Wonder Wagon Redux

By Judy Stropus

INDIANAPOLIS (Aug. 27, 2004) - Team owner and former Funny Car racer Don Schumacher will reprise the Wonder Wagon design of the Funny Car he raced in 1973 next weekend at the 50th Annual U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Johnny Gray, who joined Don Schumacher Racing last week, will drive the Wonder Wagon Dodge Stratus at this prestigious event, Sept. 1-6.

Schumacher, the 1970 U.S. Nationals Funny Car champion, debuted the original Wonder Wagon, with the familiar colorful balloons and yellow paint scheme of Wonder Bread, at the 1973 U.S. Nationals, as one of a three-car team, which consisted of drivers Bobby Rowe, Raymond Beadle and Schumacher, as well as pinch-hitter Ron O'Donnell.

Based on designs commissioned by Schumacher, the first Wonder Wagon was considered the most aerodynamic car of its time, and was equipped with unique safety innovations, such as a roof-mounted escape hatch and side windows. The technology and safety features that Schumacher introduced and developed that year are now part of the current Funny Car design. The Wonder Wagon competed in NHRA, AHRA, and IHRA events that one season.

"To be able to bring out a nostalgia car that thousands of fans ask me about all the time is just great," said Schumacher. "It was a very unique car back in its day. The aerodynamic design and other innovations we made to the car to help advance the sport of NHRA drag racing really opened up a lot of eyes and changed the way Funny Cars were run from then on.

"We were the first to run in the 6's at Orange County Raceway in California in this car while testing," added Schumacher. "Then we came to Indianapolis and I raced it for the balance of the year under the Wonder Wagon name."

Schumacher Electric, Matco Tools, Oakley, U.S. Army, Dodge, Mopar, Gates Belts and Hoses, along with the standard associate sponsors found on Don Schumacher's race cars, will be featured on the Wonder Wagon, with other sponsors to be announced later in the season.

In late 1974, Schumacher, who had won the 1972 Coca-Cola Cavalcade of Stars Championship, the 1973 AHRA World Championship, five NHRA national event titles, including the 1970 U.S. Nationals, and nine IHRA event titles, announced his retirement from drag racing to devote full-time energy to his family business, Schumacher Electric in Mt. Prospect, Ill. He returned to NHRA professional competition as a team owner in 1998, and then became a multi-team owner in 2001.

In the 2004 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, after 17 of 23 events, Schumacher Racing cars are high in the standings. Leading the Top Fuel rankings is Tony Schumacher in the U.S. Army entry. Second and third, respectively, in Funny Car are Gary Scelzi in the HEMI-powered Oakley Dodge and Whit Bazemore in the Matco Tools Dodge. In Pro Stock Bike, Antron Brown and Angelle Savoie are second and third, respectively, in the U.S. Army-backed bikes. Larry Morgan stands fifth in Pro Stock in the Team Mopar Dodge.

For comparision purposes, Walt Huff sent this photo of Don's original '73 Wonder Wagon at Fremont, California. Thanks, Walt! bp