Beckman with Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T Powered by Pennzoil Funny Car won an all-star title for the fourth time including three in the Traxxas Shootout Funny Car event, on Sunday when he defeated Robert Hight of John Force Racing in the final round to gain momentum heading to Monday's championship eliminations in the 63rd annual U.S. Nationals near Indianapolis.
Beckman defeated teammate Tommy Johnson Jr., who drives Chandler's Make-A-Wish Dodge, in the first round then won a tire-smoking race against teammate Ron Capps before eliminating Hight.
And the victory led by crew chiefs Dean Antonelli, John Medlen and Neal Strausbaugh had added meaning for DSR as it marked the first time one of Terry's Funny Cars, which now are funded by her husband Doug Chandler, left a race with a trophy since she passed away on July 4.
"This one was for Terry," said Antonelli, who joined with hundreds of friends for a "celebration of life" service for Terry late Friday afternoon at the track.
Beckman noted the last time the Infinite Hero team won was at Norwalk, Ohio, about 10 days before she lost her short but valiant battle with cancer.
"Norwalk was the last race one of her two cars won a trophy and she was still alive," he said. "This is a good way to bookend her physical time with us. I'm still having trouble accepting we won't see her at the track, but she will always be with us."
DSR has won four of six Shootouts in Top Fuel, although Steve Torrence took the title Saturday, and three of six in Funny Car with Beckman claiming the honor each time in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series specialty event.
Although Capps, the reigning Funny Car world champion, and the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge lost to Beckman in a wild semifinals race in the Shootout, along with crew chief Rahn Tobler and assistant Eric Lane they were able to clinch the regular season title heading to the six-race Countdown to the Championship playoff that begins in two weeks near Charlotte. That will give Capps a 20-point lead over the field of 10 drivers who will contend for the world title.
Heading into Monday's eliminations scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. (EDT), DSR seems to be regaining some Funny Car momentum. Matt Hagan and the 80th Anniversary Mopar/Express Lane Dodge Charger R/T Powered by Pennzoil and led by crew chief Dickie Venables with assistant Michael Knudsen earned their fourth top qualifying spot in the U.S. Nationals and fourth of the year after they reset the Lucas Oil Raceway records Friday night with a run in 3.799 seconds at 338.77 mph.
He won the pole and event title a year ago and can become the first to ever accomplish that back-to-back feat in the 63-year history of NHRA's oldest event.
"No one has ever doubled up like that," said the two-time world champion. "It's a pretty tough stat to hear, but maybe we can make some history tomorrow and do that.
"Obviously it was a pretty warm day for both sessions, and the car's going down the racetrack. We've had real success when it's cool and also in the heat with this new car so I'm pretty excited about it. I feel pretty good about the car and about the racetrack from what we're doing."
Hagan outran John Force in the opening round of the Shootout with a time of 3.918 (331.45), but Force's staged his car extremely deep at the starting line that created a starting line edge that enabled his slower 3.949 (309.98) to get past Hagan.
In Top Fuel, Leah Pritchett and the Papa John's Pizza dragster with crew chief Todd Okuhara and assistant Joe Barlam held the No. 2 spot and reigning and three-time world champion Antron Brown with the Matco Tools/Mello Yello/U.S. Army team qualified sixth.
Tony Schumacher's U.S. Army team will have a long Sunday night to get ready to defend their U.S. Nationals title and extend their event record of 10 titles.
On the fifth and last qualifying run for Schumacher, an apparent parts failure led to a highlight reel engine explosion and resulting fireball that caused considerable damage to his dragster.
"It just broke something and then it all let go," Schumacher said. "If you want to be a racecar driver you have to expect that. There weren't any signals that we had a problem. The car was on a good run, maybe low 3.70s, and something broke. And when it breaks with that much fuel volume and that much horsepower, it's catastrophic.
