Racing in front of a hometown crowd always brings out a special energy for professional drag racers. When the NHRA Arizona Nationals roll into Firebird Motorsports Park this weekend, Phoenix native Travis Shumake will bring a completely different kind of thunder to the starting line. The highly anticipated event kicks off on March 20 and promises incredible high-speed action. After setting the track on fire last season with a massive top-speed run, the second-generation driver is stepping into deeply personal territory. For the first time in his professional career, he will compete behind the wheel of a custom Funny Car.
Trading his traditional dragster for Dave Benjamin’s Nostalgia Funny Car marks a major shift. Last year, Travis Shumake thrilled the local fans by blasting down the track at a staggering 330.88 miles per hour against reigning world champion Doug Kalitta. Now, he returns to the desert with the continued backing of Fry’s Food Stores to chase a very different kind of victory. While his familiar Top Fuel dragster sits on display for an interactive fan experience with Kroger Health, his complete driving focus remains entirely on mastering the aggressive Nostalgia Funny Car.
This unique racing weekend serves as a massive tribute to family legacy. Decades ago, his late father, Tripp, secured the 100th Funny Car win in NHRA history at the 1981 Southern Nationals. With the sport preparing to celebrate its 1,000th Funny Car race at the upcoming Winternationals in Pomona, the timing for this class switch feels absolutely perfect. Shumake noted: “The twists and turns of this off-season put me in a position where I can get back to my roots and celebrate my dad’s milestone in a very direct way.”
The Arizona desert is about to get incredibly loud as these vintage racing machines rattle the grandstands. When Travis Shumake stages that Nostalgia Funny Car this weekend, he is doing much more than just making another fast pass down the Firebird dragstrip. He is taking his father’s legendary racing history for one more wild ride under the Phoenix sun.
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