Drag Illustrated Issue 136, September 2018 | Page 24

Dirt
Brain Power
D
on Schumacher Racing made
history recently when all seven driv-
ers of the winningest NHRA drag
racing team, along with team patri-
arch and racing legend Don Schumacher, pledged
to donate their brains to the Concussion Legacy
Foundation (CLF).
Schumacher and his roster of drivers signed
the paperwork, making their commitment offi-
cial. Over 3,500 former and current athletes and
veterans have pledged to donate their brains for
research since 2008, but DSR’s public declara-
tion at Bandimere Speedway during the Dodge
Mile-High NHRA Nationals marked the first
time an entire team has made the commitment.
Schumacher and his cadre of drivers, who
24 | D r a g
I l l u s t r a t e d | DragIllustrated.com
experience intense vibrations, extreme g-forces
and high-speed explosions behind the wheel of
their 330 mph, 11,000-horsepower nitrometh-
ane-burning race cars, will immediately begin
a comprehensive brain monitoring process to
ensure an in-depth brain profile upon donation.
The signing event was part of CLF Project
Enlist, a program launched in July by CLF and
DSR partner Infinite Hero Foundation (IHF)
to accelerate research on traumatic brain injury
(TBI), chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)
and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in
military veterans. IHF is a non-profit organiza-
tion that combats the most difficult front-line
issues – mental and physical – facing returning
military heroes and their families.
Through Project Enlist, CLF and IHF are
conducting recruiting and outreach to the mili-
tary and veteran communities to encourage
participation in the U.S. Department of Veteran
Affairs-Boston University-Concussion Legacy
Foundation (VA-BU-CLF) Brain Bank brain
donation registry. The VA-BU-CLF Brain Bank
is the world’s largest CTE brain bank with sub-
specialties in concussion, ALS, Parkinson’s and
Alzheimer’s disease.
When Schumacher heard about the program,
he felt compelled to get involved and help raise
awareness for Project Enlist.
“Donating my brain for research to help other
individuals in this world is something that I’m
more than willing to do. It surprised my wife,
Sarah, but she also agreed to me doing this based
on its potential to help drivers, soldiers, business
people and the population of the world,” said Don
Schumacher, who is highly regarded as a pioneer
for innovative performance and safety procedures
throughout the racing industry.
After hearing of his pledge, each of Schumach-
er’s seven drivers – Jack Beckman, Antron Brown,
Ron Capps, Matt Hagan, Tommy Johnson Jr.,
Leah Pritchett and Tony Schumacher – followed
suit, making the promise to donate their brains
for the advancement of research on the effects of
brain trauma in athletes and military veterans.
“I support this foundation 100 percent and
was thrilled that my seven drivers agreed to
donate their brains to the Concussion Legacy
Foundation,” added Schumacher, who was re-
cently named to the Motorsports Hall of Fame
of America’s Class of 2019.
Schumacher hopes that his team’s public proc-
lamation will help to remove the stigma associ-
ated with traumatic brain injuries and inspire
others to step forward and make the commitment
to pledge their brains to science.
Schumacher and the DSR drivers inked their
commitments alongside more than a dozen
military veterans, which included retired NAVY
SEALS Jason Redman, Alexander Oliver, and
Morgan Luttrell, who currently serves as Senior
Advisor for Veterans Relations at the U.S. Depart-
ment of Energy. IHF spokesperson and NHRA
mainstay Gary Linfoot, former Marine Michael
Wilson and more than 20 heads of veteran ser-
vice organizations which have received funding
by IHF also participated in the commemora-
tive event.
Issue 136
Schumacher, DSR drivers pledge to
donate brains to concussion research
By Allison McCormick