<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/j_beckman_222014.jpg" alt="j_beckman_222014"align="right"borders="0" />
NORTH HILLS, Calif. (April 30, 2008) - When Jack Beckman joined Don Schumacher Racing at the end of 2006 for the final five races, he was a ball of fire, qualifying No. 1 once, winning once and setting both ends of the national record in those events.
Then, in his first full season in the Funny Car class of the 2007 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series with DSR, reality clicked in and he was introduced to arguably the most competitive NHRA category in recent history. The cancer survivor and 2003 Super Comp champion was undaunted, enduring early-season struggles to end the season battling for a spot in the Countdown to Four championship playoffs with his teammates Ron Capps and Gary Scelzi. He finally ended up a strong fifth in the standings.
At the Midwest Nationals at Gateway International Raceway last year, Beckman failed to qualify for his second event of the season, joining an elite group of other top Funny Car drivers, in fact all the Funny Car stars, who failed to qualify at least once during that highly competitive season.
Beckman, driving the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car for DSR, arrives at this weekend's Midwest Nationals No. 8 in the point standings with one victory so far. He's in the coveted top-10 in the standings which would earn him a spot in the playoffs to be held during the final six events of the season. But the affable, articulate Beckman is not satisfied.
"We're in the top 10. I think we're like only a round out of fourth place right now," he said, "but we've got to get back to our early-season form. So, we're excited to get to Gateway. With a few exceptions (and actually Gateway maybe one of those this weekend, as cool weather is predicted right now), we will be at hot tracks for the next four and a half months. So, I think the teams that are going to get a grip on this hot -track tune-up have a golden opportunity to surge way ahead.
"The opposite can also be said," added Beckman. "The teams that are having a tough time taming their cars at these race tracks are going to struggle just to stay in the top 10. Our goal is obviously to adapt to the hot conditions and win rounds.
"I guess you might say that the next four months are going to separate the haves from the have-nots. And it's really time to sink or swim. With NHRA's new Countdown format, I know everybody says that you only need to be in the top 10, and that's true, but, keep in mind, that every two positions in that top 10 represents one round of racing that you'll either have as an advantage or will have to make up when they cut the points at Indy (the U.S. Nationals on Labor Day, after which the playoffs begin).
"So, really, you still want to be right at the top of the points and that gets down to round wins. And if you have a car that can go two or three rounds every race, I think you'll be near the top of the points deal come Indy. I know we have a good enough car and an excellent team to get us there."
Beckman's Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge will be on co-display with Scott Kalitta's Funny Car at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., today from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. CT. Beckman will be on hand to sign autographs during that time. "This will be exciting and fun," said the former Air Force sergeant, who gives back by making numerous appearances of this type during his hectic racing season, including visits to hospitals and schools.
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 DSR hospitality area and at the U.S. Army Racing Zone in the midway area, which MTS then ships, free of charge, to the troops in war zones overseas.
JACK BECKMAN QUICK FACTS:
* No. 8 in 2008 Funny Car points after six events (one victory-Phoenix)
* DNQ'd at 2007 Midwest Nationals
* Finished 2007 season fifth in point standings
* 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 46 national events in Top Fuel and Funny Car, he has won four times in six final rounds (all in Funny Car), and has a career round win-loss record of 42-40
* 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
* Is tied in round wins against 14-time NHRA champion John Force: 4-4
WEEKEND SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, May 2 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, May 3 - Sportsman eliminations begin at 8:30 a.m.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.
SUNDAY, May 4 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.
FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11a.m.
TELEVISION:
Saturday, May 3, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 9 p.m. (ET).
Sunday May 4, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will air NHRA Race Day, at 11 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, May 4, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of final round eliminations at 7 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE:
Friday, May 2, 10-10:30 p.m. (ET) - Horizons 2, Transponder 19 K (12140 MHz, vertical)
Saturday, May 3, 7:30-8 p.m. (ET) - Horizons 2, Transponder 19 K (12140 MHz, vertical)
Sunday, May 4, 7-7:30 p.m. (ET) - Horizons 2, Transponder 19 K (12140 MHz, vertical)
BECKMAN RETURNS FOR SECOND VISIT TO GATEWAY
Will visit Scott Air Force Base, Ill., today to sign autographs and display Valvoline/MTS Dodge
NORTH HILLS, Calif. (April 30, 2008) - When Jack Beckman joined Don Schumacher Racing at the end of 2006 for the final five races, he was a ball of fire, qualifying No. 1 once, winning once and setting both ends of the national record in those events.
