[coverattach=1]NORTH HILLS, Calif. (June 3, 2009) - Jack Beckman has won seven national events in his short two-and-a-half, almost three, years on the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series circuit, and they all came at different venues. Route 66 Raceway is not one of them. If he should win this weekend's NHRA Route 66 Nationals, he will continue his "streak" of not repeating.
Beckman, who drove the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Funny Car to one victory already this season, in Atlanta, will sport a different, unique design on the Funny Car he'll drive this weekend, details of which will be announced later this week.
As a fan of Route 66 Raceway, located in Joliet, west of Chicago, "I cannot wait to get back there," he said. "I fly in early, visit one of the Mail Terminal Services facilities, go over to team owner Don Schumacher's home to meet some of the legends of the sport in that area, and get to take what I think is going to be the best 'summer' race car on the circuit and get a trophy." Beckman is fresh off a semifinal finish under steamy conditions last Sunday at Topeka (Kan.) Heartland Park.
"What I like is that this is the first time of the year that we get into certain regions of the country, so there will be a lot of die-hard fans and the Chicago area probably has the richest Fuel Funny Car history. So, it's extra special as a Funny Car driver to get back to that area.
"And I love the race track. It's a great facility."
Mail Terminal Services continues its popular "Mail From Home" campaign in 2009, supporting the U.S. troops serving in the war zones. In the past two NHRA seasons the campaign has sent over 195,000 post cards overseas signed by fans and supporters at each NHRA national event with messages of support for the troops, along with numerous NHRA National Dragster issues and other automotive magazines. Photos of cars and drivers were also included.
In 2009 the "Mail From Home" program has been challenged to exceed the previous records of cards distributed to hit a 120,000-card record for one season.
JACK BECKMAN QUICK FACTS:
* No. 5 in 2009 Funny Car standings, after one victory (Atlanta), one runner-up, one semifinal, four quarterfinal and two first-rounds in eight events
* His 2009 round win-loss record is 13-8
* No. 3 in 2008 Funny Car point standings, with three victories - Phoenix, Reading, Concord - in seven final rounds
* Qualified 15th in Joliet in 2008; lost first round to Mark Oswald
* Was bumped out of the 2007 Countdown to Four playoffs standings at the
Richmond, Va., event, after his teammates Gary Scelzi and Ron Capps reached
the semifinal round. Ended the season No. 5 in points
* In his 73 national events in Top Fuel and Funny Car, he has won seven times in 14 final rounds (all in Funny Car), and has a career round win-loss record of 82-61
* Is the 2007 U.S. Smokeless Showdown winner ($100,000 bonus event held at U.S. Nationals)
* Set national elapsed-time record of 4.662 seconds and national speed record of 333.66 mph at final 2006 event in Pomona, Calif. The ET record has since been eclipsed. Beckman still holds the speed record
* As a Funny Car rookie in the last five races of 2006, he qualified No. 1
once (Pomona 2), reached two final rounds (Las Vegas 2 and Pomona 2), won once (Vegas 2), and set both ends of the national record (Pomona 2)
* Residence: North Hills, Calif.
* Hometown: Granada Hills, Calif.
* Date of birth: June 28, 1966
* Married, Jenna (wedding date 11/7/06), son Jason Russell (3/8/07)
* Height/weight: 6'0", 185 lbs.
* Former instructor and current consultant at Frank Hawley's NHRA Championship Drag Racing School; former Sergeant in U.S. Air Force (1984-88); cancer survivor; licensed in nine different NHRA categories
* First Start in TF: Las Vegas 1 2005
* First Start in FC: , Dallas, Texas, 2006
* Competed in only 12 TF events in 2005, ended season 15th in points
* Career-best FC elapsed time: 4.662 seconds (Pomona 2 '06)
* Career-best FC speed: 333.66 mph (Pomona 2 '06)
* Career-best TF elapsed time: 4.563 seconds (TF, Brainerd 2005)
* Career-best TF speed: 324.28 mph (TF, Brainerd 2005)
* In 2003 won Super Comp world championship in Lucas Oil Series and Division 7 Super Comp championship
* Leads 14-time champion John Force in head-to-head round wins: 8-5
SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, June 5 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 2:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.
SATURDAY, June 6 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at noon and 3:00 p.m.
SUNDAY, June 7 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10:30 a.m. FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11 a.m.
TELEVISION:
Saturday, June 6, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 10:30 p.m. (ET).
Sunday June 7, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will air NHRA Race Day at 11 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, June 7, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of eliminations at 4 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE: Friday, June 5, 10:30 - 11 p.m. (ET), AMC 15 / Transponder 3K (11760 MHz, vertical)
(Analog feed) Saturday, June 6, 7:30 - 8 p.m. (ET), AMC 15 / Transponder 3K (11760 MHz, vertical)
Sunday, June 7, 730 - 8 p.m. (ET), AMC 15 / Transponder 11K (11760 MHz, vertical)
Beckman, who drove the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Funny Car to one victory already this season, in Atlanta, will sport a different, unique design on the Funny Car he'll drive this weekend, details of which will be announced later this week.
