[coverattach=1]NORTH HILLS, Calif. (Nov. 11, 2008) - Following a first-round loss in Las Vegas two weeks ago and a fall to fifth in the Countdown to 1 point standings, championship contender Jack Beckman and the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car crew have been reflecting on their up-and-down season. But don't count them out of it just yet as the 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series comes to an end this weekend at the NHRA Finals at Pomona (Calif.) Raceway.
It's been a long and winding road to this point of the season for Beckman, who saw himself go from out of contention after the first 12 of 24 events right to the top of this volatile Funny Car championship chase by the 19th race. He's been in a see-saw battle with Tim Wilkerson for No. 1, and now, with this final event remaining, both drivers are trailing Cruz Pedregon for the crown. Beckman has Wilkerson, Robert Hight and Tony Pedregon between him and Cruz by a margin of 64 points. It is anybody's championship, and it will be determined this weekend.
"It's great," said Beckman, who has won three times this season in seven final rounds. "After my misstep in Vegas (a foul in the first round), all the Valvoline/MTS guys said, 'No matter what, it's been a good year.' And it really has. In July we were in 13th place wondering how the heck we were going to even score enough points to get into the top 10 to be a Countdown car and now we're going to the last race and we still have a realistic shot at the championship. We just need to perform.
"It really goes to show that everything we do we do as a team. The best car doesn't do any good if I don't do my job. And if I'm perfect but the tune-up isn't right, we’re probably not going to win either.
"So, everybody is optimistic. It's almost like we know that we're on the verge of being able to do something great, but we're kind of over the whole pressure deal.
"We have a very realistic shot. I figure we'll beat Cruz first round, Wilkerson second round, Hight in the semis and Tony in the finals and the points will take care of themselves. Piece of cake, huh?" he said with a laugh.
Qualifying well is key. Earning those valuable extra points could mean the difference between being three rounds out of the lead instead of four. "We do need to qualify well, but that's always been a goal for us," said Beckman, who has not won in Pomona in his two short years (plus five events at the end of 2006) in the class, but has a runner-up finish at this event as low qualifier in 2006. "I don't mean to say there's no pressure, but I think we perform better when we're having fun and we know that we're able to do great things with the car.
"We all know what we need to do, and we're all going to go out and have some fun and try our best to win the race."
The Mail from Home program supported by Mail Terminal Services allows fans and competitors an opportunity to sign unique cards in the Don Schumacher Racing hospitality area and at a kiosk within the U.S. Army Racing Zone at NHRA national events with messages to the U.S. troops overseas, which are then distributed free to war-zone camps by MTS. The number of postcards distributed by MTS in 2008 is expected to exceed the 90,000 mark that was reached in 2007.
JACK BECKMAN QUICK FACTS:
* No. 5 in 2008 Funny Car points after 23 events (three victories-Phoenix, Reading, Concord-in seven final rounds), and after five of six events in the Countdown to 1 playoffs
* Is 64 points behind leader Cruz Pedregon, 52 behind Tim Wilkerson, 25 back of Robert Hight and just two points behind Tony Pedregon
* Clinched a berth in the Countdown to 1 playoffs in Reading, Pa.
* His 2008 round win-loss record is 31-17
* Qualified No. 2 in Pomona 2 in 2007, lost second round to Mike Ashley
* Runner-up in Pomona 2 in 2006 from No. 1 qualifying position
* 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 63 national events in Top Fuel and Funny Car, he has won six times in 12 final rounds (all in Funny Car), and has a career round win-loss record of 67-52
* 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
* Leads 14-time champion John Force in head-to-head in round wins: 6-4
WEEKEND SCHEDULE:
THURSDAY, Nov. 13 – PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSION at 1:30 p.m.
FRIDAY, Nov. 14 – PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSION at 1:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, Nov. 15 – PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
SUNDAY, Nov. 16 – Pre-race ceremonies begin at 10 a.m.
FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11 a.m.
It's been a long and winding road to this point of the season for Beckman, who saw himself go from out of contention after the first 12 of 24 events right to the top of this volatile Funny Car championship chase by the 19th race. He's been in a see-saw battle with Tim Wilkerson for No. 1, and now, with this final event remaining, both drivers are trailing Cruz Pedregon for the crown. Beckman has Wilkerson, Robert Hight and Tony Pedregon between him and Cruz by a margin of 64 points. It is anybody's championship, and it will be determined this weekend.
"It's great," said Beckman, who has won three times this season in seven final rounds. "After my misstep in Vegas (a foul in the first round), all the Valvoline/MTS guys said, 'No matter what, it's been a good year.' And it really has. In July we were in 13th place wondering how the heck we were going to even score enough points to get into the top 10 to be a Countdown car and now we're going to the last race and we still have a realistic shot at the championship. We just need to perform.
"It really goes to show that everything we do we do as a team. The best car doesn't do any good if I don't do my job. And if I'm perfect but the tune-up isn't right, we’re probably not going to win either.
"So, everybody is optimistic. It's almost like we know that we're on the verge of being able to do something great, but we're kind of over the whole pressure deal.
"We have a very realistic shot. I figure we'll beat Cruz first round, Wilkerson second round, Hight in the semis and Tony in the finals and the points will take care of themselves. Piece of cake, huh?" he said with a laugh.
Qualifying well is key. Earning those valuable extra points could mean the difference between being three rounds out of the lead instead of four. "We do need to qualify well, but that's always been a goal for us," said Beckman, who has not won in Pomona in his two short years (plus five events at the end of 2006) in the class, but has a runner-up finish at this event as low qualifier in 2006. "I don't mean to say there's no pressure, but I think we perform better when we're having fun and we know that we're able to do great things with the car.
"We all know what we need to do, and we're all going to go out and have some fun and try our best to win the race."
The Mail from Home program supported by Mail Terminal Services allows fans and competitors an opportunity to sign unique cards in the Don Schumacher Racing hospitality area and at a kiosk within the U.S. Army Racing Zone at NHRA national events with messages to the U.S. troops overseas, which are then distributed free to war-zone camps by MTS. The number of postcards distributed by MTS in 2008 is expected to exceed the 90,000 mark that was reached in 2007.
JACK BECKMAN QUICK FACTS:
* No. 5 in 2008 Funny Car points after 23 events (three victories-Phoenix, Reading, Concord-in seven final rounds), and after five of six events in the Countdown to 1 playoffs
* Is 64 points behind leader Cruz Pedregon, 52 behind Tim Wilkerson, 25 back of Robert Hight and just two points behind Tony Pedregon
* Clinched a berth in the Countdown to 1 playoffs in Reading, Pa.
* His 2008 round win-loss record is 31-17
* Qualified No. 2 in Pomona 2 in 2007, lost second round to Mike Ashley
* Runner-up in Pomona 2 in 2006 from No. 1 qualifying position
* 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 63 national events in Top Fuel and Funny Car, he has won six times in 12 final rounds (all in Funny Car), and has a career round win-loss record of 67-52
* 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
* Leads 14-time champion John Force in head-to-head in round wins: 6-4
WEEKEND SCHEDULE:
THURSDAY, Nov. 13 – PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSION at 1:30 p.m.
FRIDAY, Nov. 14 – PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSION at 1:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, Nov. 15 – PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
SUNDAY, Nov. 16 – Pre-race ceremonies begin at 10 a.m.
FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11 a.m.
