WINNER IN 2007, BECKMAN WANTS TO REPEAT IN SEATTLE
<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/j_beckman_222014.jpg" alt="j_beckman_222014" align="right"borders="0"/>
KENT, Wash. (July 15, 2008) - Jack Beckman entered the NHRA Nationals at Pacific Raceways last year on a roll for the Western Swing (Denver, Seattle and Sonoma, Calif.) after having won the Denver event the weekend before. He left this Northwest-area facility with his second consecutive victory of the season. The driver of the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car came close to repeating this year at last weekend's Mopar Mile-High Nationals by reaching his second final round of 2008.
Although he didn't take home his second season win in Denver, he catapulted himself into No. 10 in the standings. Beckman needs to remain there or move up higher if he's to vie for a Funny Car crown in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs for the top 10 following the U.S Nationals in Indianapolis on Labor Day weekend.
"It's interesting," said the California native who has four career victories in seven final rounds in his short barely two-year Funny Car career. "We waited until this time last year to make our move and we made a huge move after that.
"We ran good in a few races this year and didn't get any results from it," said Beckman. "I think we have put most of our struggles behind us and we have a consistent hot rod again. And we took advantage of that in Denver.
"Coming into Seattle is going to be our first experience at sea level with the new Goodyear tire and the new 1000-ft. distance," added Beckman of NHRA's decision until further notice to shorten the tracks to 1000 feet as an interim step to slow down the cars following Scott Kalitta's fatal crash in Englishtown, N.J., on June 21. "So, this will be the first time on a real fast track to see how these Goodyears respond. And Seattle won't have the cooling system (under the surface of the first 200 feet of the track) like Bandimere Speedway in Denver had, so that actually might make it a little more challenging for all the teams.
"I tell you, if we have a few more successful races like we had in Denver, the NHRA may think twice about going back to 1320 feet (quarter-mile), but I think the reason they will eventually go back to the quarter-mile is because using two different finish lines in a season is going to be so complicated.
“We're back in the top 10 again," Beckman continued. "That's awesome, but we're closer to 14th than we are to ninth right now. We just have to keep winning rounds."
Beckman welcomes the support of Dodge dealerships at certain racing venue this season. This weekend Rairdon Chrysler Jeep of Kirkland, Wash., is on board. "The great thing about having a sponsor like Mopar is all the dealerships, all the employees and all the muscle-car fanatics just get so behind us,” he said. “They are so supportive of us, and having Rairdon Chrysler Jeep backing us is this weekend is just another example."
JACK BECKMAN QUICK FACTS:
* No. 10 in 2008 Funny Car points after 13 events (one victory-Phoenix, two final rounds)
* No. 3 qualifier in Seattle in 2007, won event over John Force
* 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 53 national events in Top Fuel and Funny Car, he has won four times in seven final rounds (all in Funny Car), and has a career round win-loss record of 45-44
* 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
* Is tied in round wins against 14-time NHRA champion John Force: 4-4
<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/j_beckman_222014.jpg" alt="j_beckman_222014" align="right"borders="0"/>
KENT, Wash. (July 15, 2008) - Jack Beckman entered the NHRA Nationals at Pacific Raceways last year on a roll for the Western Swing (Denver, Seattle and Sonoma, Calif.) after having won the Denver event the weekend before. He left this Northwest-area facility with his second consecutive victory of the season. The driver of the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car came close to repeating this year at last weekend's Mopar Mile-High Nationals by reaching his second final round of 2008.
Although he didn't take home his second season win in Denver, he catapulted himself into No. 10 in the standings. Beckman needs to remain there or move up higher if he's to vie for a Funny Car crown in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs for the top 10 following the U.S Nationals in Indianapolis on Labor Day weekend.
"It's interesting," said the California native who has four career victories in seven final rounds in his short barely two-year Funny Car career. "We waited until this time last year to make our move and we made a huge move after that.
"We ran good in a few races this year and didn't get any results from it," said Beckman. "I think we have put most of our struggles behind us and we have a consistent hot rod again. And we took advantage of that in Denver.
"Coming into Seattle is going to be our first experience at sea level with the new Goodyear tire and the new 1000-ft. distance," added Beckman of NHRA's decision until further notice to shorten the tracks to 1000 feet as an interim step to slow down the cars following Scott Kalitta's fatal crash in Englishtown, N.J., on June 21. "So, this will be the first time on a real fast track to see how these Goodyears respond. And Seattle won't have the cooling system (under the surface of the first 200 feet of the track) like Bandimere Speedway in Denver had, so that actually might make it a little more challenging for all the teams.
"I tell you, if we have a few more successful races like we had in Denver, the NHRA may think twice about going back to 1320 feet (quarter-mile), but I think the reason they will eventually go back to the quarter-mile is because using two different finish lines in a season is going to be so complicated.
“We're back in the top 10 again," Beckman continued. "That's awesome, but we're closer to 14th than we are to ninth right now. We just have to keep winning rounds."
Beckman welcomes the support of Dodge dealerships at certain racing venue this season. This weekend Rairdon Chrysler Jeep of Kirkland, Wash., is on board. "The great thing about having a sponsor like Mopar is all the dealerships, all the employees and all the muscle-car fanatics just get so behind us,” he said. “They are so supportive of us, and having Rairdon Chrysler Jeep backing us is this weekend is just another example."
JACK BECKMAN QUICK FACTS:
* No. 10 in 2008 Funny Car points after 13 events (one victory-Phoenix, two final rounds)
* No. 3 qualifier in Seattle in 2007, won event over John Force
* 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 53 national events in Top Fuel and Funny Car, he has won four times in seven final rounds (all in Funny Car), and has a career round win-loss record of 45-44
* 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
* Is tied in round wins against 14-time NHRA champion John Force: 4-4
