Morning rain delayed the start of
Saturday’s qualifying for the 47th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA
Gatornationals, and it paid off in record-smashing fashion for Jack
Beckman.
“Fast Jack” began the fourth and
final session at Gainesville Raceway on the provisional pole and was in
the last pair of Funny Cars to go down the Florida track Saturday
evening. Beckman posted a 1,000-foot pass of 3.879-seconds at 329.26 mph
in his Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger R/T to reset the elapsed
time national record. That time also is a track record. The 2012 world
champion, Beckman now has 17 poles in his career and two in 2016.
Beckman, who will open eliminations
Sunday against Jeff Diehl, is hoping to turn his first Gainesville pole
into his first win at the historic East Coast facility.
“I’m always excited to come here,”
Beckman said. “This place was setting records long before I ever came
out here when I was reading about it in National Dragster.
Driving for (crew chief) Jimmy Prock, we can set records most places we
go.” In addition to Prock, Beckman’s Don Schumacher Racing crew
includes assistant crew chiefs John Medlen and Chris Cunningham.
“I’m proud of the guys,” Beckman
added. “That’s two-of-four runs on this car since our (fabrication) shop
front-halved the chassis. I knew our (3.913) Friday night could have
been quicker and we showed that tonight.”
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