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COMMERCE, Ga. (April 26, 2008) - "Fast" Jack Beckman joined his other Don Schumacher Racing teammates in their respective classes by qualifying for the NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway. All seven DSR teams, including Tony Schumacher and Cory McClenathan in Top Fuel; Beckman, Gary Scelzi, Ron Capps and Jerry Toliver in Funny Car; and Chip Ellis in Pro Stock Motorcycle will race in eliminations on Sunday.
Beckman collected No. 13 with a 4.900-second elapsed time at 314.17 mph, which he set in his final try. His other laps produced a 9.933/83.86 (DNQ), a 4.949/310.13 (DNQ), and a 4.964/304.25 (No. 16).
"You know what?" said the driver of the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger R/T. "This could be a great weekend for Schumacher Racing. The dragsters are sitting at the top, first and third, and all the Funny Cars are in. I'm actually excited.
"You know, I don't mind qualifying near the bottom because we know we can win from there, the field is so tight. What I really don't want to keep doing is waiting until the last session to squeak in," he said of having to deal with a similar situation at the previous event in Las Vegas.
"But, you know, it was cool. We really got down the race track three out of four runs. The last two in the heat we made decent runs. The last run was a statement (third quickest of the round). The Valvoline/MTS guys finally turned the knobs to speed it up and the car did exactly what we wanted it to do. I'm excited. We'll be here on Sunday ready to go."
Beckman faces off against Gary Densham in Sunday's opening round of eliminations.
BECKMAN SNAGS NO. 13 IN ATLANTA QUALIFYING
COMMERCE, Ga. (April 26, 2008) - "Fast" Jack Beckman joined his other Don Schumacher Racing teammates in their respective classes by qualifying for the NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway. All seven DSR teams, including Tony Schumacher and Cory McClenathan in Top Fuel; Beckman, Gary Scelzi, Ron Capps and Jerry Toliver in Funny Car; and Chip Ellis in Pro Stock Motorcycle will race in eliminations on Sunday.
Beckman collected No. 13 with a 4.900-second elapsed time at 314.17 mph, which he set in his final try. His other laps produced a 9.933/83.86 (DNQ), a 4.949/310.13 (DNQ), and a 4.964/304.25 (No. 16).
"You know what?" said the driver of the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger R/T. "This could be a great weekend for Schumacher Racing. The dragsters are sitting at the top, first and third, and all the Funny Cars are in. I'm actually excited.
"You know, I don't mind qualifying near the bottom because we know we can win from there, the field is so tight. What I really don't want to keep doing is waiting until the last session to squeak in," he said of having to deal with a similar situation at the previous event in Las Vegas.
"But, you know, it was cool. We really got down the race track three out of four runs. The last two in the heat we made decent runs. The last run was a statement (third quickest of the round). The Valvoline/MTS guys finally turned the knobs to speed it up and the car did exactly what we wanted it to do. I'm excited. We'll be here on Sunday ready to go."
Beckman faces off against Gary Densham in Sunday's opening round of eliminations.
