[coverattach=1]KENT, Wash. (July 19, 2009) - Despite struggling this weekend during qualifying for the NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways, Jack Beckman advanced to the quarterfinal round after eliminating one of his Don Schumacher Racing teammates in the opening stanza.
After defeating Matt Hagan in the first round with a tire-smoking 4.605/241.67 (Hagan also lost traction), No. 14 qualifier Beckman then faced his other DSR Funny Car teammate and series points leader Ron Capps in the quarterfinal. Without lane choice, Capps had the advantage and benefited from it, winning the round with a 4.250/273.33 pass, while Beckman slowed to a losing 4.359/282.72.
"Frustrating weekend for us," said Beckman, who held on to No. 4 in the points rankings. "We never really got a handle on the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge. The car was a beast all weekend. After coming back down from Denver, we made the necessary tune-up changes to back it down to a sea-level combo and it was just a beast for the first three runs.
"We finally calmed it down enough for the fourth qualifying run, but it was almost too much, and then we had to try to sneak back up on it first round. We probably were fortunate to get the win light over our teammate Matt Hagan in the shelor.com car.
"We gave Ron Capps a good run the second round, but they just had a better tune-up this weekend than we did.
"We came out of here with another round win," Beckman added, in a positive tone. "We go to Sonoma in fourth place and we get four more qualifying shots to dial in our sea-level combo. We want to come out of there with a trophy."
Next up is the FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., July 24-26.
UNOFFICIAL FUNNY CAR POINT STANDINGS, after 14 of 24 events:
1. Ron Capps, 1039
2. Ashley Force Hood, 1018
3. Tony Pedregon, 1009 (runner-up today)
4. Jack Beckman, 855
5. Tim Wilkerson, 804 (winner today)
6. Del Worsham, 791
7. Bob Tasca III, 787
8. John Force, 739
9. Mike Neff, 683
10. Matt Hagan, 669
11. Cruz Pedregon, 662
12. Robert Hight, 626
After defeating Matt Hagan in the first round with a tire-smoking 4.605/241.67 (Hagan also lost traction), No. 14 qualifier Beckman then faced his other DSR Funny Car teammate and series points leader Ron Capps in the quarterfinal. Without lane choice, Capps had the advantage and benefited from it, winning the round with a 4.250/273.33 pass, while Beckman slowed to a losing 4.359/282.72.
"Frustrating weekend for us," said Beckman, who held on to No. 4 in the points rankings. "We never really got a handle on the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge. The car was a beast all weekend. After coming back down from Denver, we made the necessary tune-up changes to back it down to a sea-level combo and it was just a beast for the first three runs.
"We finally calmed it down enough for the fourth qualifying run, but it was almost too much, and then we had to try to sneak back up on it first round. We probably were fortunate to get the win light over our teammate Matt Hagan in the shelor.com car.
"We gave Ron Capps a good run the second round, but they just had a better tune-up this weekend than we did.
"We came out of here with another round win," Beckman added, in a positive tone. "We go to Sonoma in fourth place and we get four more qualifying shots to dial in our sea-level combo. We want to come out of there with a trophy."
Next up is the FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., July 24-26.
UNOFFICIAL FUNNY CAR POINT STANDINGS, after 14 of 24 events:
1. Ron Capps, 1039
2. Ashley Force Hood, 1018
3. Tony Pedregon, 1009 (runner-up today)
4. Jack Beckman, 855
5. Tim Wilkerson, 804 (winner today)
6. Del Worsham, 791
7. Bob Tasca III, 787
8. John Force, 739
9. Mike Neff, 683
10. Matt Hagan, 669
11. Cruz Pedregon, 662
12. Robert Hight, 626
