BROWNSBURG, Ind. (June 8, 2016) – Despite two solid runs in Monday’s rain-delayed eliminations of the NHRA New England Nationals, Jack Beckman wasn’t able to get his Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T to its first event title of the year.
But just being able to race after a massive explosion on Saturday followed by a day lost to rain, it was quite an accomplishment that the Infinite Hero team led by crew chief Jimmy Prock with assistants John Medlen and Chris Cunningham was able to race.
And having a professional crew of metal fabricators at Don Schumacher Racing headquarters makes it possible for the Infinite Hero team sponsored by Terry Chandler to show up with two impressive Dodge Chargers for this weekend’s 47th annual NHRA Summernationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, N.J.
Beckman arrived at Epping, N.H., after advancing to the final round of the previous two NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events when he won a pole and was the No. 2 qualifier in the other.
And then the team experienced what many Funny Car veterans described as the biggest Funny Car explosion ever.
As Beckman passed half-track Saturday during his third qualifying run, a malfunction led to a horrific engine explosion that destroyed the Dodge Charger R/T carbon fiber body, bent the chassis and caused considerable ancillary damage from an ensuing fire.
Beckman was not injured.
The Infinite Hero team skipped the final qualifying session that day to get ready to race for the trophy on Sunday and remained late at the track not knowing the next day would be rained out.
Once the Funny Car was returned to the pit area – at least what was left of it and that didn’t include the shredded carbon fiber body and missing engine pieces – the Infinite Hero crew quickly determined it would have to go to its back-up car that had never been raced.
Adding to the team’s woes was when crewman Chris Adams sustained a facial injury that required three stitches before he could return to working on the car.
When it was determined the chassis needed major repairs, DSR vice president Mike Lewis rented a pick-up and hauled it back to headquarters outside of Indianapolis in Brownsburg, Ind., where DSR’s vaunted fabrication team (manager Joe Fitzpatrick with technicians Dan Murphy, Travis Orr and Austin Carter) devoted 20 hours to repairing it in time for it go to it to be reassembled to serve as the back-up car at the Summernationals.
“You can’t show up to the next race and not have a spare chassis,” Beckman said.
“We took out the hacksaw and cut it so it would fit in the bed of a pickup. Joe was on the phone with our team (Saturday) night figuring out what needed to be done once it got back to the shop.
“It’s interesting to be surrounded by good, dedicated, talented people.”
Another testament to the talented DSR fabricators is that the “new” car produced a pair of runs in the 3.93-second range on Monday, but it was unable to get passed teammate and eventual New England runner-up Tommy Johnson Jr. in the Make-A-Wish Dodge, also funded by Chandler, in the second round.
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