Shuman emerged from the American southwest racing scene in the 1970s and quickly established himself as a force in both midget car and sprint car competition. His natural affinity for short-track racing and ability to adapt across different car configurations made him one of the most versatile drivers of his era.
Shuman's most celebrated achievement is his unmatched record at the Turkey Night Grand Prix, a prestigious midget car event. He won that race on eight occasions — in 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1987, 1992, and 1993 — a record of consistency spanning fourteen years. He also won the Knoxville Nationals in 1979, one of sprint car racing's most prestigious events.
In 1979, Shuman joined the World of Outlaws sprint car series as a regular competitor. Over the course of his tenure on the series from 1979 to 1987, he recorded 14 series wins and twice finished third in the overall points standings. His combination of speed and racecraft made him a consistent front-runner against the strongest sprint car fields in the country.
Shuman also explored Championship Car racing at the top level of American open-wheel competition. In 1980, he entered a race at Ontario Motor Speedway and finished eleventh, a solid debut. However, he failed to qualify for the 1980 Indianapolis 500 the following month. In 1981 and 1982, Shuman participated in select dirt-track USAC Gold Crown Champ Car events after USAC split with CART. His best Champ Car finish came at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack in 1982, where he placed fifth. He made one further Champ Car appearance in 1983 before stepping away from that category.
In 1988, Shuman departed the World of Outlaws circuit to compete in the California Racing Association wingless sprint car series. The move proved immediately successful: he won four consecutive CRA championships from 1988 through 1991 and accumulated 69 victories in the series. When the Southern California Racing Association replaced the CRA, Shuman continued to excel, capturing series titles in 1994, 1996, and 1997. He also competed occasionally in USAC Silver Crown events and won three races in that division.
Shuman's longevity across multiple sprint car disciplines — from the national World of Outlaws stage to regional California programs, to midget cars and Champ Car appearances — reflects a remarkable career breadth. The Ron Shuman Classic, a race held annually at Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas, was named in his honor. His 2003 induction into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame cemented his place among the most accomplished open-wheel short-track racers in American history.