tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50948093832043697442024-03-13T08:06:43.015-07:00Press ReleasesNEWS: "Fast Jack" BeckmanUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger218125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094809383204369744.post-19626191108984521872017-11-12T20:08:00.002-08:002017-11-12T20:08:13.631-08:00DSR: Beckman, Infinite Hero team finish 2017 season with semifinal finish to place them fourth in NHRA Funny Car points standings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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POMONA, Calif. (Nov. 12, 2017) - After entering race day as the No. 1 qualifier, Funny Car driver Jack Beckman wanted nothing more than to finish the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing series season than with a win in Pomona.<br />
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Unfortunately, Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Foundation team was defeated by their Don Schumacher Racing teammate Tommy Johnson Jr. and the Make-A-Wish team, also funded by the Chandlers, in the semifinal round of the season finale.<br />
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"I think the nice thing about this is we now know we have a car that can win any race," Beckman said.<br />
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"In the last few races we haven't had any of those lucky breaks in the rounds and once in a while you need those. I was so proud of the guys after the first round. We're warming up for the second round and the clutch seized up.<br />
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"So, we had to install a spare clutch cannon and they don't always respond the same. So, the fact that they were able to make the adjustments, we went out there and got the second-round win."<br />
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Beckman opened race day as the No. 1 qualifier with his 3.835-second pass at 329.10 mph from Friday. He got the round one win with his 3.837 (333.74) lap over Jeff Arend.<br />
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In the second round, he went 3.851 (332.51) to outrun John Force.<br />
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Later in the semifinals, Beckman got off the starting line first but Johnson got to the stripe first with his 3.890 (329.18) lap over Beckman's 3.914.<br />
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Johnson then went onto to win the event over Robert Hight.<br />
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"In the semis against Tommy, the car just didn't do exactly what it was supposed to do. It's a bummer because that round would've been third place in the points. But I don't think we have to change anything in the offseason. I think we get to freshen our inventory, go test and we're ready to unload at the Winternationals."<br />
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Beckman will finish the 2017 NHRA season fourth in Funny Car championship standings.<br />
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<b>FUNNY CAR </b> <br />
2017 NHRA world champion: Robert Hight (John Force Racing)<br />
Event winner: Tommy Johnson Jr. (Don Schumacher Racing)<br />
No. 1 qualifier: Jack Beckman (Don Schumacher Racing) 3.835 sec., 334.98 mph<br />
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<b>JACK BECKMAN, Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T</b><br />
<b>Crew chiefs: Dean Antonelli, John Medlen, Neal Strausbaugh</b><br />
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS<br />
First round: BECKMAN (3.837 sec., 333.74 mph) def. Jeff Arend (10.678, 85.73)<br />
Second round: BECKMAN (3.851, 332.51) def. John Force (3.932, 310.98)<br />
Semifinals: Tommy Johnson Jr. (3.890, 329.10) def. BECKMAN (3.914, 327.74)<br />
QUALIFYING<br />
Qualified: No. 1<br />
FRIDAY: 6.825 sec., 95.35 mph, (Session 1); 3.835, 334.98, (Session 2)<br />
SATURDAY: 4.249, 320.40, (Session 3); 3.859, 332.34, (Session 4)<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS - FINAL</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Official standings after 24th of 24 events; DSR drivers in CAPS)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">FUNNY CAR </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 1. Robert Hight-CHAMPION (4) 2686 -----</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 2. RON CAPPS (8) 2588 -98</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 3. Courtney Force 2543 -143</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 4. JACK BECKMAN (2) 2519 -167</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 5. MATT HAGAN (4) 2470 -216</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 6. TOMMY JOHNSON JR. (2) 2452 -234</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 7. John Force (1) 2388 -298</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 8. Tim Wilkerson 2296 -390</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 9. J.R. Todd (2) 2282 -404</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">10. Cruz Pedregon 2178 -508</span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094809383204369744.post-27045556984434951802017-11-11T21:44:00.000-08:002017-11-11T23:44:53.819-08:00DSR: Beckman earns second straight pole to lead strong DSR qualifying<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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NAPA's Capps cuts gap to 8 points heading to last day of season; Beckman earns second straight pole to lead strong DSR qualifying<br />
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POMONA, Calif. (Nov. 11, 2017) - Ron Capps can take the lead Sunday from points leader Robert Hight in the NHRA Finals and become the first NHRA Funny Car driver since 2001 to win back-to-back world championships to close the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season at Pomona, Calif.<br />
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Capps trails Hight by eight points and must win one more round in eliminations.<br />
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But he also has to make sure that Hight's John Force Racing teammate Courtney Force doesn't make an astounding jump from third place where she is 113 points behind Hight. For her to win the championship, Capps and Hight would need to lose in the first round and she would have to win four rounds to get her first title of the season.<br />
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"We couldn't have asked for a crazier day in the overall picture," said Capps, whose best run of the day was early in the afternoon at 3.897 seconds and 328.22 mph.<br />
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"We felt comfortable running that qualifier in the heat. (Crew chief Rahn) Tobler actually wanted to try something that last session. It was sort of a blessing that we didn't move up as high as we could have in qualifying but Tobler did learn a lot.<br />
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"At the Mopar autograph session this morning it was interesting how my teammates were saying how much they wanted to help by taking out Robert and Courtney. That's a great feeling.<br />
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"We know we are the hunters now and not the hunted. That's a great team over there, and we expect them to have a great day tomorrow so we know we have to have a better day.<br />
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"I've been saying it all year long, our NAPA AutoCare guys are the absolute best and they make me feel so confident in the car. It's going to be the most pressure we've seen all season. It's going to be fun to be able to strap into the car, look out at my guys, roll to the starting line and see what happens."<br />
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Capps and the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T Powered by Pennzoil team led by Tobler and assistant Eric Lane are aiming to extend the dominance by Don Schumacher Racing that has won four of the last six Funny Car championships.<br />
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A season's worth of drama will be funneled into one Sunday afternoon during championship eliminations scheduled to start at 11 a.m. (PST).<br />
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Capps, who qualified sixth, is trying to give DSR its fifth Funny Car world championship in the past seven years.<br />
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Hight, who struggled to qualify 15th on his last of four qualifying runs, starts Sunday racing No. 2 qualified Tim Wilkerson. Capps' first-round opponent is Del Worsham, who qualified 11th.<br />
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Capps, who has won eight Mello Yello titles this year, is 105 ahead of Courtney Force, who qualified third and will face Capps if both win their opening round races. Hight is in the same eight-car bracket setting up a possible meeting with Capps in the semifinals if they advance that far.<br />
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But Capps could get help from teammate Matt Hagan in the Mopar Express Lane Dodge. If Hagan and Hight win in the first round the former world champions would meet in the second round.<br />
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"I'd like to see if we can get out there and help (Ron) Capps out a little bit and maybe try to take out Robert," said Hagan, who won the last Mello Yello event at Las Vegas two weeks ago.<br />
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"But we've got to get there. We've got to get through first round (against Gary Densham) to be able to help anybody. So, the thing about it is our car's running good and we always have a lot of luck here at Pomona. So hopefully we can carry some of that into tomorrow."<br />
