EPPING, N.H. (June 6, 2016) – Jack Beckman and the Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T completed a pair of runs Monday in the rain-delayed NHRA New England Nationals with times of 3.935 and 3.937 seconds.
Even though his last run of 3.937 at 325.30 was impressive, it wasn’t enough to defeat Don Schumacher Racing teammate Tommy Johnson Jr., who advanced to the final round at New England Raceway at Epping, N.H.
That he was even able to get down the track both times was a testament to his Infinite Hero team funded by Terry Chandler and led by crew chief Jimmy Prock with assistants John Medlen and Chris Cunningham.
The team needed a resurgent Monday before next weekend’s NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event at Englishtown, N.J., which will be the second of four races in four weeks.
The Infinite Hero team exhibited resilience after suffering one of the biggest Funny Car explosions in drag racing history in Saturday’s first qualifying session and was forced to miss the day’s last qualifying run.
As Beckman passed half-track on his third qualifying run, a malfunction led to a horrific engine explosion that destroyed the Dodge Charger R/T carbon fiber body, damaged the chassis and caused considerable damage to the electrical wiring from an ensuing fire. He was uninjured.
The Infinite Hero team skipped the final qualifying session to get ready to race for the trophy on Sunday and remained late at the track not knowing race day would be rained out.
“This is the first of four in a row and I hope things settle down a little bit and we get to go into the winner’s circle,” said Beckman, who will arrive at Englishtown second in points and only 15 out of first.
“To have what happened to us on Saturday and to run as well as we did today on a chassis without any previous runs is what we expect because Terry Chandler gives the funds to do that, and (team owner) Don Schumacher gives us the personnel and the equipment to be able to run that well.
“But sometimes that’s easier said than done. To actually be able to go out and do it by running two 3.93s after all the things we had to suffer through and Sunday’s rain delay … the silver lining is we have a good combination to take to Englishtown and we don’t have to feel like we have to be rushed to get a new front half on that chassis and press it back into service next weekend.
“I actually think this new chassis drives a little better. The back half of the other chassis had tons of runs on it, and we had run it over parts of the past four years.
“Brighter days are ahead for the Infinite Hero group.”
And Beckman isn’t talking about the weather.
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