Bolstered by his two straight final-round appearances and one triumph in the last two events of the 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, Jack Beckman aims for his first U.S. Nationals victory this weekend in Indianapolis.
In only his second full season of pro nitro Funny Car competition, the driver of the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car has charged up the ladder in the point standings in the last five races to clinch a berth in the Countdown to 1 playoffs, which begin following this weekend’s 54th annual U.S. Nationals.
“It’s interesting,” says Beckman, who’s won twice this season in four final rounds, “because it’s anti-climactic in one way. This is the last regular season game - to make the baseball analogy - and we’ve already made the playoffs. So we don’t have to worry about that.
“But it is the U.S. Nationals. We get one more qualifying session than at any other race, and we get two night runs. Our Achilles’ Heel this year has been those night runs. And with 21 or so cars showing up (to vie for 16 starting spots) we’re really going to have to try to run well in one of those to get a good qualifying position.
“There is this aura that surrounds this event, and there is great prestige that comes with winning it. Next year they’re doubling the purse, but I won’t mind taking home a half-purse this year.
“It’s interesting. Growing up in the West Coast the Winternationals (in Pomona, Calif.) is always the big race for me, but every racer who has raced for several years will tell you that the U.S. Nationals is the one that kind of completes the resume.
“It’s like a marathon. You’re there for what seems like a month. Every other race we go to, with the exception of Pomona, is a three-day race, and at Indy we’re racing for four days, but we’re there for six days. It almost becomes a survival of the fittest, especially if it is hot and humid.”
JACK BECKMAN QUICK FACTS:
* No. 9 in 2008 Funny Car points after 17 events (two victories-Phoenix, Reading, four final rounds)
* Clinched a berth in the Countdown to 1 playoffs
* No. 3 qualifier in 2007 U.S. Nationals, lost second round to Mike Ashley
* His 2008 round win-loss record is 18-12
* 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 54-47
* 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
| 
|