Mike Lewis made a decision many years ago which put him on the executive side of drag racing’s corporate ladder.

The current Senior Vice President for Don Schumacher Racing doesn’t regret his decision to forgo a career as a driver, but many years ago when he undertook the responsibility of running a drag strip, he did so with the vision of one day returning to a position behind the wheel.

Staying true to his desires, Lewis recently completed a Top Alcohol Dragster course at the Frank Hawley Drag Racing School where he ran a 5.99 elapsed time at 231 miles per hour.

The experience was exactly that – an experience.

“I was just marking off an item on my bucket list,” Lewis explained, talking about the things he wanted to do before “kicking the bucket.” Mike Lewis made a decision many years ago which put him on the executive side of drag racing’s corporate ladder.

The current Senior Vice President for Don Schumacher Racing doesn’t regret his decision to forgo a career as a driver, but many years ago when he undertook the responsibility of running a drag strip, he did so with the vision of one day returning to a position behind the wheel.

Staying true to his desires, Lewis recently completed a Top Alcohol Dragster course at the Frank Hawley Drag Racing School where he ran a 5.99 elapsed time at 231 miles per hour.

The experience was exactly that – an experience.

“I was just marking off an item on my bucket list,” Lewis explained, talking about the things he wanted to do before “kicking the bucket.”

Before accepting the position at Maple Grove Raceway, the career altering decision he made decades ago, Lewis and his brother fielded a front-engine Top Fuel car. The car eventually crashed which confirmed to Lewis he’d made the right decision.

The desire of wanting to experience 200-miles per hour was what drove Lewis to attend Hawley’s high-horsepower curriculum.

“I just always wanted to go 200 and if you are going to do something, probably the best way to do it is to do it with Frank's school and learn how to do it the right way,” Lewis said.

Lewis works primarily on the management side of DSR, and while he works in close proximity to the drivers, the experience with Hawley provides a better understanding of what they endure during a weekend. He recommends the program for anyone working in a similar capacity.

“I am a believer in Frank's program whether Jack teaches it or Frank teaches it. It is well done and it is the best way to learn, to build your foundation regardless if that's all you ever want to do especially if you want to do it seriously and make a career of it,” Lewis said. “Best place to start.

“Anyone who is around a team and around a driver needs to go through the experience of putting on the gear, the helmet, getting strapped in to where you are bolted like part of the car. It's a whole lot more experience on those 90 degree days when you just take it for granted, when your driver is strapped into the car.”