BROWNSBURG, Ind. (June 22, 2016) - Jack Beckman is eager to get to the friendly confines of Norwalk, Ohio, to close out the most grueling stretch of the 24-race NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule.
The only time four races in four weekends are fun is when you're winning, and after a personal-best seven Mello Yello titles last year Beckman is still seeking his first NHRA Wally trophy of the year.
"This is when having another race the next weekend is a good thing because we are getting closer to figuring out what this car wants," Beckman said after a narrow loss in Sunday's quarterfinals at Bristol, Tenn., which was the third race in as many weekends.
Through 11 events, however, the Infinite Hero team has advanced to the semifinals twice and final round three times and will arrive at Norwalk for the NHRA Summit Racing Nationals as the No. 2-ranked team, only 55 points behind Don Schumacher Racing teammate Ron Capps.
Beckman and his Infinite Hero team led by crew chief Jimmy Prock with assistant crew chiefs John Medlen and Chris Cunningham were re-writing NHRA and track record book in the year's cooler conditions but has been facing knuckleballs at recent tracks when air and track temperatures heated up.
The Infinite Hero Dodge funded by Terry Chandler won the pole at four of the first seven Mello Yello races this year. But in the year's first hot races, Beckman qualified 10th at Englishtown, N.J., and ninth last weekend at Bristol. Despite some adversity, he advanced to the final round at Englishtown that was the third time this season in which he was one round win from hoisting the NHRA Wally trophy.
"We're getting much, much better in the heat but have not done well on the 'hero' runs," he said of Friday night sessions when the conditions are usually the coolest of the weekend. The conditions for Friday at Norwalk should be kind to Beckman and others as sessions are scheduled for 5:45 and 8:30 p.m. (ET).
A disappointing No. 11 qualifying spot didn't keep the Infinite Hero team from winning last year's hot Norwalk race. It was his second win at the track in the event's nine-year history.
"It's always warm at Norwalk and that's OK because we have the Infinite Hero Dodge doing well on 130-degree racetracks."
Beckman has won 22 times in the Mello Yello series and intends to add another trophy that also will provide him with a unique present for his 50th birthday on Tuesday.
"We have 13 more chances to get as many trophies as we can before the year ends, and I'd like to start with Norwalk especially because it will be on my 50th birthday weekend."
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