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Capps earned three bonus points in the third session with a time of 3.897 seconds, which was second best to start Saturday. That cut Hight's lead to 11.<br />
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While the other six DSR nitro teams have been eliminated from championship contention, it didn't stop them from producing one of their strongest overall qualifying efforts over the past several races. All teams qualified in the top half of their categories to earn lane choice in the first round.<br />
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<b>Jack Beckman </b>in Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T was able to hold on to the No. 1 qualifying spot with his run of 3.835 (334.98) on Friday. That gave the team its second consecutive pole and second of the year with crew chiefs Dean Antonelli, John Medlen and Neal Strausbaugh.<br />
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The Infinite Hero team also posted the quickest run of the last session with a time of 3.859 (332.34) in the last event of the 24-race NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event.<br />
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"We were low of both of the good (night) sessions, but we won't see that until the final round tomorrow," said Beckman, who is looking for his first title at Pomona. "I like our chances but it's not like it's going to be smooth sailing. We have to make educated, great decisions tomorrow."<br />
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In Top Fuel, Leah Pritchett and the Papa John's Pizza team led DSR's dragsters by being the quickest in Saturday's first session and are seeded third for Sunday. Right behind is teammate Antron Brown, the three-time and twice reigning Top Fuel world champion. Eight-time world champ Tony Schumacher and the U.S. Army team qualified sixth after winning the pole two weeks ago at Las Vegas.<br />
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<a href="http://www.shoeracing.com/news/napas-capps-cuts-gap-to-8-points-heading-to-last-day-of-season-beckman-earns-second-straight-pole-to-lead-strong-dsr-qualifying" target="_blank">ORIGINAL ARTICLE</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094809383204369744.post-67489764236482427302017-11-10T18:23:00.005-08:002017-11-10T18:23:51.074-08:00DSR: BECKMAN LEADS DAY ONE AT NHRA FINALS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Beckman, Infinite Hero Dodge hold top spot, Capps narrows gap; teammate Brown leads DSR Top Fuel dragsters with No. 3 position<br />
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POMONA, Calif. (Nov. 10, 2017) - Jack Beckman ended the opening day of the NHRA Finals Friday holding the provisional pole with Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car.<br />
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If his time of 3.835 seconds at 334.98 mph holds up after Saturday's last two qualifying sessions, it would be the second straight pole for the Don Schumacher Racing's Powered by Pennzoil Dodge with crew chiefs Dean Antonelli, John Medlen and Neal Strausbaugh.<br />
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Beckman, the 2012 Funny Car world champion, was delighted about his quick run and is looking for his first professional win at the historic track in Pomona, Calif., which is about an hour from his home in Norco.<br />
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But the pole and possible event win in the last NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event of the year is not how every driver wants to cap off the 24-race season.<br />
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"It's not any fun coming here and not being in the championship hunt," said Beckman, who ranks fourth in championship points and is 148 behind leader Robert Hight of John Force Racing and DSR teammate Ron Capps in the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge that is 14 behind Hight.<br />
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Beckman is not mathematically eliminated from contention as 183 points remain available in the 53rd annual NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway. But it would take a miracle to achieve that total.<br />
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"Our only real chance is if Ron and Robert get into a bar fight tonight and NHRA fines them 100 points," he joked. "We're not in the championship hunt; it's Capps or Hight. But that doesn't mean we won't do everything we can to end the season with our third Wally (trophy) of the year."<br />
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Capps with crew chief Rahn Tobler is qualified fourth and earned one qualifying bonus point to chip into the lead held by Hight, who was unable to get down the track on either of his two runs and is ranked 17th and currently not qualified.<br />
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DSR's Tommy Johnson Jr., driving the Chandlers' Make-A-Wish Dodge with crew chief John Collins was quickest in the opening session with a 3.887 (314.31) and is ranked third. Although he has been eliminated from contention he is intent on defending the Finals title he won a year ago.<br />
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Three-time and twice reigning Top Fuel world champion Antron Brown and DSR's Matco Tools team with crew chiefs Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald were the third quickest dragster of the day but trails points leader Steve Torrence by 133. Brown's best time was 3.696 (326.00).<br />
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"That was an excellent run for the Matco Tools/U.S. Army car," said Brown, who arrived at Pomona each of the last two years having already clinched the Top Fuel world title, the second and third of his career. "Tomorrow, we'll get two more good runs, so we've just got to keep pressing. Hoping that .69 will stay up there in the top-five and we'll dig tomorrow. This is the final race and we want to go out doing something special."<br />
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Leah Pritchett in the Papa John's Pizza dragster with crew chief Todd Okuhara was quickest in the first session with a 3.712 (326.32) and looks to defend the Winternationals title and pole she won at the track in February.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>TOP FUEL </b> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Provisional No. 1 qualifier: Brittany Force (John Force Racing) 3.667 sec.-track record, 330.31 mph</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">ANTRON BROWN, Matco Tools</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Crew chiefs: Brian Corradi, Mark Oswald; Assistant: Brad Mason</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">QUALIFYING</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Provisional qualifying position: No. 3</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">FRIDAY:6.302 sec., 105.999 mph (Session 1); 3.696, 326.00 (Session 2)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">LEAH PRITCHETT, Papa John's Pizza</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Crew chief: Todd Okuhara; Assistant: Joe Barlam</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">QUALIFYING</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Provisional qualifying position: No. 4</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">FRIDAY: 3.712 sec., 326.32 mph (Session 1); 7.775, 85.31, (Session 2)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">TONY SCHUMACHER, U.S. Army</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Crew chief: Mike Green; Assistant: Phil Shuler</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">QUALIFYING</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Provisional qualifying position: No. 16</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">FRIDAY: 5.987 sec.,111.74 mph, (Session 1); 6.119, 117.35, (Session 2)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>FUNNY CAR </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Provisional No. 1 qualifier: Jack Beckman (Don Schumacher Racing) 3.835 sec., 334.98 mph</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>JACK BECKMAN, Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Crew chiefs: Dean Antonelli, John Medlen, Neal Strausbaugh</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>QUALIFYING</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Provisional qualifying position: No. 1</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>FRIDAY: 6.825 sec., 95.35 mph, (Session 1); 3.835, 334.98, (Session 2)</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">TOMMY JOHNSON JR., Terry and Doug Chandler's Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger R/T</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Crew chief: John Collins; Assistant: Rip Reynolds</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">QUALIFYING</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Provisional qualifying position: No. 3</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">FRIDAY: 3.887 sec., 314.31 mph, (Session 1); 8.146, 86.30, (Session 2)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">RON CAPPS, NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Crew chief: Rahn Tobler; Assistant: Eric Lane</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">QUALIFYING</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Provisional qualifying position: No. 7</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">FRIDAY: 6.107 sec., 113.64 mph, (Session 1); 3.956, 322.19, (Session 