NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Although the official announcement is still to come, one of the sport’s worst-kept secrets was verified when Rob Flynn confirmed in Richmond that he will be the crew chief for eight-time world champion Tony Schumacher’s return later this year in a second Rick Ware Racing car.

Speaking on the starting line before Saturday’s third and final qualifying session for the American Rebel Light Virginia NHRA Nationals, Flynn, who started the season with Mike Salinas’ Scrappers Racing team tuning for Jasmine Salinas before it was parked, corroborated rumors that had been flying for weeks.

“Obviously, I wasn't looking to change jobs, but when the Salinas family quit racing for this year, I wasn't ready to retire, so I started looking around,” he said. “The job right now that is out there is withcTony Schumacher and Rick Ware Racing. 

"I gave Jim O. [Jim Oberhofer, crew chief for RWR’s Clay Millican-driven dragster] a call, and we started talking. I went and hung out at Bristol with them, and everything just seemed to fit together. I've worked with Jim O. and Nicky [Boninfante] before, and I've also worked with Clay before, so it just all fits together. There's just a bunch of people over there I’ve worked with in the past, so it just feels good and it fits.

“I’ve never worked with Tony -- he's always been the opposition -- so it should be interesting. Certainly, his credentials speak for themselves, so that's going to be exciting to be out here. I don’t know when we’re going to be out, but we’re going to start testing shortly. [Although Flynn did not say it, the plan is for Schumacher to test here on Monday after the event.]

“Tony's going to be in a canopy[-equipped car], so that, that might be our only thing that we don't know anything about, but we're all looking forward to having two cars out there and gives us two chances of winning on Sunday.”

Although no official event debut has been scheduled, the smart money says it won't be until late summer at earliest.