Jack Beckman began the 2015 NHRA
schedule as a spectator after failing to qualify his Funny Car for the
season-opening Circle K Winternationals. Flipping the calendar ahead one
year, “Fast Jack” will chase victory Sunday in the 56th edition of the prestigious event from P1 at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, Calif.
Beckman rallied to post seven wins,
seven poles and set the national elapsed time record four times en route
to challenging Del Worsham for the 2015 Funny Car world championship.
On Saturday, Beckman clocked a 3.888-second 1,000-foot pass at 326.16
mph to take his first Winternationals pole and 16th of his career.
Driver of the Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T, Beckman will open
eliminations against No. 16 qualifier John Hale.
“It (his DNQ) didn’t affect us at all
last year with the Countdown (playoff) format and we wound up finishing
first in the regular season anyway. It just really hurt our pride,”
said Beckman, the 2012 world champion and resident of Norco, Calif. “As
a hometown guy it’s tough to come out to the first race of the year
because there’s a little extra pressure to do well and some stress if
you don’t. But we’re over that now.
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