BROWNSBURG, Ind. (July 19, 2016) – Jack Beckman and the Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car team powered by Mopar and led by crew chief Jimmy Prock gave notice at the last race that they have not lost their way to a winner’s circle.
After winning a series-best seven titles last year in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, Beckman hoisted his first NHRA Wally trophy since last October when he won on July 12 near Chicago.
”We didn’t know if we would win at Chicago, but we were confident we could,” said Beckman, who was stationed at Lowry Air Force Base in Aurora, Colo., while serving in the U.S. Air Force.
“We’d made it to three final rounds before Chicago and were frustrated we couldn’t close it out. We just weren’t able to get a handle on our racecar. Something would come up that threw us a curveball, and we couldn’t tune around those issues.”
The Infinite Hero team connected near Chicago.
In his fourth final round in 13 of 24 Mello Yello events, the win over Don Schumacher Racing teammate Ron Capps enabled Beckman and the Infinite Hero Dodge funded by Terry Chandler to move up one spot to second in points heading to this weekend’s 37th annual Mopar Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway near Denver where he has won twice including in his NHRA championship season in 2012.
“Denver is a race where we warm up 30 minutes earlier than any other race before the first qualifying session just to make sure it will idle. It’s that much more difficult to adjust to the altitude.
“Denver is completely unique. There’s one notebook for Denver and another one for the other 20 facilities where we race. When we get done with Denver, we put that notebook back on the shelf and don’t dust it off until we go back the next year.”
This is one year when he and his Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T powered by Mopar team with assistants John Medlen and Chris Cunningham are eager to get back to the mountain after a new exhaust header design was used for the first time in competition a year ago helped the team win the first of three titles in a five-race span.
“We bolted on the new headers for the second round of eliminations against (DSR teammate) Matt Hagan, and we never went back to the old style.”
He also believes Bandimere will see its first 3-second Funny Car. Through 13 races this season, elapsed time records have been reset at 12 of 13 tracks including three by Beckman that gives him ownership of eight track E.T. records.
BIG INFINITE HERO WEEKEND
The Infinite Hero Foundation will host special guests during the Mile-High Nationals and peripheral events.
Jose Rene “J.R.” Martinez, a U.S. Army veteran who served in Iraq when he received severe burns over one-third of his body, was selected by Mopar to be the Grand Marshall for the Mopar Mile-High Nationals. He also was the Season 13 champion on the “Dancing with the Stars” television program.
On Sunday evening, a new event – "Tailgate for the Troops" will include Martinez along with special military guests Morgan and Marcus Luttrell. The event will feature tailgate cuisine and entertainment with local band Phat Daddy.
The Luttrells are retired U.S. Navy SEALs. Morgan is currently working on his doctorate in mental health studies, which will allow him to work with victims of traumatic brain injuries, and Marcus authored the book “Lone Survivor.”
They will provide inspirational stories and details of their involvement with helping others to heal and overcome personal circumstances.
Tickets are available at the door for a minimum donation to Infinite Hero of $150.
On Monday, The Club at Ravenna will host the 3rd Annual Ravenna Invitational to benefit Infinite Hero with 18 holes of golf, a cocktail hour and dinner reception.
FULL ARTICLE