2)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">MATT HAGAN, Mopar Express Lane Dodge Charger R/T</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Crew chief: Dickie Venables; Assistant: Michael Knudsen</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">QUALIFYING</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Provisional qualifying position: No. 14</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">FRIDAY: 7.606 sec., 91.30 mph, (Session 1); 7.947, 79.68, (Session 2)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS </b> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Official standings through Las Vegas 2; 23 of 24 events; DSR drivers in CAPS)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>TOP FUEL </b> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 1. Steve Torrence (8) 2527 -----</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 2. Brittany Force (4) 2507 -20</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 3. Doug Kalitta (1) 2443 -84</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 4. ANTRON BROWN (4) 2392 -135</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 5. LEAH PRITCHETT (4) 2361 -166</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 6. TONY SCHUMACHER (1) 2340 -187</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> x-7. Clay Millican (1) 2326 -201</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> x-8. Shawn Langdon 2267 -260</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> x-9. Terry McMillen (1) 2261 -266</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">x-10. Scott Palmer 2169 -358</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">x=eliminated from championship contention</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>FUNNY CAR </b> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 1. Robert Hight (4) 2548 ----</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 2. RON CAPPS (8) 2533 -15</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 3. Courtney Force 2423 -125</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b> 4. JACK BECKMAN (2) 2396 -152</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 5. MATT HAGAN (4) 2387 -161</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> x-6. John Force (1) 2306 -242</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> x-7. TOMMY JOHNSON JR. (1) 2276 -272</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> x-8. Tim Wilkerson 2237 -311</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> x-9. J.R. Todd (2) 2233 -315</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">x-10. Cruz Pedregon 2163 -345 </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">x=eliminated from championship contention</span><br />
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<br />
<b>About Don Schumacher Racing</b><br />
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 80th Anniversary Mopar/Pennzoil 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 Pennzoil Dodge Charger R/T, and 2012 NHRA world champion Jack Beckman in Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge and the Chandlers' Make-A-Wish Dodge driven by Tommy Johnson Jr.<br />
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DSR has won 317 NHRA national event titles and 16 world championships.<br />
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Follow Don Schumacher Racing at ShoeRacing.com, on Twitter at @shoeracing and Facebook.com/shoeracing.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094809383204369744.post-89595089502789518132017-11-10T18:15:00.001-08:002017-11-10T18:15:39.284-08:00NHRA: B. FORCE, BECKMAN, ANDERSON AND ELLIS CURRENT NO. 1 QUALIFIERS AT SEASON ENDING AUTO CLUB NHRA FINALS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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GLENDORA, Calif. -- Top Fuel title contender Brittany Force piloted her Monster Energy dragster to the quickest pass in Auto Club Raceway at Pomona history during qualifying at the 53rd annual Auto Club NHRA Finals.<br />
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<b>Jack Beckman (Funny Car),</b> Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Chip Ellis (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were also preliminary qualifiers in their respective categories at the final event of the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.<br />
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Force, who entered the race only 20 points behind first, put down a 3.667-second pass at 330.31 mph in the second qualifying session to take over the Top Fuel lead.<br />
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“Obviously we’re trying to push the car,” Force said. “To jump up to the No. 1 spot was huge for us but that’s where we need to be. We’re chasing down that No. 1 spot and to have a killer run like that sets us up good for tomorrow and gets us ready for race day. It’s not just a confidence builder for me but for my entire team. It pushes us forward and gives us that momentum.”<br />
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Clay Millican is in the second spot with is 3.671 pass at 328.22 while reigning Top Fuel world champion Antron Brown sits in the third position. Current points leader Steve Torrence is in the fifth position.<br />
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<b>Southern California native Beckman raced to the top of the Funny Car field with his 3.835 pass at 334.98 in his Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger R/T during the second session.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>“In the summer we found a groove on hot race tracks and then we decided to park that car and unload a new one, which took us a little while to get a handle on,” Beckman said. “A few months ago, in good conditions we were not a top three car, but I think we are now a top three car no matter what the conditions are so we are very satisfied.”</b><br />
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Courtney Force debuted her Advance Auto Parts/Big Machine Records Chevrolet Camaro SS with a 3.871 pass at 334.57 to put her in the second qualifying spot. Tommy Johnson Jr. sits in third. Championship front runner and Force’s teammate, Robert Hight is currently unqualified while reigning world champion and second in points Ron Capps is seventh.<br />
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Anderson, who is leading the championship chase in Pro Stock, raced his Chevrolet Camaro to a 6.561 pass at 210.67 in the first qualifying session.<br />
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“It was big showing the world we have a great car this weekend. It builds confidence in me,” Anderson said, “It was a great, great day. We got all the points you could possibly get. We’re on top of the pack, on top of the heap. We’ve got a great car and, I’ve been saying all year, you have to peak at the right time. We’ve had a great playoff run. If this could be the best race of the six-race Countdown for me that would be a dream come true, without a doubt. We’re off to a great start.”<br />
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Drew Skillman is currently in the second spot after racing a 6.555 at 211.69 and veteran Jeg Coughlin Jr. is in third. Championship contenders Jason Line and Bo Butner are currently qualified sixth and seventh, respectively.<br />
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In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Chip Ellis rode to a 6.805 pass at 196.53 to lead the field. Ellis was quickest in both of the qualifying sessions. Ellis is racing to secure his first No. 1 of the season and first since 2015.<br />
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“It’s a great bike with a great tune up and I was just able to ride it well,” Ellis said. “That was only my second lap ever on that motorcycle. It’s brand new. The bike is working good. I’m glad I’m able to do this. I’m just privileged to be able to ride and fortunately, so far, we’ve done pretty good so far.”<br />
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Ellis’s Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson teammates Andrew Hines and Eddie Krawiec are qualified second and third, subsequently. Krawiec needs only to qualify for the event to clinch his fourth NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro Stock Motorcycle world championship.<br />
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Qualifying at the 53rd annual Auto Club NHRA Finals continues Saturday at 11:50 a.m. Catch the action live on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) at 6 p.m.<br />
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***<br />
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POMONA, Calif. -- Friday's results after the first two of four rounds of qualifying for the 53rd annual Auto Club NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, final of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.<br />
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Top Fuel -- 1. Brittany Force, 3.667 seconds, 330.31 mph; 2. Clay Millican, 3.671, 328.22; 3. Antron Brown, 3.696, 326.00; 4. Leah Pritchett, 3.712, 326.32; 5. Steve Torrence, 3.719, 289.26; 6. Richie Crampton, 3.748, 316.23; 7. Doug Kalitta, 3.755, 326.71; 8. Wayne Newby, 3.785, 324.59; 9. Troy Buff, 3.785, 320.43; 10. Terry Haddock, 3.874, 307.51; 11. Blake Alexander, 3.941, 297.61; 12. Steve Faria, 4.096, 232.71; 13. Shawn Reed, 4.337, 193.38; 14. Scott Palmer, 4.357, 183.00; 15. Mike Salinas, 4.508, 260.91; 16. Tony Schumacher, 5.987, 117.35. Not Qualified: 17. Terry McMillen, 6.862, 100.55; 18. Shawn Langdon, 7.333, 89.35.<br />
