In 2026, drag racing veterans and siblings Jim and Jon Oberhofer will join forces once again, this time spearheading the Rick Ware Racing leadership team as crew chiefs for Top Fuel drivers Tony Schumacher and Clay Millican in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. This reunion not only signifies a continued partnership that stretches back decades, but also brings together an impressive wealth of experience and success to the RWR organization in Mooresville, North Carolina.
The Oberhofer brothers, who first grew up in the sport alongside their father Dave, forged their path in the world of drag racing with hands-on involvement, starting from grassroots levels and climbing the ranks through Kalitta Motorsports. Their reunion at Rick Ware Racing is strengthened by the addition of another highly regarded NHRA veteran, Nicky Boninfante, who will work as co-crew chief for both the Schumacher and Millican entries. Their collaborative leadership is poised to guide RWR’s Top Fuel program into a new era of competitive racing.
Unified Vision and Built-In Trust Set the Tone
The move to unify the Oberhofer brothers under the Rick Ware Racing banner is a clear reflection of the team’s commitment to leveraging trusted relationships and seasoned expertise. This leadership trio is uniquely qualified, not just in the technical nuances of racing, but also in cultivating an atmosphere where communication and mutual support are paramount.
“When you look at what Jim and Jon have accomplished in this sport, it’s remarkable. Championships, U.S. Nationals wins, decades of experience at the highest level, but what really stands out to me is that they’ve grown up in this business together. There’s built-in trust and understanding that isn’t manufactured. Pair that with Nicky’s experience and success, and you’ve got three guys who have seen every scenario drag racing can throw at you,”
said team owner Rick Ware.
“In NHRA, performance comes down to thousandths of a second, and chemistry matters just as much as horsepower. We feel like we’ve assembled a leadership group that gives both Tony and Clay the tools to compete for wins and contend for championships,”
Rick Ware added.
Profiles in Persistence: Oberhofer Brothers’ Journeys to RWR
Jim Oberhofer has been a fixture on Clay Millican’s crew since 2022 and remained in his role after RWR acquired Millican’s team in 2023. Under his guidance, the team captured five Top Fuel event victories, highlighted by a triumph at the 2024 U.S. Nationals. With Schumacher joining RWR for the last seven contests of 2025, Jim now assumes the lead on Schumacher’s No. 15 American Communications Construction dragster, opening the door for Jon to guide Millican’s No. 51 Parts Plus Top Fuel operation and sustain its recent success.
Jon Oberhofer arrives with substantial credentials of his own, having started at Kalitta as a cylinder head specialist for the double championship-winning Scott Kalitta Top Fuel dragster in 1994 and 1995. He advanced to co-crew chief for Top Fuel drivers like Dave Grubnic and Doug Kalitta, as well as Funny Car pilots Jeff Arend, Del Worsham, and J.R. Todd. Jon’s tenure included pivotal victories, such as Funny Car championships with Worsham in 2015 and Todd in 2018, along with consecutive U.S. Nationals victories together with Todd in 2017 and 2018.
Jim’s background is equally deep, beginning with his earliest role at Kalitta as a parts washer in 1983. He steadily worked his way through numerous positions—crew member, cylinder head specialist, co-crew chief, and eventually lead crew chief for a variety of drivers. Jim also held the mantle of team general manager from 2000 to 2017, overseeing significant milestones and maintaining a consistent competitive edge for the teams he supported.
Brothers in Sync: An Unspoken Dialogue
Jim and Jon’s shared history means that much of their communication is instinctive and their perspectives are fundamentally aligned, making collaboration seamless as they lead the two Top Fuel teams at Rick Ware Racing.
“Jim and I have worked together a lot over the years, so there’s already an understanding before you even open the trailer in the morning,”
Jon Oberhofer observed.
“We don’t have to explain much because we already know what each other is thinking. Coming into Rick Ware Racing with Tony and Clay and having Nicky there too, it just felt comfortable right away. It’s competitive, but it’s also fun, and that’s usually when you do your best work,”
Jon elaborated.
The duo’s synchronized approach is grounded in a shared upbringing and years navigating the challenges and triumphs intrinsic to drag racing. This foundation, coupled with the feedback from drivers Tony Schumacher and Clay Millican, as well as Nicky Boninfante’s stabilizing influence, forms a cohesive leadership that aims to set the pace for the 2026 NHRA campaign.
“Jon and I have spent our whole lives around these cars, so getting the chance to do this together again is pretty special,”
Jim Oberhofer stated.
“We’ve both worked different paths over the years, but the approach never really changes. You pay attention to the details and take care of the people around you. Tony and Clay give great feedback, Nicky brings a steady hand across both teams, and that makes our job easier. It feels like a group that knows how to work together before the season even starts,”
Jim added.
Nicky Boninfante Adds Depth to Leadership
An integral piece of the Rick Ware Racing leadership team, Nicky Boninfante, like the Oberhofers, was introduced to racing in his youth. He began his journey attending races with his father, Nick Boninfante Sr., in the early 1970s. Nicky’s impressive resume features significant success at Kalitta, including multiple stints as clutch specialist and crew chief, as well as co-crew chief roles with a roster of Top Fuel and Funny Car standouts, such as Arend, Worsham, Alexis DeJoria, and Shawn Langdon.
Boninfante’s experience includes serving as crew chief during Worsham’s 2015 championship-winning season. His long association with the Oberhofers provides further synergy to this group, enhancing communication and decision-making across both RWR Top Fuel teams.
“After being around this sport as long as I have, you recognize when a group fits. There’s respect here. Nobody guards information and nobody panics when things don’t go perfectly. That lets you make smarter decisions, and over a long season that usually shows up on the scoreboard,”
Boninfante observed, reflecting on the environment at RWR since joining in 2024.
Looking Forward: RWR’s 2026 Challenge and the 75th NHRA Season
The stage is now set for Jim and Jon Oberhofer, alongside Nicky Boninfante, to guide Rick Ware Racing’s Top Fuel teams into one of the most competitive seasons yet. The blend of championship experience, mutual trust, and racing acumen is expected to pay dividends as 2026 approaches. Both Tony Schumacher and Clay Millican benefit from a leadership team deeply invested in their success—one that prioritizes collaboration, adaptability, and resilience through the unpredictable grind of the NHRA season.
The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series will mark its 75th anniversary in 2026, beginning with the NHRA Gatornationals, held March 5-8 at Gainesville Raceway in Florida. Fans will have the opportunity to follow each round live via NHRA.TV, with FS1 providing tape-delayed television coverage. As Rick Ware Racing sets its sights on further victories and championship contention, the impact of its new leadership—rooted in decades of shared history and competitive excellence—will be closely watched by the drag racing community.
