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LAS VEGAS (April 12, 2008) - "Fast" Jack Beckman had a reprieve in the final round of qualifying for the NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. After qualifying the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car in No. 16 in the fourth pairing of that round alongside his teammate Ron Capps, Beckman had to wait to watch the only car capable of knocking him out of the field run in the next pair.
The driver of that car was 14-time Funny Car champion John Force. Force was on a strong run, and clicked off numbers to the 1000-ft. mark good enough to get him into the show. As he approached the finish line, however, his engine gave way slowing him to a 5.020/277.72 pass, which relegated him to the sidelines.
"Nobody ever wants to be done qualifying sitting on the bump and John Force is the next car and he's the last car that could bump you out," said Beckman, who, with 20, holds the longest consecutive qualifying streak for active drivers. "If you're in Vegas, it is not a safe bet.
"However, we ended up extending our qualifying streak, but, more important, we get to race on Sunday.
"We showed we could win from the top half, and also from 15th place, which we did in Phoenix this year. It's probably going to be a warm day tomorrow so I don't feel like we are an underdog going into Sunday."
Beckman's other laps included a 5.310/215.65 (No. 9), a 6.714/136.40 (DNQ), and a 5.240/274.39 (No. 16).
Beckman faces No. 1 qualifier Robert Hight in the opening round of eliminations on Sunday
BECKMAN CLAIMS NO. 16 IN VEGAS QUALIFYING
LAS VEGAS (April 12, 2008) - "Fast" Jack Beckman had a reprieve in the final round of qualifying for the NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. After qualifying the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car in No. 16 in the fourth pairing of that round alongside his teammate Ron Capps, Beckman had to wait to watch the only car capable of knocking him out of the field run in the next pair.
The driver of that car was 14-time Funny Car champion John Force. Force was on a strong run, and clicked off numbers to the 1000-ft. mark good enough to get him into the show. As he approached the finish line, however, his engine gave way slowing him to a 5.020/277.72 pass, which relegated him to the sidelines.
"Nobody ever wants to be done qualifying sitting on the bump and John Force is the next car and he's the last car that could bump you out," said Beckman, who, with 20, holds the longest consecutive qualifying streak for active drivers. "If you're in Vegas, it is not a safe bet.
"However, we ended up extending our qualifying streak, but, more important, we get to race on Sunday.
"We showed we could win from the top half, and also from 15th place, which we did in Phoenix this year. It's probably going to be a warm day tomorrow so I don't feel like we are an underdog going into Sunday."
Beckman's other laps included a 5.310/215.65 (No. 9), a 6.714/136.40 (DNQ), and a 5.240/274.39 (No. 16).
Beckman faces No. 1 qualifier Robert Hight in the opening round of eliminations on Sunday