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Funny Car -- 1. Jack Beckman, Dodge Charger, 3.835, 334.98; 2. Courtney Force, Chevy Camaro, 3.871, 334.57; 3. Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 3.887, 314.31; 4. Alexis DeJoria, Toyota Camry, 3.894, 331.94; 5. Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 3.913, 327.74; 6. John Force, Camaro, 3.955, 316.60; 7. Ron Capps, Charger, 3.956, 322.19; 8. Gary Densham, Mustang, 3.968, 319.07; 9. Jeff Diehl, Toyota Solara, 4.107, 296.31; 10. Jeff Arend, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.140, 252.90; 11. Del Worsham, Camry, 4.358, 204.17; 12. Bob Bode, Charger, 5.692, 125.80; 13. Jonnie Lindberg, Camry, 7.119, 87.17; 14. Matt Hagan, Charger, 7.606, 91.30; 15. Cruz Pedregon, Camry, 7.748, 87.01; 16. Jim Campbell, Charger, 7.779, 84.77. Not Qualified: 17. Robert Hight, 7.801, 85.35; 18. J.R. Todd, 8.319, 82.60.<br />
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Pro Stock -- 1. Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.541, 210.67; 2. Drew Skillman, Camaro, 6.555, 211.69; 3. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.558, 210.47; 4. Tanner Gray, Camaro, 6.564, 210.64; 5. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.565, 209.85; 6. Jason Line, Camaro, 6.565, 209.65; 7. Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.566, 210.28; 8. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.571, 211.36; 9. Brian Self, Camaro, 6.574, 210.57; 10. Alex Laughlin, Camaro, 6.586, 210.24; 11. Shane Gray, Camaro, 6.595, 210.64; 12. Allen Johnson, Dodge Dart, 6.595, 209.95; 13. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.599, 210.67; 14. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.615, 209.88; 15. Deric Kramer, Dart, 6.642, 208.26; 16. Alan Prusiensky, Dart, 6.665, 207.34. Not Qualified: 17. Shane Tucker, 6.714, 205.91; 18. Val Smeland, 6.766, 202.94; 19. Joey Grose, 6.944, 195.53; 20. Steve Graham, 19.954, 42.94.<br />
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Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Chip Ellis, Harley-Davidson, 6.805, 196.53; 2. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.817, 197.45; 3. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.836, 197.77; 4. LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 6.861, 195.96; 5. Scotty Pollacheck, Suzuki, 6.862, 193.38; 6. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.878, 193.96; 7. Joey Gladstone, Suzuki, 6.905, 193.68; 8. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.925, 192.63; 9. Angie Smith, Buell, 6.927, 193.60; 10. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.932, 191.89; 11. Hector Arana Jr, Buell, 6.953, 194.94; 12. Katie Sullivan, Suzuki, 6.967, 191.02; 13. Matt Smith, Victory, 6.970, 195.73; 14. Freddie Camarena, Suzuki, 6.985, 194.30; 15. Lance Bonham, Buell, 7.152, 187.94; 16. Luke Crowley, Suzuki, 7.294, 188.94. Not Qualified: 17. Ryan Oehler, 8.168, 113.09.<br />
<br /><a href="https://www.nhra.com/news/2017/b-force-sets-pomona-track-record-ellis-beckman-anderson-grab-friday-no-1s" target="_blank">ARTICLE LINK</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094809383204369744.post-25969205992786327732017-11-07T15:25:00.000-08:002017-11-07T15:25:03.663-08:00DSR: Beckman looks for first Funny Car career win at Pomona as Infinite Hero Dodge looks for strong finish in NHRA Mello Yello finale to finish season third in points<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Nov. 7, 2017) - This weekend, Funny Car driver Jack Beckman will make the short trip from his home in Norco, Calif. to Pomona for the NHRA season-finale.<br />
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Although Beckman lives within an hour of Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, he has yet to claim a victory from the famous racetrack.<br />
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"I've won Pomona twice, both times in Super Comp and both times it was the Winternationals," said Beckman, the 2003 NHRA Super Comp world champion.<br />
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"The NHRA Finals is a completely different race from the Winternationals in February to start the season. I understand it's the same racetrack, but both races are equally awesome for completely different reasons.<br />
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"The Finals is great because when you win it, you have two months that you and your team know that you ended the season on a perfect note," said the 2012 NHRA Funny Car world champ. "If we win the race, we can finish third in points. I think that would be phenomenal for a first-year team."<br />
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When Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car team entered the NHRA Finals last season, the team roster was made up of a vastly different crew.<br />
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"If you look at the car coming into the Finals last year, John Medlen and Jack Beckman are the only two people that are on the roster this year so to integrate nine other people - and we've had two crew member changes in midseason - and to do it as well as we have makes me incredibly proud."<br />
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Medlen and fellow crew chiefs Dean Antonelli and Neal Strausbaugh have tuned the Infinite Hero Dodge to two wins this season. They are currently fourth in the NHRA points standings and in a tight battle for third among Don Schumacher Racing teammate Matt Hagan and Courtney Force of John Force Racing.<br />
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Beckman is 152 points behind the point leader Robert Hight of JFR and 167 behind Ron Capps, another DSR teammate.<br />
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The NHRA points system has been adjusted for the final event of the season as the point value has increased by 150 percent. A team can earn a grand total of 191 points rather than 130 as is the case for the other 23 events during the NHRA season.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>JACK BECKMAN, Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Crew chiefs: Dean Antonelli, John Medlen, Neal Strausbaugh</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2017 4th 23 2 2 7 9 3 1 0 36-21</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">CAREER 275 26 27 52 82 81 22 7 368-242 </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Career best time, speed: 3.825 sec., (2016 Pomona 2); 335.57 mph (Las Vegas 2 2017)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">BY THE NUMBERS</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Last event, Oct. 29, Las Vegas: Qualified No. 1, lost in semifinals to Matt Hagan</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">A year ago at Pomona 2: Qualified No. 1, lost in semifinals to John Force</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">In February at Pomona 1: Qualified No. 8, lost in second round to Matt Hagan</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Career at Pomona 2: Wins 0, Runner-ups 2 (2008, 2010), Poles 2 (2012, 2015)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Career at Pomona: Wins 0, Runner-ups 2 (2008, 2010), Poles 3 (2012, 2015, 2016)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>FUNNY CAR </b> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 1. Robert Hight (4) 2548 ----</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 2. RON CAPPS (8) 2533 -15</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 3. Courtney Force 2423 -125</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b> 4. JACK BECKMAN (2) 2396 -152</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 5. MATT HAGAN (4) 2387 -161</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> x-6. John Force (1) 2306 -242</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> x-7. TOMMY JOHNSON JR. (1) 2276 -272</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> x-8. Tim Wilkerson 2237 -311</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> x-9. J.R. Todd (2) 2233 -315</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">x-10. Cruz Pedregon 2163 -345 </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">x=eliminated from championship contention</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>About Don Schumacher Racing</b><br />
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/Mopar 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 the late Terry Chandler.<br /><br />
DSR has won 317 NHRA national event titles and 16 world championships.<br /><br />
Follow Don Schumacher Racing at ShoeRacing.com, on Twitter at @shoeracing and Facebook.com/shoeracing.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094809383204369744.post-36576344581640067822017-10-29T18:44:00.001-07:002017-10-29T18:44:28.022-07:00DSR: Beckman drops semifinals round to DSR teammate Hagan at Las Vegas after Chandlers' Infinite Hero Dodge dominates Mello Yello qualifying <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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LAS VEGAS (Oct. 29, 2017) - After a stellar qualifying effort, Funny Car driver Jack Beckman leaves The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway frustrated after he smoked the tires Sunday in the semifinals of the NHRA Nationals.<br />
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"The frustrating thing is you really have to strike when the iron's hot," Beckman said. "We had a phenomenal car. Except for the first qualifying run (Friday), we were near the quickest every time down the racetrack after that, and not even close to being in trouble."<br />
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Beckman and Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car team entered the event with not only the No. 1 qualifying position but they earned a total of nine out of 12 qualifying bonus by being the quickest in three of the four qualifying sessions.<br />
