from dragracingonline

SHAUN SHUNS SCHUMACHER
Agent 1320 has heard that Don Schumacher called Shaun Carlson, his former Mopar Pro Stock driver to offer him a tryout in Gary Scelzi’s Oakley-sponsored nitro flopper ride. Carlson politely declined the offer. Shaun’s multi-car Mopar drifting operation is taking up much of his time these days and he had no interest in returning to NHRA competition. [7/9/2007]

can anyone confirm/deny this one?
sounds credible b/c of the Mopar and Oakley sponsorships.. but who the hell would turn down a flopper to drive cars around a parking lot????????
Mopar must still be paying him real well, more power to him if thats the case

 

I dont know if I could ever get into one of the NF/C. It would be alot more intense then a P/S car and well way beyond sliding aroundi na parking lot.

A heck of a offer though if its true.

 

atleast he would have a better shot at qualifying in F/C because pro stock is very very competitive. I hope its not true. Why would you turn that down? For drifting?

 

8000HP isn't for everyone. And I'm sure it's money beyond all.

 

I was thinking the same thing. That Carlson probably turned it down to for money reasons. A possibility is that he wants to continue running Nuformz and maintain a income from his work with the drift cars. There are no guarantees that they will keep him as a driver in the Nitro ride and then what. He would have to get new contracts or try to get old business back. This all speculation, but its just a possible situation on why he might turn down driving the Nitro car.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Rogue108 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I was thinking the same thing. That Carlson probably turned it down to for money reasons. A possibility is that he wants to continue running Nuformz and maintain a income from his work with the drift cars. There are no guarantees that they will keep him as a driver in the Nitro ride and then what. He would have to get new contracts or try to get old business back. This all speculation, but its just a possible situation on why he might turn down driving the Nitro car.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm pretty sure you nailed it. He's doing well with his current situation, so why mess with it, just for the thrill of running nitro.
Nitro cars are damn scary too. The odds that you could die are very high every time you make a pass in a nitro car. I took license passes in a Top Alcohol Funny Car, and it can be a pretty intense experience. If you are at all claustrophobic, this will put you over the edge real quick.

 

I don't believe a word of it. I don't think there is any way he was offered that ride by Don himself.

 

Anyone know Don Schumachers phone number???? I live in Indiana and I'll drive the mutherfahker.

 

Only a woman wouldn't get into a Nitro F/C....other than Ashley, but she's a Force!!!!!

Thats one job I would never turn down regardless of money.....lifes too short.

FWIW, I agree with Chris's comment though.

 

[QUOTE=f@sth@tch89] Why would you turn that down? For drifting? [/QUOT

A few more bucks in Drifting -----

 

I may be wrong but I doubt FC pays less than drifting!

 

<FONT SIZE="4">**** DRIFTING!!!!!!!</FONT>

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Arturbo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I may be wrong but I doubt FC pays less than drifting!</TD></TR></TABLE>

It may "pay" more to the team and trickle down but, if you ARE the team owner like Shaun is for Mopar Drift there is no trickle.....

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SIXTYdashONE &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"><FONT SIZE="4">**** DRIFTING!!!!!!!</FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>

If we gave you a car and let you beat on it for a yr and paid you you would turn it down ?

Hahaha nope

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Arturbo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I may be wrong but I doubt FC pays less than drifting!</TD></TR></TABLE>

I doubt that funny car pays less than drifting, but I would assume Mopar pays him enough to build and maintain their factory drift rides. Again this who thing is all rumor anyways

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Rogue108 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I doubt that funny car pays less than drifting..... </TD></TR></TABLE>

You'd be wrong then.
Most of the deals in pro drag racing are that the driver brings in a sponsor to pay for the driver salary + money to run the car. So, you literally have to pay to drive in the pro class. If Shaun were offered a deal, it would mean that DSR wanted MOPAR to continue to fund Scelzi's race car as the main sponsor instead of Oakley, and Shaun would be part of that deal, just like the Pro Stock deal.

