BECKMAN ON PRECARIOUS PERCH HEADING INTO READING
<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/j_beckman_222014.jpg" alt="j_beckman_222014"align="right"borders="0" />
NORTH HILLS, Calif. (Aug. 13, 2008) - Although he's moved into ninth place in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car point standings following his runner-up finish in Brainerd, Minn., on Sunday, Jack Beckman knows he's still in a precarious position heading into the 24th annual NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway this weekend, outside of Reading, Pa.
The driver of the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger R/T is five points ahead of Mike Neff in 10th, 84 markers in front of Bob Tasca III in 11th, and 83 points behind his Don Schumacher Racing teammate Ron Capps in ninth.
So, while it may appear that he's perched solidly in the top 10 in order to make it into the Countdown to 1 playoffs which begin following the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis on Labor Day weekend, he is well aware that there is no guarantee with two events remaining before the top 10 are sealed.
"You might say eighth is safe," said Beckman, "but ninth and 10th are definitely not, because there can be a four-round swing any given weekend in drag racing. So, you want to have an eight-round cushion if you have two races to go.” Twenty points are awarded for each round win during eliminations.
"I said this before the Western Swing, that we were going to need to get 10 or 11 round wins minimum to have a good shot at staying in the top 10. And we have eight round wins so far with two more races before the Countdown. So, we're on a pretty good pace right now. I think we've really turned things around on the Valvoline/MTS Dodge team.
"After going nine races without a round win, to get round wins at every race of the last four is very rewarding," added Beckman, who debuted in the Funny Car class for DSR at Maple Grove Raceway in 2006. "It's interesting. The goal is always to win races, but, really, a more important goal for the next two races is to win rounds and preserve that top 10 spot. We'd just like to win four rounds each race."
In his two visits to Maple Grove to compete in the Funny Car class for DSR, he lost to John Force. In 2006 he qualified No. 8 and lost to Force in the opening round, and in 2007, after qualifying No. 2, he again lost to Force in the first stanza. However, career-wise, Beckman leads the 14-time champion in head-to-head round wins: 5-4.
Mail Terminal Services continues its "Mail from Home" program in 2008. Fans at each NHRA national event have the opportunity to sign special cards at the Don Schumacher Racing hospitality area and at the U.S. Army Racing Zone in the midway, which MTS then ships, free of charge, to the troops in war zones overseas.
JACK BECKMAN QUICK FACTS:
* No. 9 in 2008 Funny Car points after 15 events (one victory-Phoenix, three final rounds)
* No. 2 qualifier in Reading in 2007, lost first round to John Force
* His 2008 round win-loss record is 14-12
* 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 56 national events in Top Fuel and Funny Car, he has won four times in eight final rounds (all in Funny Car), and has a career round win-loss record of 50-47
* 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: 5-4
<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/j_beckman_222014.jpg" alt="j_beckman_222014"align="right"borders="0" />
NORTH HILLS, Calif. (Aug. 13, 2008) - Although he's moved into ninth place in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car point standings following his runner-up finish in Brainerd, Minn., on Sunday, Jack Beckman knows he's still in a precarious position heading into the 24th annual NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway this weekend, outside of Reading, Pa.
The driver of the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger R/T is five points ahead of Mike Neff in 10th, 84 markers in front of Bob Tasca III in 11th, and 83 points behind his Don Schumacher Racing teammate Ron Capps in ninth.
So, while it may appear that he's perched solidly in the top 10 in order to make it into the Countdown to 1 playoffs which begin following the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis on Labor Day weekend, he is well aware that there is no guarantee with two events remaining before the top 10 are sealed.
"You might say eighth is safe," said Beckman, "but ninth and 10th are definitely not, because there can be a four-round swing any given weekend in drag racing. So, you want to have an eight-round cushion if you have two races to go.” Twenty points are awarded for each round win during eliminations.
"I said this before the Western Swing, that we were going to need to get 10 or 11 round wins minimum to have a good shot at staying in the top 10. And we have eight round wins so far with two more races before the Countdown. So, we're on a pretty good pace right now. I think we've really turned things around on the Valvoline/MTS Dodge team.
"After going nine races without a round win, to get round wins at every race of the last four is very rewarding," added Beckman, who debuted in the Funny Car class for DSR at Maple Grove Raceway in 2006. "It's interesting. The goal is always to win races, but, really, a more important goal for the next two races is to win rounds and preserve that top 10 spot. We'd just like to win four rounds each race."
In his two visits to Maple Grove to compete in the Funny Car class for DSR, he lost to John Force. In 2006 he qualified No. 8 and lost to Force in the opening round, and in 2007, after qualifying No. 2, he again lost to Force in the first stanza. However, career-wise, Beckman leads the 14-time champion in head-to-head round wins: 5-4.
Mail Terminal Services continues its "Mail from Home" program in 2008. Fans at each NHRA national event have the opportunity to sign special cards at the Don Schumacher Racing hospitality area and at the U.S. Army Racing Zone in the midway, which MTS then ships, free of charge, to the troops in war zones overseas.
JACK BECKMAN QUICK FACTS:
* No. 9 in 2008 Funny Car points after 15 events (one victory-Phoenix, three final rounds)
* No. 2 qualifier in Reading in 2007, lost first round to John Force
* His 2008 round win-loss record is 14-12
* 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 56 national events in Top Fuel and Funny Car, he has won four times in eight final rounds (all in Funny Car), and has a career round win-loss record of 50-47
* 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: 5-4