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But their day ended early on Sunday and likely ended hopes for a series championship when racing resumes in two weeks with the season-finale at Pomona, Calif.<br />
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"When you go out there and the car smokes the tires two feet into the run we're scratching our heads. We don't know why it even would've thought about doing that. But boy that's why in drag racing you don't count your chickens before they hatch."<br />
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Beckman will start fourth and only seven points out of third but a gargantuan 177 out of first. At 22 of the first 23 Mello Yello events including Las Vegas, the most a driver can earn is 130 points but points will be enhanced by 150 percent for Pomona with it possible for a driver to earn 191.<br />
<br />
Beckman defeated Jim Campbell in round one with a 3.918-second pass at 330.15 mph. He then defeated his Don Schumacher Racing teammate Tommy Johnson Jr., also funded by the Chandlers, with a 3.947 (328.54).<br />
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In the semifinals, he met up with DSR teammate Matt Hagan. After the step of the throttle, Beckman went up in tire smoke and Hagan got the round win with his 3.967 and went on to win the event title.<br />
<br />
"I really thought we had a final-round car and the best overall Funny Car here this weekend," Beckman said. "So, we're scratching our heads. We will stay and test tomorrow to get some more data. We will go to Pomona with our heads up ready to win that race."<br />
<br />
<b>JACK BECKMAN, Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T</b><br />
<b>Crew chiefs: Dean Antonelli, John Medlen, Neal Strausbaugh</b><br />
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">First round: BECKMAN (3.918 sec., 330.15 mph) def. Jim Campbell (6.399, 104.15)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Second round: BECKMAN (3.947, 328.54) def. Tommy Johnson Jr. (8.344, 93.10)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Semifinals: Matt Hagan (3.967, 329.42) def. BECKMAN (7.223, 103.32)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">QUALIFYING</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Qualifying position: No. 1</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">FRIDAY: 8.006 sec., 77.86 mph, (Session 1); 3.867-ties track record, 329.50, (Session 2)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">SATURDAY: 3.930, 330.31, (Session 3); 3.854, 335.57-track records, (Session 4)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2017 4th 23 2 2 6 9 3 1 0 34-20</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">CAREER 275 26 27 51 82 81 22 7 366-241</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Career best time, speed: 3.825 sec., (2016 Pomona 2); 334.15 mph (Seattle 2016)</span><br />
<br />
BY THE NUMBERS<br />
Last event, Oct. 15, Dallas: Qualified No. 3, lost in semifinals to Ron Capps<br />
A year ago at Las Vegas 2: Qualified No. 1, lost in semifinals to John Force<br />
This spring at Las Vegas 1: Qualified No.5, lost in second round to Jonnie Lindberg<br />
Career at Las Vegas 2: Wins 1 (2006), Runner-ups 2 (2009, 2012), Poles 1 (2016)<br />
Career at Las Vegas: Wins 1 (2006), Runner-ups 2 (2009, 2012), Poles 2 (2016-twice)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">FUNNY CAR </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 1. Robert Hight (4) 2548 ----</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 2. RON CAPPS (8) 2533 -15</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 3. Courtney Force 2423 -125</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 4. JACK BECKMAN (2) 2396 -152</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 5. MATT HAGAN (4) 2387 -161</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> x-6. John Force (1) 2306 -242</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> x-7. TOMMY JOHNSON JR. (1) 2276 -272</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> x-8. Tim Wilkerson 2237 -311</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> x-9. J.R. Todd (2) 2233 -315</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">x-10. Cruz Pedregon 2163 -345 </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">x=eliminated from championship contention</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<b>About Don Schumacher Racing</b><br />
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/Mopar 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 the late Terry Chandler.<br />
DSR has won 317 NHRA national event titles and 16 world championships.<br />
Follow Don Schumacher Racing at ShoeRacing.com, on Twitter at @shoeracing and Facebook.com/shoeracing.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094809383204369744.post-5560296508095130992017-10-28T22:43:00.001-07:002017-10-28T22:43:23.605-07:00NHRA: Beckman resets both ends of Funny Car track record; Schumacher, Anderson, Krawiec hold onto No. 1 spots<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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LAS VEGAS – Jack Beckman set both ends of the track record for the Funny Car class during the final qualifying session to secure the No. 1 position at the 17th annual NHRA Toyota Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.<br />
<br />
Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also clenched No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories at the fifth of six events on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship.<br />
<br />
Beckman’s pass of 3.854-seconds at 335.57 mph in his Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger R/T clenched his first No. 1 qualifier of the season and 22nd of his career. He is seeking his third season victory and 27th of his career tomorrow.<br />
<br />
“I think we’ve got a great hot rod right now,” Beckman stated. “It’s always nice before eliminations to eat a little bit at the lead of the car ahead of you and to put a little bit of distance to the ones behind you. I told my team to go 3.85 would be fun and they were right.”<br />
<br />
Beckman will race Jim Campbell to open eliminations on Sunday. Following in the No. 2 spot is Courtney Force in her Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro with a pass of 3.878 at 331.77. She will race Jeff Arend. Category points leader Robert Hight qualified third and will face Tim Wilkerson in the opening round.<br />
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<a href="https://www.nhra.com/news/2017/beckman-resets-both-ends-funny-car-track-record-schumacher-anderson-krawiec-hold-no-1" target="_blank">FULL/ORIGINAL ARTICLE</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094809383204369744.post-78418015828112472662017-10-28T20:48:00.001-07:002017-10-28T20:48:20.531-07:00DSR: Beckman, Schumacher sweep No. 1 qualifying spots at Las Vegas; Capps has chance to control championship destiny early in eliminations <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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LAS VEGAS (Oct. 28, 2017) - Tony Schumacher with the U.S. Army Top Fuel team and Don Schumacher Racing teammate Jack Beckman and the Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T Powered by Pennzoil swept the No. 1 qualifying spots for Sunday's eliminations in the 17th annual NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.<br />
<br />
And the former world champions did it in style by resetting the four track nitro records.<br />
<br />
They moved DSR's pole-winning total through 23 events to 18 to mark the fifth time the 16-time world championship team has swept the nitro poles this season. But its first time since Matt Hagan was the No. 1 qualifier over Labor Day Weekend near Indianapolis that a DSR driver won a pole.<br />
<br />
It is Beckman's first since last year's season-finale at Pomona, Calif., and the fourth of the year for Schumacher and his first since May at Topeka, Kan., and 84th of his career including 10 at Las Vegas.<br />
<br />
Schumacher started Saturday's qualifying in the No. 1 spot and was the quickest in the last two sessions with his best on the last run with a 3.694 seconds at 326.40 mph.<br />
<br />
"What we were able to do in our first run today gives us a lot of confidence heading into Sunday, because those are the conditions that we'll be racing in. The second run shows that we are making great power which isn't easy to do here. My crew chief Mike (Green) and (assistant) Phil (Shuler) are making calls and the U.S. Army car is reacting the way it should. That's the biggest thing right now.<br />
<br />
"It's fantastic to get the points and fantastic to get the No. 1 spot. Tomorrow is really important. We have to win that trophy. We aren't here for average. None of us showed up here from the Army team to just be decent. Winning everything is the only acceptable result."<br />
<br />
Beckman also was best in the last three sessions with his best run to close Saturday at 3.854 seconds and 335.57 mph, his career fastest.<br />
<br />
Although Schumacher and Beckman dominated qualifying they face an uphill battle to head to the season-final in two weeks at Pomona with a chance to win world championships, but they are not conceding anything.<br />
<br />
Beckman, whose team funded by Terry and Doug Chandler and led by crew chiefs Dean Antonelli, John Medlen and Neal Strausbaugh, heads into Sunday 177 points behind leader and DSR teammate Ron Capps, whose NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge led by crew chief Rahn Tobler and assistant Eric Lane extended their lead by one point to 25 over Robert Hight of John Force Racing.<br />
