BECKMAN ON FAST TRACK AT START OF COUNTDOWN
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<P>INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 8, 2008) - "Fast" Jack Beckman is living up to his nickname as he enters the beginning of the Countdown to 1 playoffs at this weekend's Inaugural NHRA Carolinas Nationals at zMax Dragway in Concord, N.C. The driver of the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car is on a hot streak now after reaching his third straight final round at the U.S. Nationals last week (one win) and leapfrogging from No. 9 in the point standings to No. 6.
"I'm so excited just to go into Concord this weekend," said Beckman, who has won more rounds in the last six races than any other Funny Car driver, 15 to be exact. "No pro team has any experience there. It's an all-concrete track, it's a Bruton Smith track, so we already know we won't have to worry about certain things because it will be a first-class facility. Each track has its own personality and we all start even on that. It's going to be really interesting and unique and if we can take advantage of our multi-car team (four Funny Cars fielded by Don Schumacher Racing), theoretically it gives us an advantage there.
"And the Countdown feels great," he added. "We're three-and-a-half rounds out of first place right now. We've made more of a jump than anybody in the last six races and, boy, now the leader's well within sight." Beckman begins the playoffs 70 points behind No. 1 in the rankings Tim Wilkerson.
"Qualifying is going to be important to us. Having lane choice first round is something that did bite us several times in that nine-race winless streak that we had. Fortunately, since then, we've been able to run well enough even without lane choice; we've only had lane choice once in the last six races for first first round.
"Not only is that important, but the small number of qualifying points they award now become way more important. Those are basically going to become the tie-breaking points because everybody is separated by half-round increments right now."
The Mail from Home program 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. 6 in 2008 Funny Car points after 18 events (two victories-Phoenix, Reading, five final rounds)
* Clinched a berth in the Countdown to 1 playoffs in Reading, Pa.
* His 2008 round win-loss record is 21-12
* 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 57 national events in Top Fuel and Funny Car, he has won four times in 10 final rounds (all in Funny Car), and has a career round win-loss record of 57-47
* 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:
FRIDAY, Sept. 12 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, Sept. 13 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
SUNDAY, Sept. 14 - Pre-race ceremonies, 11 a.m. FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at noon
TELEVISION:
Saturday, Sept. 13, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 4 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, Sept. 14, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will telecast NHRA Race Day, a 30-minute news magazine show, at 11 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, Sept. 14, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of final round eliminations at 7 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE (Analog Feed):
Friday, Sept. 12, 8 - 8:30 p.m. (ET) - Horizons 2 / Transponder 12K (12160 MHz, horizontal)
Saturday, Sept. 13, 7:30-8 p.m. (ET) - Horizons 2 / Transponder 12K (12160 MHz, horizontal)
Sunday, Aug. 14, 7 - 7:30 p.m. (ET) - Horizons 2 / Transponder 12K (12160 MHz, horizontal)
