BECKMAN GRABS NO. 13 IN SONOMA QUALIFYING
<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/j_beckman_222014.jpg" alt="j_beckman_222014" align="left"borders="0"/>
SONOMA, Calif. (July 26, 2008) - Jack Beckman is happy with the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car he's racing here at the 21st annual NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway for Don Schumacher Racing.
He qualified it in 13th position for Sunday's Funny Car eliminations with the 4.220-second elapsed time at 287.53 mph he posted in today's third qualifying round, but the last pass of the day on a 127-degree track proved to be the most rewarding as far as collecting data was concerned.
Having to re-qualify today after failing to make the top 12 on Friday, despite a quicker pass of 4.218/292.52 in the evening session, Beckman maintained his No. 13 spot following a traction-losing 4.513/290.51 pass in his final attempt.
"I think Q4 was the best tire-smoking run we've ever made in our lives," said Beckman of that pass. "With this new car we kept making changes and we wouldn't see a corresponding result on the race track. We changed a lot of stuff, went out there in Q3, hauled butt, went out there in Q4, tried to make it stick early, and the Valvoline/MTS Dodge gave us super numbers early in the run.
“The fact it smoked them down track is so easy for us to fix. John Force is in trouble," he added with a smile.
Beckman faces the 14-time champion in the opening round of eliminations, with whom he is tied in round wins at 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 26, 2008) - Jack Beckman is happy with the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car he's racing here at the 21st annual NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway for Don Schumacher Racing.
He qualified it in 13th position for Sunday's Funny Car eliminations with the 4.220-second elapsed time at 287.53 mph he posted in today's third qualifying round, but the last pass of the day on a 127-degree track proved to be the most rewarding as far as collecting data was concerned.
Having to re-qualify today after failing to make the top 12 on Friday, despite a quicker pass of 4.218/292.52 in the evening session, Beckman maintained his No. 13 spot following a traction-losing 4.513/290.51 pass in his final attempt.
"I think Q4 was the best tire-smoking run we've ever made in our lives," said Beckman of that pass. "With this new car we kept making changes and we wouldn't see a corresponding result on the race track. We changed a lot of stuff, went out there in Q3, hauled butt, went out there in Q4, tried to make it stick early, and the Valvoline/MTS Dodge gave us super numbers early in the run.
“The fact it smoked them down track is so easy for us to fix. John Force is in trouble," he added with a smile.
Beckman faces the 14-time champion in the opening round of eliminations, with whom he is tied in round wins at 4-4.
