(Ron Lewis photo)

“I think part of the reason the Army does this recruiting is to let kids know these opportunities are available. I had never even thought of that. My job is to show kids that there are choices.”

Schumacher, 40 this Christmas Day, has carried the flag well. The Army team has battled to five consecutive championships and made its driver Top Fuel’s No. 1 all-time winner.

On 9/11, Schumacher was at a high school in Reading, Pa., set to speak to students.

“The principal called me in (his office) and said, ‘You’ve got to see this.’ Three fighter planes flew right over the top of our building when that plane went down in Pennsylvania. Incredible.

“It was unfortunate because I remember the kids watching on TV and some of them said, ‘Oh, we’ve seen this before.’ (Video games.) I thought, ‘What has the world become that kids don’t recognize what is happening?’

“No question, we were going to be at war. All the people I had recruited were going to go do battle. But that’s why you have an Army: You plan for something, you don’t react, you prepare. I watched the kids come back (from overseas deployments) and they talked about what was really happening, not just what was in the media. It was a little prouder moment to drive the Army car.”

What has he taken away from this association and the chance to visit with troops in war zones?

“They (soldiers) work for the people around them. That’s incredible. Who do you meet in the civilian world like that? It’s not about the money. It’s not about anything but the guy standing next to them. It’s so impressive.

“To be able to give back to them the wins is incredible. To help them out when maybe they’re a little bit down, haven’t seen their family in a long time. Hanging out with them in their tents. Not bitching. Not complaining.

“It’s awesome.”