<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/J_Beckman.jpg" alt="J_Beckman" align="right"borders="0"/>
With that result, he has moved into ninth in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing series points standings, just 15 points out of the coveted eighth place to qualify for the Countdown to the Championship.
Beckman, of North Hills, Calif., first defeated Scott Kalitta with a 4.899-second elapsed time at 317.94 mph, then disposed of Kenny Bernstein with another consistent 4.872/319.22 pass. He met his his teammate Ron Capps in the semifinal round, but his day ended in that round when he red-lighted (-.013). Capps was ripe for the taking, as he triggered a lazy .133 reaction time(.000 is perfect). Capps was awarded the victory, however, posting a4.823/318.92 lap to Beckman's negated 4.873/319.75.
"There is a silver lining," said Beckman. "A red light is maybe one of the worst ways to lose because you've given up before the race has started. It doesn't matter what the other guy does unless he crosses the centerline. So, it's very frustrating and that is the driver letting the team down. Todd (Okuhara)and Phil (Shuler) and all these MTS Dodge guys had such a wicked hot rod all day. We actually were faster than that .87; I rolled in a few inches.
"It would have been a good race, it really would have. And the salvation is we lost to a teammate and two Schumacher cars went to the final round. But those guys are looking good in the points for the Countdown. We need round wins and that was one we had a shot at. It's very frustrating, but the silver lining is we've gone three rounds in the last two races and I think we have a great hot rod under us. And now we get one week off and we're going to hammer it.
"The interesting thing now is you have to have a hot-weather tune-up to race the cars on Sunday. But, with the night qualifying you really have to have a whole other tune-up or you don't even get to qualify to race. And this forces the teams to be really flexible and have a lot of data, which we do.
"I think we're in great shape. I think we're going to be having a winner's circle conversation within the next few races."
Next up is the ProCare RX NHRA Nationals in Englishtown, N.J., June 22-24.
FUNNY CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1. Ron Capps, 752 (runner-up today)
2. Robert Hight, 612
3. Gary Scelzi 554 (winner today)
4. Mike Ashley, 512
5. Jim Head, 509
6. Tony Pedregon, 466
7. Ashley Force, 407
8. Del Worsham, 381
9. Jack Beckman, 366
10. Cruz Pedregon, 358
BECKMAN GOES TO HIS SECOND STRAIGHT SEMIS IN JOLIET
JOLIET, Ill. (June 10, 2007) - Jack Beckman is on a roll. The driver of the Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car landed in his second straight semifinal round today at the Torco Racing Fuels Route 66 NHRA Nationals and his third of the season.With that result, he has moved into ninth in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing series points standings, just 15 points out of the coveted eighth place to qualify for the Countdown to the Championship.
Beckman, of North Hills, Calif., first defeated Scott Kalitta with a 4.899-second elapsed time at 317.94 mph, then disposed of Kenny Bernstein with another consistent 4.872/319.22 pass. He met his his teammate Ron Capps in the semifinal round, but his day ended in that round when he red-lighted (-.013). Capps was ripe for the taking, as he triggered a lazy .133 reaction time(.000 is perfect). Capps was awarded the victory, however, posting a4.823/318.92 lap to Beckman's negated 4.873/319.75.
"There is a silver lining," said Beckman. "A red light is maybe one of the worst ways to lose because you've given up before the race has started. It doesn't matter what the other guy does unless he crosses the centerline. So, it's very frustrating and that is the driver letting the team down. Todd (Okuhara)and Phil (Shuler) and all these MTS Dodge guys had such a wicked hot rod all day. We actually were faster than that .87; I rolled in a few inches.
"It would have been a good race, it really would have. And the salvation is we lost to a teammate and two Schumacher cars went to the final round. But those guys are looking good in the points for the Countdown. We need round wins and that was one we had a shot at. It's very frustrating, but the silver lining is we've gone three rounds in the last two races and I think we have a great hot rod under us. And now we get one week off and we're going to hammer it.
"The interesting thing now is you have to have a hot-weather tune-up to race the cars on Sunday. But, with the night qualifying you really have to have a whole other tune-up or you don't even get to qualify to race. And this forces the teams to be really flexible and have a lot of data, which we do.
"I think we're in great shape. I think we're going to be having a winner's circle conversation within the next few races."
Next up is the ProCare RX NHRA Nationals in Englishtown, N.J., June 22-24.
FUNNY CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1. Ron Capps, 752 (runner-up today)
2. Robert Hight, 612
3. Gary Scelzi 554 (winner today)
4. Mike Ashley, 512
5. Jim Head, 509
6. Tony Pedregon, 466
7. Ashley Force, 407
8. Del Worsham, 381
9. Jack Beckman, 366
10. Cruz Pedregon, 358
