Alan Johnson leaving Schumacher Racing?

[6packCuda]

This Al-Anabi Racing must have made him one heck of an offer. I'll be he'll have an unlimited budget to work with too.  He's the best crue chief in the NHRA. I'm sure he doesn't work cheap. It'll be intereting to see how this turns out.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=3561521&type=story

[67vertman]

I, for one am happy for Allen.  He is thee best crew chief in drag racing.  Now we will see just how much of an impact he had on Schumacher Racing.  They won't be winning as much now.

[Rare_T_A]

It's good for Al and most likly bad for DSR.

[js27]

I was quite shocked myself. He is without a doubt the TOP crew cheif in NHRA at this point in time and I have NO DOUBT that he will have anything that his heart desires and will come out of the gate next year ready willing and able to win the championship. On a down note it just seems a little ironic that he is bought out by a oil baron mid eastern Saudia when he is now repersenting the heart of AMERICA with the  U.S. ARMY. Not trying to mix politics with racing but it just does not sit quite right with me.
Sorry if this offends anybody. On a lighter note it will be interesting to see what two drivers he picks... and who DSR get to replace Alan Johnson and how they do without him.
JS27

[JeffAARy]

My guess is:

1)  AJ will win immediately with the new team

2) Schumacher will become just another team that wins once or twice a year

The truth is the teams pretty much have all the same equipment.  Top fuel is all about figuring out how to get the power to the pavement without spinning the tires or breaking the engine.  AJ clearly knows how to do that that as he has won championships in TF with three different drivers (his brother, Gary Scelzi, and Tony Schumacher).  The Schumachers were just another team before AJ, they'll be just another team without him.  Further proof?  How are Schumacher's three funny car teams doing?  Not too good.  Scelzi won a title in FC three years ago, then his crew chief left and he's now down around 14th in the points.  You can't just plug anyone in to the crew chief position and keep winning.  The nitro classes are more about the crew chief than they are about the driver.