shelby's Trio, a rooftop bar development situated next to F&M Bank Arena. The couple are founding partners of the arena.
Several donations have been made by the Maynards to Austin Peay State University culminating in February when the school announced the couple's $15 million gift to the athletics department.
Joining the Maynard family as part of the ownership group are Kimberly and Eric Lehman.
Eric said the ownership group will face a challenge in continuing the proud legacy of the Schumacher family.
"Our group is up for the challenge, and we are excited to support the efforts of this team and execute innovative and effective marketing programs for our sponsors,” Eric said.
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Based in Brownsburg, Ind., the JCM Racing Team will continue operations in Indiana like most NHRA teams but will become Clarksville first professionally-owned sports team.
“I’ve really enjoyed getting to know the Maynard family this year and look forward to this new venture,” Schumacher in a news release. “Together, we will continue to represent our roster of JCM/DSR partners such as Scag Power Equipment and Okuma to the best of our abilities both on and off the track as we race for a bid to compete in the 2022 NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs.”
The NHRA competes in 22 races in 17 states with a national TV contract. The team will compete under the Maynard's majority ownership with the NHRA Northwest Nationals July 30-31 in Kent, WA.
Lehman said the Maynards got involved in NHRA drag racing in 2021, joining DSR as associate partners. He said the couple was instrumental is keeping Schumacher with the Top Fuel team for the 2022 season.
While majority ownership is changing, Lehman said the Schumacher family will still be involved in the development of DSR performance and its aerospace and defense manufacturing division.
Don Schumacher said it will be "business as usual" despite the change in majority ownership.
DSR has competed in 366 national event wins and 19 series championships under Don's leadership.
Reach reporter Craig Shoup by email at cshoup@gannett.com and on Twitter @Craig_Shoup. To support his work, sign up for a digital subscription to TheLeafChronicle.com.
This article originally appeared on Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle: Clarksville couple now majority owner of Schumacher racing