Then, in his first full season in the Funny Car class of the 2007 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series with DSR, reality clicked in and he was introduced to arguably the most competitive NHRA category in recent history. The cancer survivor and 2003 Super Comp champion was undaunted, enduring early-season struggles to end the season battling for a spot in the Countdown to Four championship playoffs with his teammates Ron Capps and Gary Scelzi. He finally ended up a strong fifth in the standings.
At the Midwest Nationals at Gateway International Raceway last year, Beckman failed to qualify for his second event of the season, joining an elite group of other top Funny Car drivers, in fact all the Funny Car stars, who failed to qualify at least once during that highly competitive season.
Beckman, driving the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car for DSR, arrives at this weekend's Midwest Nationals No. 8 in the point standings with one victory so far. He's in the coveted top-10 in the standings which would earn him a spot in the playoffs to be held during the final six events of the season. But the affable, articulate Beckman is not satisfied.
"We're in the top 10. I think we're like only a round out of fourth place right now," he said, "but we've got to get back to our early-season form. So, we're excited to get to Gateway. With a few exceptions (and actually Gateway maybe one of those this weekend, as cool weather is predicted right now), we will be at hot tracks for the next four and a half months. So, I think the teams that are going to get a grip on this hot -track tune-up have a golden opportunity to surge way ahead.
"The opposite can also be said," added Beckman. "The teams that are having a tough time taming their cars at these race tracks are going to struggle just to stay in the top 10. Our goal is obviously to adapt to the hot conditions and win rounds.
"I guess you might say that the next four months are going to separate the haves from the have-nots. And it's really time to sink or swim. With NHRA's new Countdown format, I know everybody says that you only need to be in the top 10, and that's true, but, keep in mind, that every two positions in that top 10 represents one round of racing that you'll either have as an advantage or will have to make up when they cut the points at Indy (the U.S. Nationals on Labor Day, after which the playoffs begin).
"So, really, you still want to be right at the top of the points and that gets down to round wins. And if you have a car that can go two or three rounds every race, I think you'll be near the top of the points deal come Indy. I know we have a good enough car and an excellent team to get us there."
Beckman's Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge will be on co-display with Scott Kalitta's Funny Car at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., today from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. CT. Beckman will be on hand to sign autographs during that time. "This will be exciting and fun," said the former Air Force sergeant, who gives back by making numerous appearances of this type during his hectic racing season, including visits to hospitals and schools.
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 DSR hospitality area and at the U.S. Army Racing Zone in the midway area, which MTS then ships, free of charge, to the troops in war zones overseas.
JACK BECKMAN QUICK FACTS:
* No. 8 in 2008 Funny Car points after six events (one victory-Phoenix)
* DNQ'd at 2007 Midwest Nationals
* Finished 2007 season fifth in point standings
* 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 46 national events in Top Fuel and Funny Car, he has won four times in six final rounds (all in Funny Car), and has a career round win-loss record of 42-40
* 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
* Is tied in round wins against 14-time NHRA champion John Force: 4-4
WEEKEND SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, May 2 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, May 3 - Sportsman eliminations begin at 8:30 a.m.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.
SUNDAY, May 4 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.
FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11a.m.
TELEVISION:
Saturday, May 3, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 9 p.m. (ET).
Sunday May 4, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will air NHRA Race Day, at 11 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, May 4, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of final round eliminations at 7 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE:
Friday, May 2, 10-10:30 p.m. (ET) - Horizons 2, Transponder 19 K (12140 MHz, vertical)
Saturday, May 3, 7:30-8 p.m. (ET) - Horizons 2, Transponder 19 K (12140 MHz, vertical)
Sunday, May 4, 7-7:30 p.m. (ET) - Horizons 2, Transponder 19 K (12140 MHz, vertical)