 

Some drivers even pay to get in the deal - just so you know

Shaun and I talk alot - there is offer's on the table but ...... IMO he has no reason to leave what he has

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Whitfield Inc. &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

If we gave you a car and let you beat on it for a yr and paid you you would turn it down ?

</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SIXTYdashONE &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"><FONT SIZE="4">**** DRIFTING!!!!!!!</FONT></TD></TR></TABLE><TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SIXTYdashONE &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"><FONT SIZE="4">**** DRIFTING!!!!!!!</FONT></TD></TR></TABLE><TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SIXTYdashONE &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"><FONT SIZE="4">**** DRIFTING!!!!!!!</FONT></TD></TR></TABLE><TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SIXTYdashONE &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"><FONT SIZE="4">**** DRIFTING!!!!!!!</FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Whitfield Inc. &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If we gave you a car and let you beat on it for a yr and paid you you would turn it down ? Hahaha nope </TD></TR></TABLE>

Then why turn down the Nitro F/C position???

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Whitfield Inc. &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">IMO he has no reason to leave what he has</TD></TR></TABLE>

Except to drive a NITRO FUNNY CAR....duh

 

I'm gonna have to agree. If the intentions are to MAKE money in drag racing, unfortunately it ain't happening in Sport Compacts. Thats why Justin and the Scranton boys went to the Powerade series however they went into the most cut throat class available. So that leaves the Nitro categories that are competitive and **** tons of fun IMO. If I had an offer, in a New York second my *** is there. You wouldn't have to ask me twice.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Whitfield Inc. &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">[QUOTE=f@sth@tch89] Why would you turn that down? For drifting? [/QUOT

A few more bucks in Drifting ----- </TD></TR></TABLE>

thank you for commenting Jason... DRO has some doozies sometimes, and i was hoping maybe you or Jerry would chime in with some insight

Ive heard from third hand sources that Shaun has a pretty sweet deal now, I would surmise the money may be pretty much even or a little better in drifting from what ive heard, but what ive heard isnt straight from the horses mouth so...

I have heard from several people that Shaun wants to be with Mopar until Chrysler were to straight up lock him out, lol... so i would surmise he wants to keep Mopar happy and found it difficult to do both the drag racing and the drifting when the pro stock gig was around, so why try to bite off more than you can chew again and strap yourself into a rocket.... that being said, id strap myself into that rocket in a hearbeat, lol

interestingly enough, Shaun did have this to say once in an interview

MM: What's your favorite Mopar racecar? Of any that go down a race track, whether it's drag racing or drifting or whatever?

SC: I'd probably say Gary Scelzi's funny car. The thing with it, obviously funny cars are a lot different from what I'm used to driving, but if you look at Scelzi's car and Schumacher's car at that, Scelzi always has a cool paint job. Oakley is always there to step up that almost monster truck kind of look and if you really get down and look at all the parts of the car, being a HEMI engine. If you look at a "Ford" funny car or a "Toyota" funny car, they are all interchangeable with the Mopar parts so as far as I am concerned, every car out there in funny car is Mopar. But I think by far, Scelzi's car is my favorite.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by NativeSon &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

You'd be wrong then.
Most of the deals in pro drag racing are that the driver brings in a sponsor to pay for the driver salary + money to run the car. So, you literally have to pay to drive in the pro class. If Shaun were offered a deal, it would mean that DSR wanted MOPAR to continue to fund Scelzi's race car as the main sponsor instead of Oakley, and Shaun would be part of that deal, just like the Pro Stock deal.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I think I was quoting Art, but in any case I think you got it right.

 

everyone has a thought on it - but until its you traveling 40 + weeks a year then you wouldnt really know. I say the same thing - give me the deal ..... **** any race deal and I am there. But the grass is not always greeeeeen on the other side.