"My dad (team owner Don Schumacher) put so much effort into developing that (cockpit) canopy because without it there would have been parts in the cockpit with me. It's just another example of innovatio
ns making things safer out here.
"We can fix the car. The U.S. Army guys are phenomenal. They will change every part on that car and we'll go right down the track tomorrow morning. I was on a really good run there and we made a lot of progress this weekend.
"It's Indy baby. The carnage is big, because it's worth it."
PAPA JOHN'S, SCHUMACHER PRESENT $40,000 TO CHARITIES
"Papa John" Schnatter, founder and chairman of Papa John's Pizza, and DSR owner Don Schumacher presented donations of $20,000 to both Riley Hospital for Children and the Infinite Hero Foundation program as part of this year's Charity Challenge series that pits Schnatter and his cherished 1971 Camaro Z28 against Leah Pritchett in DSR's 2017 Dodge Challenger Drag Pak.
Unfortunately, Schnatter was under the weather and unable to race Pritchett during the U.S. Nationals but that didn't stop Schumacher and him from fulfilling their season-long commitment.
This year, the Charity Challenge has raised $80,000 for Infinite Hero and $20,000 for Riley Kids.
SUNDAY'S TRAXXAS FUNNY CAR NITRO SHOOTOUT
Sunday's Results
(NOTE: First and final rounds of Traxxas Shootout count toward second and third round qualifying session.)
FIRST ROUND
JACK BECKMAN (Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Dodge), 3.872 sec., 331.77 mph def. TOMMY JOHNSON JR. (Chandlers' Riley Kids Dodge), 4.000, 324.98;
John Force, 3.949, 309.98 def. MATT HAGAN (80th Anniversary Mopar/Express Lane), 3.918, 331.45;
RON CAPPS (NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge), 3.871, 330.55 def. Courtney Force, 3.911, 329.91;
Robert Hight 3.889, 332.34 def. J.R. Todd 3.956, 316.60
SEMIFINALS
Hight (3.893, 332.51) def. J. Force (3.954, 314.24)
BECKMAN (4.942, 204.23) def. CAPPS (5.568, 129.33)
FINAL
BECKMAN (3.952, 324.67) def. Hight (4.360, 207.11
Traxxas Nitro Funny Car Shootout winners
2017 - JACK BECKMAN (DSR)
2016 - Courtney Force (JFR)
2015 - JACK BECKMAN (DSR)
2014 - John Force (JFR)
2013 - JACK BECKMAN (DSR)
2012 - John Force (JFR)
The following are Sunday's final qualifying results for DSR:
TOP FUEL
No. 1 qualifier: Clay Millican (Doug Stringer Racing) 3.663 sec.-track record, 329.10 mph
LEAH PRITCHETT, Papa John's Pizza
Crew chief: Todd Okuhara; assistant crew chief: Joe Barlam
MONDAY CHAMPIONSHIP ELIMINATIONS
First round: Wayne Newby
QUALIFYING
Qualified: No. 2
FRIDAY: 3.667 sec.-track record, 329.50 mph, (Session 1 of 5)
SATURDAY: 3.782, 312.13* (Session 2 of 5); 8.881, 8.087, (Session 3 of 5)
SUNDAY: 3.771, 316.45, (Session 4 of 5); 3.764, 322.11, (Session 5 of 5)
Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L
2017 3rd 17 4 2 7 3 1 6 0 39-13
CAREER 87 5 3 14 16 43 7 6 73-76
Career best time, speed: 3.640 sec.-world record (2017 Brainerd); 331.53 (2017 Brainerd)
INDY BY THE NUMBERS
