BECKMAN BANKING ON MOMENTUM HEADING INTO SONOMA
<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/j_beckman_222014.jpg" alt="j_beckman_222014" align="left"borders="0"/>
SONOMA, Calif. (July 22, 2008) - Jack Beckman is banking on the momentum he and the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car team have gained in the first two events of what is considered the grueling Western Swing (Denver, Seattle and Sonoma, Calif.) to get him in the winner’s circle for the second time this season at this weekend's 21st Annual NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway.
Debuting a new "safer" chassis, as required by the NHRA, racing on a new Goodyear tire, and competing to the 1000-foot finish line for the first time at the Denver event, have presented challenges to all the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series pro nitro competitors. But Beckman and the Valvoline/MTS Dodge team have turned those challenges into a reward by earning a spot in the top 10 of the standings after a runner-up finish in Denver and a quarterfinal result in Seattle.
Only the top 10 will compete in the Countdown to the Championship which kicks in following the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis on Labor Day weekend.
"I think we've still got momentum," said Beckman, who came into last year's Sonoma race as a back-to-back winner in the first two venues of the Western Swing, but was unable to sweep the Swing. "We made eight good runs in Denver, we made six good runs in Seattle. The Valvoline/MTS guys are going to have their chins up and looking proud and I think we're going to march in Sonoma.
"If anything, this is going to fire us up a little bit. We are going to need to be a little bit more aggressive and still get the car safely down the track. This might be that fire that we needed to motivate us to do that. I think we're in good shape for Sonoma."
Mail Terminal Services continues its "Mail from Home" program in 2008. Fans at each NHRA national event have the opportunity to sign special cards at the Don Schumacher Racing hospitality area and at the U.S. Army Racing Zone in the midway, which MTS then ships, free of charge, to the troops in war zones overseas.
JACK BECKMAN QUICK FACTS:
* No. 10 in 2008 Funny Car points after 14 events (one victory-Phoenix, two final rounds)
* No. 2 qualifier in Sonoma in 2007, lost first round to Cruz Pedregon
* His 2008 round win-loss record is 10-10
* 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.
* Had back-to-back 2007 season victories in Denver and Seattle, in three final rounds
* Also in 2007 had three semifinal finishes, seven quarterfinal finishes and two DNQs, and a round win-loss record of 24-19
* In his 54 national events in Top Fuel and Funny Car, he has won four times in seven final rounds (all in Funny Car), and has a career round win-loss record of 46-45
* 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.
* Serves as instructor 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
* Is tied in round wins against 14-time NHRA champion John Force: 4-4
<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/j_beckman_222014.jpg" alt="j_beckman_222014" align="left"borders="0"/>
SONOMA, Calif. (July 22, 2008) - Jack Beckman is banking on the momentum he and the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car team have gained in the first two events of what is considered the grueling Western Swing (Denver, Seattle and Sonoma, Calif.) to get him in the winner’s circle for the second time this season at this weekend's 21st Annual NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway.
Debuting a new "safer" chassis, as required by the NHRA, racing on a new Goodyear tire, and competing to the 1000-foot finish line for the first time at the Denver event, have presented challenges to all the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series pro nitro competitors. But Beckman and the Valvoline/MTS Dodge team have turned those challenges into a reward by earning a spot in the top 10 of the standings after a runner-up finish in Denver and a quarterfinal result in Seattle.
Only the top 10 will compete in the Countdown to the Championship which kicks in following the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis on Labor Day weekend.
"I think we've still got momentum," said Beckman, who came into last year's Sonoma race as a back-to-back winner in the first two venues of the Western Swing, but was unable to sweep the Swing. "We made eight good runs in Denver, we made six good runs in Seattle. The Valvoline/MTS guys are going to have their chins up and looking proud and I think we're going to march in Sonoma.
"If anything, this is going to fire us up a little bit. We are going to need to be a little bit more aggressive and still get the car safely down the track. This might be that fire that we needed to motivate us to do that. I think we're in good shape for Sonoma."
Mail Terminal Services continues its "Mail from Home" program in 2008. Fans at each NHRA national event have the opportunity to sign special cards at the Don Schumacher Racing hospitality area and at the U.S. Army Racing Zone in the midway, which MTS then ships, free of charge, to the troops in war zones overseas.
JACK BECKMAN QUICK FACTS:
* No. 10 in 2008 Funny Car points after 14 events (one victory-Phoenix, two final rounds)
* No. 2 qualifier in Sonoma in 2007, lost first round to Cruz Pedregon
* His 2008 round win-loss record is 10-10
* 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.
* Had back-to-back 2007 season victories in Denver and Seattle, in three final rounds
* Also in 2007 had three semifinal finishes, seven quarterfinal finishes and two DNQs, and a round win-loss record of 24-19
* In his 54 national events in Top Fuel and Funny Car, he has won four times in seven final rounds (all in Funny Car), and has a career round win-loss record of 46-45
* 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.
* Serves as instructor 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
* Is tied in round wins against 14-time NHRA champion John Force: 4-4