<br />
"Guido (Antonelli) always says have fun, and I got on the radio and said a 3.85 would be fun. Turned out we were right on that one. That's right what they were shooting for. We unloaded with an 8.00 (second run in the first session) and lolled everyone into a false sense of security, and then got three points each session after that for being the quickest.<br />
<br />
"I don't know if that will decide a championship and I don't know if we can catch Hight or Capps but it sure as heck could decide third place. We're not very far behind Courtney (one point) and we don't want to look over our shoulders because there's three cars right behind us. It's always nice before eliminations to eat away at the car ahead of you and put a little distance between the ones behind you."<br />
<br />
Every driver wants to control their racing destiny and Capps, who has won a series-best eight events this year, will get his chance after qualifying sixth to set up a first-round pairing against legendary rival John Force. If Capps wins that round, he will either race No. 3 qualifier Hight or Tim Wilkerson.<br />
<br />
"These are scenarios you thrive for," said Capps, the reigning Funny Car world champion. "You never have to worry about getting up to race Force and if we can get past him the next race could be exactly what he hoped for."<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>COUNTDOWN BREAKDOWN</b><br />
Antron Brown clinched his last two world championships for Don Schumacher Racing at Las Vegas and was able to celebrate two weeks later at the Pomona finale in Southern California.<br />
<br />
That won't happen for Brown or any other driver in the nitro categories this year, largely because NHRA enhanced the points value for the season-ending NHRA Finals by about 150 percent.<br />
<br />
At Las Vegas this weekend, like 22 of the previous 23 events in the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, the most a driver can earn with a perfect weekend is 130 points; at Pomona, 191 can be earned.<br />
<br />
No Top Fuel or Funny Car driver can leave Las Vegas with a 192-point lead and clinch a championship, and any driver 192 or more points out of first after Sunday's final round at Las Vegas will be eliminated from contention.<br />
<br />
The seven DSR drivers and 19 of the 20 in the Countdown remain alive in championship contention but most are likely to be mathematically eliminated after Las Vegas.<br />
<br />
TOP FUEL <br />
No. 1 Qualifier: Tony Schumacher (Don Schumacher Racing), 3.673 sec., 332.67 mph-rack records<br />
<br />
TONY SCHUMACHER, U.S. Army<br />
Crew chief: Mike Green; Assistant: Phil Shuler<br />
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS<br />
First round: Troy Buff<br />
QUALIFYING<br />
Qualifying position: No. 1<br />
FRIDAY: 3.798 sec., 325.61 mph, (Session 1); 3.673, 332.67, (Session 2)<br />
SATURDAY: 3.743, 325.22, (Session 3); 3.694, 326.40, (Session 4)<br />
Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L<br />
2017 6th 23 1 3 4 9 6 4 0 29-21<br />
CAREER 479 83 64 75 134 115 84 8 805-387<br />
Career best time, speed: 3.660 sec. (2017, Topeka); 332.51 mph (2016, Brainerd)<br />
BY THE NUMBERS<br />
Last event, Oct. 15, Dallas: Qualified No. 2, lost in first round to Terry Haddock<br />
A year ago at Las Vegas 2: Qualified No. 5, lost in first round to Wayne Newby<br />
This spring at Las Vegas 1: Qualified No. 2, lost in championship round to Antron Brown<br />
Career at Las Vegas 2: Wins 4 (2005-06, 2008, 2010), Runner-ups 0, Poles 4<br />
Career at Las Vegas: Wins 8 (2004, 2005-06, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013-14)<br />
Runner-ups 3 (2002-03, 2012), Poles 9<br />
<br />
LEAH PRITCHETT, Pennzoil/Dodge Demon<br />
Crew chief: Todd Okuhara; Assistant: Joe Barlam<br />
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS<br />
First round: T.J. Zizzo<br />
QUALIFYING<br />
Qualifying position: No. 8<br />
FRIDAY: 3.754 sec., 324.20 mph, (Session 1); 18.929, 41.57, (Session 2)<br />
SATURDAY: 3.785, 323.04, (Session 3); 3.742, 313.95, (Session 4)<br />
Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L<br />
2017 5th 22 4 2 8 6 2 6 0 44-18<br />
CAREER 92 5 3 15 19 44 7 6 78-81<br />
Career best time, speed: 3.640 sec. (2017 Brainerd); 331.53 (2017 Brainerd)<br />
BY THE NUMBERS<br />
Last event, Oct. 15, Dallas: Qualified No. 6, lost in second round to Antron Brown<br />
A year ago at Las Vegas 2: Qualified No. 2, lost in semifinals to Steve Torrence<br />
This spring at Las Vegas 1: Qualified No. 5, lost in semifinals to Antron Brown<br />
Career at Las Vegas 2: Wins 0, Runner-ups 0, Poles 0<br />
Career at Las Vegas: Wins 0, Runner-ups 0, Poles 0<br />
<br />
ANTRON BROWN, Matco Tools 'Tools for the Cause'<br />
Crew chiefs: Brian Corradi, Mark Oswald; Assistant: Brad Mason<br />
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS<br />
First round: Shawn Langdon<br />
QUALIFYING<br />
Qualifying position: No. 10<br />
FRIDAY: 3.760 sec., 325.61 mph, (Session 1); 16.130, 34.67, (Session 2)<br />
SATURDAY: 3.810, 314.39, (Session 3); 8.729, 75.49, (Session 4)<br />
Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L<br />
2017 4th 22 4 6 5 7 0 2 0 51-18<br />
CAREER 380 65* 53 79 100 80 49 3 672-311<br />
*49 TF/16 PSB <br />
Career best time, speed: 3.667 (2017, Phoenix); 333.16 mph (2017, Topeka)<br />
BY THE NUMBERS<br />
Last event, Oct. 15, Dallas: Qualified No. 3, lost in semifinals to Shawn Langdon<br />
A year ago at Las Vegas 2: Qualified No. 4, lost in semifinals to J.R. Todd<br />
This spring at Las Vegas 1: Qualified No. 8, won in championship round over Tony Schumacher<br />
Career at Las Vegas 2: Wins 1 (2013), Runner-ups 1 (2001-PSM), Poles 1 (2015)<br />
Career at Las Vegas: Wins 3 (2011, 2013, 2016), Runner-ups 4 (2001, 2008, 2012, 2013),<br />
Poles 5 (2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)<br />
<br />
<b>FUNNY CAR </b><br />
<b>No. 1 Qualifier: Jack Beckman (Don Schumacher Racing), 3.854, 335.57-track records,</b><br />
<br />
<b>JACK BECKMAN, Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T</b><br />
<b>Crew chiefs: Dean Antonelli, John Medlen, Neal Strausbaugh</b><br />
QUALIFYING<br />
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS<br />
First round: Jim Campbell<br />
Qualifying position: No. 1<br />
FRIDAY: 8.006 sec., 77.86 mph, (Session 1); 3.867-ties track record, 329.50, (Session 2)<br />
SATURDAY: 3.930, 330.31, (Session 3); 3.854, 335.57-track records, (Session 4)<br />
Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L<br />
2017 4th 22 2 2 6 9 3 0 0 34-20<br />
CAREER 274 26 27 51 82 81 21 7 366-241 <br />
Career best time, speed: 3.825 sec., (2016 Pomona 2); 334.15 mph (Seattle 2016)<br />
BY THE NUMBERS<br />
Last event, Oct. 15, Dallas: Qualified No. 3, lost in semifinals to Ron Capps<br />
A year ago at Las Vegas 2: Qualified No. 1, lost in semifinals to John Force<br />
This spring at Las Vegas 1: Qualified No.5, lost in second round to Jonnie Lindberg<br />
Career at Las Vegas 2: Wins 1 (2006), Runner-ups 2 (2009, 2012), Poles 1 (2016)<br />
Career at Las Vegas: Wins 1 (2006), Runner-ups 2 (2009, 2012), Poles 2 (2016-twice)<br />
<br />
RON CAPPS, NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T<br />
Crew chief: Rahn Tobler; Assistant: Eric Lane<br />
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS<br />
First round: John Force<br />
QUALIFYING<br />
Qualifying position: No. 6<br />
FRIDAY: 3.916 sec., 325.06 mph, (Session 1); 6.597, 103.02, (Session 2)<br />
SATURDAY: 3.937, 326.56, (Session 3); 3.896, 326.08, (Session 4)<br />
Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L<br />
2017 1st 22 8 4 2 5 3 0 0 52-14<br />
CAREER 505 58* 54 91 103 181 21 19 679-428<br />
*57 FC/1 TF<br />
Career best time, speed: 3.839 sec. (2017, Phoenix); 333.58 mph (2017, Phoenix)<br />
BY THE NUMBERS<br />
Last event, Oct. 15, Dallas: Qualified No. 2, lost in championship round to Robert Hight<br />
A year ago at Las Vegas 2: Qualified No. 4, lost in semifinals to Courtney Force<br />
This spring at Las Vegas 1: Qualified No. 4, lost in first round to Jonnie Lindberg<br />
Career at Las Vegas 2: Wins 4 (2001, 2005, 2011-12), Runner-ups 0, Poles 1 (2011)<br />
Career at Las Vegas: Wins 5 (2009, 2001, 2005, 2011-12, Runner-ups 2 (2006-07), Poles 1 (2011)<br />
<br />
MATT HAGAN, Pennzoil Dodge Charger R/T<br />
Crew chief: Dickie Venables; Assistant: Michael Knudsen<br />
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS<br />
First round: Gary Densham<br />
QUALIFYING<br />
Qualifying position: No. 4<br />
FRIDAY: 4.000 sec., 321.19 mph, (Session 1); 3.929, 330.88, (Session 2)<br />
SATURDAY: 3.930, 330.31, (Session 3); 3.882, 330.15, (Session 4)<br />
Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L<br />
2017 5th 22 3 1 7 5 6 4 0 34-19<br />
CAREER 214 25 23 35 67 62 30 4 299-185<br />
Career best time, speed: 3.799 (2017, Indianapolis); 338.85 mph (2017, Topeka)<br />
BY THE NUMBERS<br />
Last event, Oct. 15, Dallas: Qualified No. 13, lost in first round to Jonnie Lindberg<br />
A year ago at Las Vegas 2: Qualified No. 2, lost in semifinals to John Force<br />
This spring at Las Vegas 1: Qualified No. 2, lost in second round to John Force<br />
Career at Las Vegas 2: Wins 0, Runner-ups 1 (2010), Poles 2 (2009, 2014)<br />
Career at Las Vegas: Wins 0, Runner-ups 2 (2009, 2010), Poles 3 (2009, 2014, 2015)<br />
<br />
TOMMY JOHNSON JR., Terry and Doug Chandler's Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger R/T<br />
Crew chief: John Collins; Assistant: Rip Reynolds<br />
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS<br />
First round: Jonnie Lindberg<br />
QUALIFYING<br />
Qualifying position: No. 9<br />