A year ago at Indy: Qualified No. 10, lost in first round to Shawn Langdon
Career at Indy: Wins 0, Runner-ups 0, Poles 0
TONY SCHUMACHER, U.S. Army
Crew chief: Mike Green; assistant crew chief: Phil Shuler
MONDAY CHAMPIONSHIP ELIMINATIONS
First round: Terry McMillen
QUALIFYING
Qualified: No. 4
FRIDAY: 3.735 sec., 327.82 mph, (Session 1 of 5)
SATURDAY: 3.747, 324.51, (Session 2 of 5); 3.680, 330.31, (Session 3 of 5)
SUNDAY: 4.754, 152.74, (Session 4 of 5); (Session 5 of 5)
Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L
2017 4th 17 1 3 3 6 5 3 0 24-16
CAREER 473 83 64 74 131 114 83 8 800-382
Career best time, speed: 3.660 sec. (2017, Topeka); 332.51 mph (2016, Brainerd)
BRAINERD BY THE NUMBERS
Last event (Aug. 6), Seattle: Qualified No. 6, lost in second round to Leah Pritchett
INDY BY THE NUMBERS
A year ago at Indy: Qualified No. 4, won in championship round over Steve Torrence
Career at Indy: Wins 10-record (2000, 2002-04, 2006-09, 2012, 2016); Runner-ups 2 (2005, 1996);
Poles 4 (2005-07, 2014); All-star/Invitational event titles 1 (2005)
ANTRON BROWN, Mello Yello/Matco Tools/U.S. Army/Toyota
Crew chiefs: Brian Corradi, Mark Oswald; assistant crew chief: Brad Mason
MONDAY CHAMPIONSHIP ELIMINATIONS
First round: Scott Palmer
QUALIFYING
Qualified: No. 6
FRIDAY: 3.689 sec., 329.75 mph, (Session 1 of 5)
SATURDAY: 3.808, 312.42*, (Session 2 of 5); 3.694, 329.91, (Session 3 of 5)
SUNDAY: 4.860, 149.05, (Session 4 of 5); 3.744, 326.95, (Session 5 of 5)
Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L
2017 1st 17 4 6 2 5 0 2 0 43-13
CAREER 375 65* 53 76 98 80 49 3 666-307
* 49 TF/16 PSB
Career best time, speed: 3.667 (2017, Phoenix); 333.16 mph (2017, Topeka)
INDY BY THE NUMBERS
A year ago at Indy: Qualified No. 5, lost in second round to Tony Schumacher
Career at Indy: Wins 3 (2000, 2004-PSM; 2011-TF), Runner-ups 0, Poles 4 (2009, 2011, 2012, 2013)
FUNNY CAR
No. 1 qualifier: Matt Hagan (Don Schumacher Racing), 3.799 sec., 338.77 mph - track records
MATT HAGAN, 80th Anniversary Mopar/Express Lane Dodge Charger R/T
Crew chief: Dickie Venables; assistant crew chief: Michael Knudsen
MONDAY CHAMPIONSHIP ELIMINATIONS
First round: Jim Campbell
QUALIFYING
Qualified: No. 1
FRIDAY: 3.799 sec., 338.77 mph - track records, (Session 1 of 5)
SATURDAY: 3.848m 336.23, (Session 2 of 5); 3.821, 337.83, (Session 3 of 5)
SUNDAY: 3.918, 331.45, (Session 4 of 5); 3.905, 329.83, (Session 5 of 5)
Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L
2017 3rd 17 3 1 6 4 3 3 0 31-14
CAREER 209 25 23 34 66 59 29 4 296-180
Career best time, speed: 3.802 sec. (2017,Topeka); 338.85 mph (2017, Topeka)
INDY BY THE NUMBERS
A year ago at Indy: Qualified No. 1, won in championship round over Del Worsham
Career at Indy: Wins 1 (2016); Runner-ups 0; Poles 5 (2010, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017)
JACK BECKMAN, Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T
Crew chiefs: Dean Antonelli, John Medlen, Neal Strausbaugh
MONDAY CHAMPIONSHIP ELIMINATIONS
First round: Tommy Johnson Jr.
