Saturday, February 13, 2016

Press Enterprise: DRAG RACING: Beckman takes No. 1 spot in Funny Car qualifying

POMONA – They call Norco’s Funny Car racing star Jack Beckman “Fast Jack” for a reason.

While posting an early 3.934-second elapsed time in Saturday’s opening run at the 56th Winternationals, he watched a handful of top-flight competitors blow past him.

Under the lights in the final run at Auto Club Speedway early Saturday night, Beckman sizzled past everyone, blazing to a 3.888 run to grab the No. 1 qualifying spot for today’s Nitro ladder eliminations.

“There’s pressure any time that car starts up,” said Beckman, who failed to qualify at last year’s opener at Pomona.

That pressure might have continued on Friday when he posted a 5.169 in his first qualifying run.

“It’s clear,” he said, referring to his crew led by chief Jimmy Prock, “that they’re getting a handle on the car.”

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