FRIDAY: 4.308 sec., 212.63 mph, (Session 1); 4.021, 286.74, (Session 2)<br />
SATURDAY: 9.626, 86.66, (Session 3); 3.922, 325.77, (Session 4)<br />
Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L<br />
2017 7th 22 1 4 5 5 7 1 0 31-21<br />
CAREER 420 16* 28 58 102 171 15 44 367-360<br />
*14 FC/2 TF<br />
Career best time, speed: 3.837 sec. (Phoenix 2017); 332.02 mph (Sonoma 2017)<br />
BY THE NUMBERS<br />
Last event, Oct. 15, Dallas: Qualified No. 7, lost in first round to John Force<br />
A year ago at Las Vegas 2: Qualified No. 10, lost in first round to Del Worsham<br />
This spring at Las Vegas 1: Qualified No. 6. won in championship round over Jonnie Lindberg<br />
Career at Las Vegas 2: Wins 0, Runner-ups 2 (2015-16), Poles 1 (2015)<br />
Career at Las Vegas: Wins 1 (2001), Runner-ups 3 (2002, 2015-16) , Poles 1 (2015)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Unofficial standings through Las Vegas 2 qualifying; 23rd of 24 events; DSR drivers in CAPS)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Top Fuel </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 1. Steve Torrence (8) 2507 -----</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 2. Brittany Force (3) 2447 -60 </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 3. Doug Kalitta (1) 2423 -84</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 4. ANTRON BROWN (4) 2392 -115</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 5. LEAH PRITCHETT (4) 2321 -186</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 6. TONY SCHUMACHER (1) 2320 -187</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 7. Clay Millican (1) 2306 -201</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 8. Shawn Langdon 2227 -280</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 9. Terry McMillen 2181 -326</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">10. Scott Palmer 2169 -338</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Funny Car </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 1. RON CAPPS (8) 2533 -----</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 2. Robert Hight (4) 2508 -25</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 3. Courtney Force 2363 -170</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 4. JACK BECKMAN (2) 2356 -177</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 5. MATT HAGAN (3) 2307 -226</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 6. John Force (1) 2286 -247</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 7. TOMMY JOHNSON JR. (1) 2256 -277</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 8. Tim Wilkerson 2237 -296</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 9. J.R. Todd (2) 2233 -300</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">10. Cruz Pedregon 2163 -370</span><br />
<br />
<b>About Don Schumacher Racing</b><br />
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 80th Anniversary Mopar/Pennzoil 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 Pennzoil Dodge Charger R/T, and 2012 NHRA world champion Jack Beckman in Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge and the Chandlers' Make-A-Wish Dodge driven by Tommy Johnson Jr.<br />
<br />
DSR has won 316 NHRA national event titles and 16 world championships.<br />
<br />
Follow Don Schumacher Racing at ShoeRacing.com, on Twitter at @shoeracing and Facebook.com/shoeracing.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094809383204369744.post-62572032395566522632017-10-28T11:00:00.001-07:002017-10-28T11:00:31.046-07:00DSR: DSR's Beckman, Schumacher use track record runs at Las Vegas to hold provisional poles in longshot battles to stay in hunt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
LAS VEGAS (Oct. 27, 2017) - Tony Schumacher and the U.S. Army arrived at Las Vegas knowing their backs were against the wall if they were to earn a ninth NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championship.<br />
<br />
Despite being ranked sixth and a nearly insurmountable 192 points out of first, Schumacher with crew chief Mike Green and assistant Phil Shuler produced The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway records with an elapsed-time of 3.673 seconds and speed of 332.67 mph, which is his career best.<br />
<br />
"I was pretty sure that 3.67 was going to hold for the top spot," said Schumacher, who has been a fixture in the media center at Las Vegas during his career where he has won nine poles and eight event titles. "That 3.67 was such a good run, it forces people to go out and try a little too hard a lot of times."<br />
<br />
"Let's remember we have won this race a lot of times and we have more data than just about everyone else here. We have a good quality map of this place. Yes, it is a different racetrack under different situations. It's hard to run great here, but we are able to make those kind of runs with the U.S. Army car because of the outstanding notes and ability of the incredible people working together on this team that made it happen. They evaluated the situation and made good decisions and we made a great run tonight.<br />
<br />
"Look, we qualify fine, but we race terrible right now (on Sunday). And we have to change that. I don't care where we qualify, we've got to win the race."<br />
<br />
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Joining Schumacher with provisional No. 1 positions heading to Saturday's last two qualifying sessions before Sunday's eliminations is Jack Beckman and Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T Powered by Pennzoil led by crew chiefs Dean Antonelli, John Medlen and Neal Strausbaugh who were best in the early evening session and quickest of the day with a track-record time of 3.867 seconds at 329.50 mph.<br />
<br />
"I didn't think it would stand up," he said of registering the record time early in the session. "In night sessions the track is going to continue to cool off and when you run early like we did it shows the other teams what the track is capable of. To watch it stand as No. 1 surprised me."<br />
<br />
Don Schumacher Racing's Dodge Charger R/T Funny Cars Powered by Pennzoil were the quickest in both of Friday's qualifying sessions of the 17th annual NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.<br />
<br />
DSR teammate and points leader Ron Capps with the NAPA AUTO PARTS team led by crew chief Rahn Tobler and assistant Eric Lane pushed their Dodge to a time of 3.916 (325.06) to earn three bonus points by leading the pack in the first session of the 17th annual Las Vegas Nationals.<br />
<br />
Capps started the day leading Robert Hight by 24 points in the next-to-last race of the season and now leads by 26 after Hight earned one point in the last session.<br />
<br />
<b>COUNTDOWN BREAKDOWN</b><br />
Antron Brown clinched his last two world championships for Don Schumacher Racing at Las Vegas and was able to celebrate two weeks later at the Pomona finale in Southern California.<br />
<br />
That won't happen for Brown or any other driver in the nitro categories this year, largely because NHRA enhanced the points value for the season-ending NHRA Finals by about 150 percent.<br />
<br />
At Las Vegas this weekend, like 22 of the previous 23 events in the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, the most a driver can earn with a perfect weekend is 130 points; at Pomona, 191 can be earned.<br />
<br />
No Top Fuel or Funny Car driver can leave Las Vegas with a 192-point lead and clinch a championship, and any driver 192 or more points out of first after Sunday's final round at Las Vegas will be eliminated from contention.<br />
<br />
The seven DSR drivers and 19 of the 20 in the Countdown remain alive in championship contention but most are likely to be mathematically eliminated after Las Vegas.<br />
<br />
<b>FUNNY CAR </b> <br />
<br />
Provisional No. 1: Tony Schumacher (Don Schumacher Racing), 3.673 sec., 332.67 mph<br />
<br />
TONY SCHUMACHER, U.S. Army<br />
Crew chief: Mike Green; Assistant: Phil Shuler<br />
QUALIFYING<br />
Provisional qualifying position: No. 1<br />
FRIDAY: 3.798 sec., 325.61 mph, (Session 1); 3.673, 332.67, (Session 2)<br />
Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L<br />
2017 6th 22 1 3 4 9 6 3 0 29-21<br />
CAREER 478 83 64 75 134 115 83 8 805-387<br />
Career best time, speed: 3.660 sec. (2017, Topeka); 332.51 mph (2016, Brainerd)<br />
BY THE NUMBERS<br />
Last event, Oct. 15, Dallas: Qualified No. 2, lost in first round to Terry Haddock<br />
A year ago at Las Vegas 2: Qualified No. 5, lost in first round to Wayne Newby<br />
This spring at Las Vegas 1: Qualified No. 2, lost in championship round to Antron Brown<br />
Career at Las Vegas 2: Wins 4 (2005-06, 2008, 2010), Runner-ups 0, Poles 4<br />
Career at Las Vegas: Wins 8 (2004, 2005-06, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013-14)<br />
Runner-ups 3 (2002-03, 2012), Poles 9<br />
<br />
LEAH PRITCHETT, Pennzoil/Dodge Demon<br />
Crew chief: Todd Okuhara; Assistant: Joe Barlam<br />
QUALIFYING<br />
Provisional qualifying position: No. 4<br />
FRIDAY: 3.754 sec., 324.20 mph, (Session 1); 18.929, 41.57, (Session 2)<br />
Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L<br />
2017 5th 22 4 2 8 6 2 6 0 44-18<br />
CAREER 92 5 3 15 19 44 7 6 78-81<br />
Career best time, speed: 3.640 sec. (2017 Brainerd); 331.53 (2017 Brainerd)<br />
BY THE NUMBERS<br />
Last event, Oct. 15, Dallas: Qualified No. 6, lost in second round to Antron Brown<br />
A year ago at Las Vegas 2: Qualified No. 2, lost in semifinals to Steve Torrence<br />
This spring at Las Vegas 1: Qualified No. 5, lost in semifinals to Antron Brown<br />
Career at Las Vegas 2: Wins 0, Runner-ups 0, Poles 0<br />
Career at Las Vegas: Wins 0, Runner-ups 0, Poles 0<br />
<br />
ANTRON BROWN, Matco Tools 'Tools for the Cause'<br />