QUALIFYING
Qualified: No. 5
FRIDAY: 3.900 sec., 330.08 mph, (Session 1 of 5)
SATURDAY: 4.869, 157.98, (Session 2 of 5); 3.859, 333.16, (Session 3 of 5)
SUNDAY: 3.872, 331.77, (Session 4 of 5); , (Session 5 of 5)
Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L
2017 5th 17 2 2 3 8 2 0 0 27-15
CAREER 269 26 27 48 81 80 21 7 359-236
Career best time, speed: 3.825 sec., (2016 Pomona 2); 334.15 mph (Seattle 2016)
INDY BY THE NUMBERS
A year ago at Indy: Qualified No. 2, lost in first round to Dave Richards
Career at Indy: Wins 1 (2015); Runner-ups 2 (2008, 2013); Poles 1 (2015);
All-star/Invitational event titles 3 (2007, 2013, 2015)
RON CAPPS, NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T
Crew chief Rahn Tobler:; assistant crew chief: Eric Lane
MONDAY CHAMPIONSHIP ELIMINATIONS
First round: Alexis DeJoria
QUALIFYING
Qualified: No. 8
FRIDAY: 10.938 sec., 71.07 mph, (Session 1 of 5)
SATURDAY: 3.883, 329.67, (Session 2 of 5); 3.906, 308.57, (Session 3 of 5)
SUNDAY: 3.871, 330.55, (Session 4 of 5); 4.053, 262.13, (Session 5 of 5)
Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L
2017 1st 17 6 2 2 4 3 0 0 36-11
CAREER 500 56* 52 91 102 181 21 19 663-425
* 55 FC/1 TF
Career best time, speed: 3.839 sec. (2017, Phoenix); 333.58 mph (2017, Phoenix)
INDY BY THE NUMBERS
A year ago at Indy: Qualified No. 3, lost in semifinals to Del Worsham
Career at Indy: Wins 0; Runner-ups 0; Poles 0; All-star/Invitational event titles 3 (1998-99, 2002)
TOMMY JOHNSON JR., Terry and Doug Chandler's Riley Kids Dodge Charger R/T
Crew chief: John Collins; assistant crew chief: Rip Reynolds
MONDAY CHAMPIONSHIP ELIMINATIONS
First round: Jack Beckman
QUALIFYING
Qualified: No. 12
FRIDAY: 9.922 sec., 76.00 mph, (Session 1 of 5)
SATURDAY: 10.777, 79.36, (Session 2 of 5);11.027, 84.08, (Session 3 of 5)
SUNDAY: 4.000, 324.98, (Session 4 of 5); 3.988, 324.20, (Session 5 of 5)
Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L
2017 4th 17 1 4 5 3 4 1 0 29-16
CAREER 415 16* 28 58 101 168 15 44 365-355
* 14 FC/2 TF
Career best time, speed: 3.837 sec. (Phoenix 2017); 332.02 mph (Sonoma 2017)
INDY BY THE NUMBERS
A year ago at Indy: Qualified No. 5, lost in semifinals to Matt Hagan
Career at Indy: Wins 0; Runner-ups 1 (2002); Poles 2 (2000, 1999)
About Don Schumacher Racing
Don Schumacher Racing, headquartered in Brownsburg, Ind., fields seven professional NHRA teams. In Top Fuel, the U.S. Army dragster driven by eight-time world champion Tony Schumacher, the Matco Tools dragster driven by three-time world champion Antron Brown and the Papa John's Pizza Top Fuel dragster driven by Leah Pritchett; and in Funny Car, 2016 world champion Ron Capps in the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T; 2011 and 2014 world champion Matt Hagan in the 80th anniversary Mopar/ Express Lane Dodge Charger R/T, and 2012 NHRA world champion Jack Beckman in the Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge and the Make-A-Wish Dodge driven by Tommy Johnson Jr., both of which are funded by Doug and Terry Chandler.
DSR has won 314 NHRA national event titles and 16 world championships.
Follow Don Schumacher Racing at ShoeRacing.com, on Twitter at @shoeracing and Facebook.com/shoeracing.
