Gay Drag Racer Travis Shumake Proposes On The Staten Island Ferry
What’s more thrilling? Reaching breakneck speeds on a drag strip or popping life’s biggest question with The Statue Of Liberty watching? Schumake is an actual drag racer, not the RuPaul variety.
For Travis Shumake, it’s hands down the latter. As first reported by Outsports, the professional drag racer, known for blazing trails both on and off the racetrack, just added another unforgettable chapter to his life story: proposing to his partner, Darrel, during a snowy moment aboard the Staten Island Ferry.
With Lady Liberty As Our Witness
Last Christmas in New York, the Manhattan skyline glowing in the background, and a ferry cutting through the waters of New York Harbour, Shumake and Darrel made their way to the upper deck.
With snowflakes gently landing around them and “Lady Liberty as our witness,” Travis got down on one knee and asked Darrel the question that would change their lives forever. His Instagram post perfectly summed it up: “It doesn’t get more New York than that.”
Darrel said yes, of course, and after a quiet moment soaking it all in, they headed back to their families below deck. Travis later joked that the only hint something extraordinary had just happened was the wet patch on his knee from kneeling in the snow. Who says romance and spontaneity don’t mix?
How long would you keep such a huge milestone under wraps? For Shumake and Darrel, it was until dinner later that evening at the iconic Delmonico’s Steakhouse, where they shared the news, turning their family Christmas into a real-life fairytale moment.
More Than Just Fast Cars
If you’re not familiar with Travis Shumake, let’s catch you up. Born into a legendary drag racing family, Shumake took up the family trade in 2020 and quickly made history. Sponsored by Grindr, he became the first openly gay National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) drag racer— a trailblazer in a sport that’s not exactly brimming with diversity.
While marriage is now on the horizon, Shumake isn’t slowing down. He’s already gearing up for the 2025 NHRA Arizona Nationals this March. Fans can expect him to hit the Phoenix track with his signature flair and his fiancé cheering him on just a few hundred feet away.
