Don Schumacher has been on a tear as a team owner lately, winning nitro titles in three of four Top Fuel races and making a clear sweep of the Funny Car division.

However, his greatest competition this season have come away from the racetrack.

Schumacher was on the winning team at the Casa De Compo Blue Marlin Classic held March 22 off of the coast of the Dominican Republic. The personal victory came just weeks after successfully completing 31 radiation treatments at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston last month.

"It was a wonderful experience," said Schumacher, who competes aboard his 52-foot Spencer Yacht. "I've fished a number of Marlin tournaments on my boat ... I believe about seven of them and won three of them."

For the determined and life-loving Schumacher, no win meant more than victory No. 3.

"We have a ball, and I am with friends I fish with all of the time," said Schumacher. "I love doing this and it is something that sparks my heart. Doing something this different is really challenging. There's something exciting about doing battle with a blue marlin on the back of your boat for an hour."

Schumacher's team consists of an Orlando, Fla-based orthopedic surgeon and an associate who owns multiple Shell gas stations and NAPA auto care centers.

"The three of us go out and work it real hard," admitted Schumacher. "We were just fortunate like I have been in NHRA, to go out and win this darn thing."

Schumacher is quick to point out he did his share of heavy lifting, an exercise he said he desperately needed after the cancer treatments drastically depleted his physical strength.

"I've needed to get back moving and get back in shape," said Schumacher, who lamented the cold weather prevented him from walking the pits to the starting line at the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals. "I need the exercise to get my body back going. I'm committed to doing that."

Schumacher said the competition was his first major physical activity in his quest in returning to a measure of normalcy.

"I will get a trainer soon, once I can get off of the liquid food, and get on more solids," confirmed Schumacher. "I'm committed to life."

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