As a fan of Route 66 Raceway, located in Joliet, west of Chicago, "I cannot wait to get back there," he said. "I fly in early, visit one of the Mail Terminal Services facilities, go over to team owner Don Schumacher's home to meet some of the legends of the sport in that area, and get to take what I think is going to be the best 'summer' race car on the circuit and get a trophy." Beckman is fresh off a semifinal finish under steamy conditions last Sunday at Topeka (Kan.) Heartland Park.
"What I like is that this is the first time of the year that we get into certain regions of the country, so there will be a lot of die-hard fans and the Chicago area probably has the richest Fuel Funny Car history. So, it's extra special as a Funny Car driver to get back to that area.
"And I love the race track. It's a great facility."
Mail Terminal Services continues its popular "Mail From Home" campaign in 2009, supporting the U.S. troops serving in the war zones. In the past two NHRA seasons the campaign has sent over 195,000 post cards overseas signed by fans and supporters at each NHRA national event with messages of support for the troops, along with numerous NHRA National Dragster issues and other automotive magazines. Photos of cars and drivers were also included.
In 2009 the "Mail From Home" program has been challenged to exceed the previous records of cards distributed to hit a 120,000-card record for one season.
JACK BECKMAN QUICK FACTS:
* No. 5 in 2009 Funny Car standings, after one victory (Atlanta), one runner-up, one semifinal, four quarterfinal and two first-rounds in eight events
* His 2009 round win-loss record is 13-8
* No. 3 in 2008 Funny Car point standings, with three victories - Phoenix, Reading, Concord - in seven final rounds
* Qualified 15th in Joliet in 2008; lost first round to Mark Oswald
* Was bumped out of the 2007 Countdown to Four playoffs standings at the
Richmond, Va., event, after his teammates Gary Scelzi and Ron Capps reached
the semifinal round. Ended the season No. 5 in points
* In his 73 national events in Top Fuel and Funny Car, he has won seven times in 14 final rounds (all in Funny Car), and has a career round win-loss record of 82-61
* Is the 2007 U.S. Smokeless Showdown winner ($100,000 bonus event held at U.S. Nationals)
* Set national elapsed-time record of 4.662 seconds and national speed record of 333.66 mph at final 2006 event in Pomona, Calif. The ET record has since been eclipsed. Beckman still holds the speed record
* As a Funny Car rookie in the last five races of 2006, he qualified No. 1
once (Pomona 2), reached two final rounds (Las Vegas 2 and Pomona 2), won once (Vegas 2), and set both ends of the national record (Pomona 2)
* Residence: North Hills, Calif.
* Hometown: Granada Hills, Calif.
* Date of birth: June 28, 1966
* Married, Jenna (wedding date 11/7/06), son Jason Russell (3/8/07)
* Height/weight: 6'0", 185 lbs.
* Former instructor and current consultant at Frank Hawley's NHRA Championship Drag Racing School; former Sergeant in U.S. Air Force (1984-88); cancer survivor; licensed in nine different NHRA categories
* First Start in TF: Las Vegas 1 2005
* First Start in FC: , Dallas, Texas, 2006
* Competed in only 12 TF events in 2005, ended season 15th in points
* Career-best FC elapsed time: 4.662 seconds (Pomona 2 '06)
* Career-best FC speed: 333.66 mph (Pomona 2 '06)
* Career-best TF elapsed time: 4.563 seconds (TF, Brainerd 2005)
* Career-best TF speed: 324.28 mph (TF, Brainerd 2005)
* In 2003 won Super Comp world championship in Lucas Oil Series and Division 7 Super Comp championship
* Leads 14-time champion John Force in head-to-head round wins: 8-5
SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, June 5 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 2:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.
SATURDAY, June 6 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at noon and 3:00 p.m.
SUNDAY, June 7 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10:30 a.m. FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11 a.m.
TELEVISION:
Saturday, June 6, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 10:30 p.m. (ET).
Sunday June 7, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will air NHRA Race Day at 11 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, June 7, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of eliminations at 4 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE: Friday, June 5, 10:30 - 11 p.m. (ET), AMC 15 / Transponder 3K (11760 MHz, vertical)
(Analog feed) Saturday, June 6, 7:30 - 8 p.m. (ET), AMC 15 / Transponder 3K (11760 MHz, vertical)
Sunday, June 7, 730 - 8 p.m. (ET), AMC 15 / Transponder 11K (11760 MHz, vertical)
