GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 20, 2016)— A weekend for the record books at the Mello Yello Racing Series 47th annual NHRA Gatornationals for “Fast” Jack Beckman unfortunately ended in the semifinal round against Don Schumacher Racing teammate Ron Capps on Sunday.
The driver of the Terry Chandler-funded Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger R/T earned his first-ever pole at this legendary event with an elapsed time of 3.879 seconds, good for the new national record, and earned his 300th career round victory to kick off the event.
He would go on to take the win light against John Force, who fouled out after leaving the starting line too soon, in the second round, but ultimately fell to Capps in the semifinal when his Funny Car’s engine gave up the ghost in a decidedly odd series of events.
After the burnout in the semifinals, Beckman had a hard time backing his machine up and when he hit the loud pedal, the car moved about ten feet and stopped.
Unfortunately, the veteran Funny Car driver knew exactly what happened.
“It’s actually happened to me once before,” said the 2012 NHRA Funny Car champion. “It seized the bearing for the blower drive, and once that happens, it gets so hot that it boils the seal and all the fluid in the supercharger shoots out the front. Poor (crew chief) Jimmy (Prock) almost got a bath in it when he went to turn the idle screw right before.”
Beckman knew he would need some luck on his side to beat his DSR teammate, but it was Capps who got the break. “The only option I had was the change up my starting line routine,” Beckman said. “We went in and lit both bulbs. Ron’s experienced, he didn’t fall for it, and then to kind of rub salt in the wound, you see them struggle and then think ‘Wow!’ Any other run…
“But that’s the nature of drag racing. We got a lucky break against Force in the second round when he smoked the tires. I think when you’re running consistently well, you put yourself in a position to take advantage of lucky breaks. We need to be a little more consistent.”
The next stop on the Mello Yello tour is April 1-3 with the NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
FUNNY CAR
Winner: Robert Hight (John Force Racing)
No. 1 qualifier: Jack Beckman (Don Schumacher Racing) 3.879 (national record), 329.26 (track record)
JACK BECKMAN, Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger R/T
Qualified: No. 1
SUNDAY’S CHAMPIONSHIP ELIMINATIONS
First round: BECKMAN (3.919 sec., 324.90) def. Jeff Diehl (12.641. 77.99)
Second round: BECKMAN (8.061, 74.67) def. John Force (DQ/redlight)
Semifinals: Ron Capps (6.151, 194.80) def. BECKMAN (shut off)
QUALIFYING
SATURDAY: 7.633 sec., 76.84 mph, (Session 3); 3.879 (national record), 329.26 (track record), (Session 4)
FRIDAY: 5.806, 115.79, (Session 1); 3.913, 323.74, (Session 2)
NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Standings
(Unofficial after 3 of 24 events; DSR drivers in CAPS; wins in parenthesis)
Funny Car
1. Robert Hight (1) 280
2. RON CAPPS (1) 279
3. John Force 221
4. JACK BECKMAN 205
5. Courtney Force 201
6. Del Worsham 189
7. Tim Wilkerson (1) 183
8. Chad Head 162
9.Alexis DeJoria 119
10. MATT HAGAN 118
11. TOMMY JOHNSON JR. 117
12. Cruz Pedregon 114
ORIGINAL ARTICLE