There was a time when riding out a speeding bonfire was just a part
of piloting a fuel-burning Funny Car. These days, such rides — like
those that made John Force famous in the early 1990s — are few and far
between thanks to improved fire suppression systems, but drivers today
have traded what were once raging infernos for incidents that are best
described as sitting inside of a military-grade bomb.
And on Saturday, Jack Beckman escaped from one of the biggest boomers
yet, as his Infinite Hero Dodge Charger exploded in breathtaking
fashion, tearing the carbon fiber body apart like a toy and sending
parts and pieces scattering all over the New England Dragway.
“It was a big explosion, one of the biggest ever. The worst was I had
oil all over my visor and couldn’t see. Fortunately, I had time to
reach up with my glove and wipe it off. Until then I couldn’t see, and
it’s just nice to know you’re not going into the wall.”
Beckman’s team, already well into the field with a 3.895-second lap
from Friday, elected to sit out the final qualifying session to evaluate
the chassis and prepare the backup car.
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