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NORTH HILLS, Calif. (May 28, 2008) - Jack Beckman is ready to see the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger R/T rebound at this weekend's NHRA Summer Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka, where a semifinal finish in 2007 kicked off a string of successes which led to back-to-back victories and a steady move up the rankings. He landed a berth in the battle for the Countdown to Four, finishing his first full Funny Car season in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series in fifth place.
This season he enters the Topeka event following two straight DNQs after one victory in the first eight events. Beckman is not discouraged. With 21-car tight Funny Car fields this season, several other top contenders have also failed to qualify. Last year, Beckman suffered two DNQs before the Topeka event, yet moved into second in the standings by the 19th event of 23 that year.
"Usually I say how exciting it is to go to the next track," said Beckman, who is No. 11 in points, just seven markers out of the top 10. "And Kansas is cool because it's the birthplace of NHRA's national-event schedule, but the excitement I've got, along with a little bit of anxiety, is we are starting to get our Valvoline/MTS Dodge back on the track that it needs to be on. We're just a step off right now.
"We tested on Monday in Bristol, after the event two weeks ago. In fact, I tested my car and (DSR teammate Gary) Scelzi's car and the results were positive, but it wasn't under national-event conditions against 19 other Funny Cars. So, everybody on the crew is smart enough to realize that one race is not going to put us exactly where we want to be.
"But, the other thing is we did see some light at the end of the tunnel at Bristol, both in qualifying and on the test day. What we really need to do is start building our momentum again. The interesting thing is the way the points are structured this year. We can't afford to slip for two or three more races, but we don't necessarily have to be the most dominant car in the next two or three. In fact, last year we didn't start coming on strong until the West Coast Swing (Denver, Seattle and Sonoma, Calif.). So, what you really want to do is be in the top 10 and have a strong car by Indy (the U.S. Nationals on Labor Day weekend where the top-10 'grid' for the Countdown to One playoffs will be set).
"But I think all of our Valvoline/MTS guys are kind of thirsty for the winner's circle again," added Beckman who has four national-event wins to his credit since entering the Funny Car class beginning at the last five races of 2006. "At every race that is our goal. We need to qualify, we need to run well on Friday, and we need to regain our momentum."
JACK BECKMAN QUICK FACTS:
* No. 11 in 2008 Funny Car points after eight events (one victory-Phoenix)
* Qualified No. 11 at 2007 Summer Nationals, lost semifinal round to Mike Ashley
* Finished 2007 season fifth in point standings
* 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 48 national events in Top Fuel and Funny Car, he has won four times in six final rounds (all in Funny Car), and has a career round win-loss record of 42-40
* 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
BECKMAN EYEING REBOUND IN TOPEKA
NORTH HILLS, Calif. (May 28, 2008) - Jack Beckman is ready to see the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger R/T rebound at this weekend's NHRA Summer Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka, where a semifinal finish in 2007 kicked off a string of successes which led to back-to-back victories and a steady move up the rankings. He landed a berth in the battle for the Countdown to Four, finishing his first full Funny Car season in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series in fifth place.
This season he enters the Topeka event following two straight DNQs after one victory in the first eight events. Beckman is not discouraged. With 21-car tight Funny Car fields this season, several other top contenders have also failed to qualify. Last year, Beckman suffered two DNQs before the Topeka event, yet moved into second in the standings by the 19th event of 23 that year.
"Usually I say how exciting it is to go to the next track," said Beckman, who is No. 11 in points, just seven markers out of the top 10. "And Kansas is cool because it's the birthplace of NHRA's national-event schedule, but the excitement I've got, along with a little bit of anxiety, is we are starting to get our Valvoline/MTS Dodge back on the track that it needs to be on. We're just a step off right now.
"We tested on Monday in Bristol, after the event two weeks ago. In fact, I tested my car and (DSR teammate Gary) Scelzi's car and the results were positive, but it wasn't under national-event conditions against 19 other Funny Cars. So, everybody on the crew is smart enough to realize that one race is not going to put us exactly where we want to be.
"But, the other thing is we did see some light at the end of the tunnel at Bristol, both in qualifying and on the test day. What we really need to do is start building our momentum again. The interesting thing is the way the points are structured this year. We can't afford to slip for two or three more races, but we don't necessarily have to be the most dominant car in the next two or three. In fact, last year we didn't start coming on strong until the West Coast Swing (Denver, Seattle and Sonoma, Calif.). So, what you really want to do is be in the top 10 and have a strong car by Indy (the U.S. Nationals on Labor Day weekend where the top-10 'grid' for the Countdown to One playoffs will be set).
"But I think all of our Valvoline/MTS guys are kind of thirsty for the winner's circle again," added Beckman who has four national-event wins to his credit since entering the Funny Car class beginning at the last five races of 2006. "At every race that is our goal. We need to qualify, we need to run well on Friday, and we need to regain our momentum."
JACK BECKMAN QUICK FACTS:
* No. 11 in 2008 Funny Car points after eight events (one victory-Phoenix)
* Qualified No. 11 at 2007 Summer Nationals, lost semifinal round to Mike Ashley
* Finished 2007 season fifth in point standings
* 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 48 national events in Top Fuel and Funny Car, he has won four times in six final rounds (all in Funny Car), and has a career round win-loss record of 42-40
* 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