Crew chiefs: Brian Corradi, Mark Oswald; Assistant: Brad Mason<br />
QUALIFYING<br />
Provisional qualifying position: No. 7<br />
FRIDAY: 3.760 sec., 325.61 mph, (Session 1); 16.130, 34.67, (Session 2)<br />
Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L<br />
2017 4th 22 4 6 5 7 0 2 0 51-18<br />
CAREER 380 65* 53 79 100 80 49 3 672-311<br />
*49 TF/16 PSB <br />
Career best time, speed: 3.667 (2017, Phoenix); 333.16 mph (2017, Topeka)<br />
BY THE NUMBERS<br />
Last event, Oct. 15, Dallas: Qualified No. 3, lost in semifinals to Shawn Langdon<br />
A year ago at Las Vegas 2: Qualified No. 4, lost in semifinals to J.R. Todd<br />
This spring at Las Vegas 1: Qualified No. 8, won in championship round over Tony Schumacher<br />
Career at Las Vegas 2: Wins 1 (2013), Runner-ups 1 (2001-PSM), Poles 1 (2015)<br />
Career at Las Vegas: Wins 3 (2011, 2013, 2016), Runner-ups 4 (2001, 2008, 2012, 2013),<br />
Poles 5 (2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)<br />
<br />
<b>FUNNY CAR </b> <br />
<br />
Provisional No. 1: Jack Beckman (Don Schumacher Racing), 3.867 sec.-ties track record, 329.50 mph<br />
<br />
<b>JACK BECKMAN, Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T</b><br />
<b>Crew chiefs: Dean Antonelli, John Medlen, Neal Strausbaugh</b><br />
QUALIFYING<br />
Provisional qualifying position: No. 1<br />
FRIDAY: 8.006 sec., 77.86 mph, (Session 1); 3.867-track record, 329.50, (Session 2)<br />
Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L<br />
2017 4th 22 2 2 6 9 3 0 0 34-20<br />
CAREER 274 26 27 51 82 81 21 7 366-241 <br />
Career best time, speed: 3.825 sec., (2016 Pomona 2); 334.15 mph (Seattle 2016)<br />
BY THE NUMBERS<br />
Last event, Oct. 15, Dallas: Qualified No. 3, lost in semifinals to Ron Capps<br />
A year ago at Las Vegas 2: Qualified No. 1, lost in semifinals to John Force<br />
This spring at Las Vegas 1: Qualified No.5, lost in second round to Jonnie Lindberg<br />
Career at Las Vegas 2: Wins 1 (2006), Runner-ups 2 (2009, 2012), Poles 1 (2016)<br />
Career at Las Vegas: Wins 1 (2006), Runner-ups 2 (2009, 2012), Poles 2 (2016-twice)<br />
<br />
RON CAPPS, NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T<br />
Crew chief: Rahn Tobler; Assistant: Eric Lane<br />
QUALIFYING<br />
Provisional qualifying position: No. 6<br />
FRIDAY: 3.916 sec., 325.06 mph, (Session 1); 6.597, 103.02, (Session 2)<br />
Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L<br />
2017 1st 22 8 4 2 5 3 0 0 52-14<br />
CAREER 505 58* 54 91 103 181 21 19 679-428<br />
*57 FC/1 TF<br />
Career best time, speed: 3.839 sec. (2017, Phoenix); 333.58 mph (2017, Phoenix)<br />
BY THE NUMBERS<br />
Last event, Oct. 15, Dallas: Qualified No. 2, lost in championship round to Robert Hight<br />
A year ago at Las Vegas 2: Qualified No. 4, lost in semifinals to Courtney Force<br />
This spring at Las Vegas 1: Qualified No. 4, lost in first round to Jonnie Lindberg<br />
Career at Las Vegas 2: Wins 4 (2001, 2005, 2011-12), Runner-ups 0, Poles 1 (2011)<br />
Career at Las Vegas: Wins 5 (2009, 2001, 2005, 2011-12, Runner-ups 2 (2006-07), Poles 1 (2011)<br />
<br />
MATT HAGAN, Pennzoil Dodge Charger R/T<br />
Crew chief: Dick Venables; Assistant: Michael Knudsen<br />
QUALIFYING<br />
Provisional qualifying position: No. 8<br />
FRIDAY: 4.000 sec., 321.19 mph, (Session 1); 3.929, 330.88, (Session 2)<br />
Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L<br />
2017 5th 22 3 1 7 5 6 4 0 34-19<br />
CAREER 214 25 23 35 67 62 30 4 299-185<br />
Career best time, speed: 3.799 (2017, Indianapolis); 338.85 mph (2017, Topeka)<br />
BY THE NUMBERS<br />
Last event, Oct. 15, Dallas: Qualified No. 13, lost in first round to Jonnie Lindberg<br />
A year ago at Las Vegas 2: Qualified No. 2, lost in semifinals to John Force<br />
This spring at Las Vegas 1: Qualified No. 2, lost in second round to John Force<br />
Career at Las Vegas 2: Wins 0, Runner-ups 1 (2010), Poles 2 (2009, 2014)<br />
Career at Las Vegas: Wins 0, Runner-ups 2 (2009, 2010), Poles 3 (2009, 2014, 2015)<br />
<br />
TOMMY JOHNSON JR., Terry and Doug Chandler's Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger R/T<br />
Crew chief: John Collins; Assistant: Rip Reynolds<br />
QUALIFYING<br />
Provisional qualifying position: No. 13<br />
FRIDAY: 4.308 sec., 212.63 mph, (Session 1); 4.021, 286.74, (Session 2)<br />
Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L<br />
2017 7th 22 1 4 5 5 7 1 0 31-21<br />
CAREER 420 16* 28 58 102 171 15 44 367-360<br />
*14 FC/2 TF<br />
Career best time, speed: 3.837 sec. (Phoenix 2017); 332.02 mph (Sonoma 2017)<br />
BY THE NUMBERS<br />
Last event, Oct. 15, Dallas: Qualified No. 7, lost in first round to John Force<br />
A year ago at Las Vegas 2: Qualified No. 10, lost in first round to Del Worsham<br />
This spring at Las Vegas 1: Qualified No. 6. won in championship round over Jonnie Lindberg<br />
Career at Las Vegas 2: Wins 0, Runner-ups 2 (2015-16), Poles 1 (2015)<br />
Career at Las Vegas: Wins 1 (2001), Runner-ups 3 (2002, 2015-16) , Poles 1 (2015)<br />
<br />
COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS <br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Official standings through Dallas; 22nd of 24 events; DSR drivers in CAPS)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Top Fuel </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 1. Steve Torrence (8) 2465 -----</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 2. Brittany Force (3) 2408 -57 </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 3. Doug Kalitta (1) 2389 -76</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 4. ANTRON BROWN (4) 2360 -105</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 5. LEAH PRITCHETT (4) 2285 -180</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 6. TONY SCHUMACHER (1) 2273 -192</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 7. Clay Millican (1) 2268 -197</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 8. Shawn Langdon (0/1) 2193 -272</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 9. Terry McMillen 2147 -318</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">10. Scott Palmer 2137 -328</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Funny Car </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 1. RON CAPPS (8) 2495 -----</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 2. Robert Hight (4) 2471 -24</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 3. Courtney Force 2324 -171</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 4. JACK BECKMAN (2) 2309 -186</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 5. MATT HAGAN (3) 2269 -226</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 6. John Force (1) 2252 -243</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 7. TOMMY JOHNSON JR. (1) 2224 -271</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 8. Tim Wilkerson 2206 -289</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 9. J.R. Todd (2) 2199 -296</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">10. Cruz Pedregon 2128 -307</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>About Don Schumacher Racing</b><br />
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 80th Anniversary Mopar/Pennzoil 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 Pennzoil Dodge Charger R/T, and 2012 NHRA world champion Jack Beckman in Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge and the Chandlers' Make-A-Wish Dodge driven by Tommy Johnson Jr.<br />
<br />
DSR has won 316 NHRA national event titles and 16 world championships.<br />
<br />
Follow Don Schumacher Racing at ShoeRacing.com, on Twitter at @shoeracing and Facebook.com/shoeracing.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
FOR MORE INFORMATION:<br />
<br />
Jeff Wolf, DSR PR<br />
wolfj@shoeracing.com; 702.524.1368<br />
<br />
Leah Vaughn, DSR PR and Social Media<br />
vaughnl@shoeracing.com<br />
<br />
Allie Bland, DSR PR and Social Media<br />
blanda@shoeracing.com<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094809383204369744.post-62097063515502665522017-10-25T15:35:00.001-07:002017-10-25T15:35:17.367-07:00DSR: No. 4 Beckman sets sight on moving up in Mello Yello points, winning last two titles of the year with Infinite Hero Dodge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Oct. 25, 2017) - Jack Beckman isn't ready to throw in the towel on winning his second world championship in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.<br />
<br />
But some thought he could have done that before the 2017 season began.<br />
<br />
The 2012 Funny Car world champion for Don Schumacher Racing started this season with only one remaining crewmember and started the campaign with a new crew chief combination of Dean Antonelli, John Medlen and Neal Strausbaugh leading Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T team.<br />
<br />
Although it is a longshot that Beckman can rally from being ranked fourth and 186 points out of first place heading to Las Vegas for this weekend's NHRA Nationals and the next-to-last event of the season, it is impressive that the Infinite Hero team is No. 4 with two event titles this year.<br />
<br />
"Coming down the stretch I don't know if the handicappers at the being of the year would have had us going to Vegas less than one round (15 points) out of third place," said Beckman, who won at Las Vegas in 2006. "We've been a contender at every Mello Yello race this year."<br />
<br />
The Infinite Hero Dodge and Beckman were the No. 1 qualifiers at both Las Vegas events last year but lost in the second round each time.<br />
<br />
With only two events remaining in the six-race Countdown to the Championship playoff, Beckman, who also won the 2003 NHRA Super Comp world championship as an amateur, knows has a monumental hill to climb.<br />
<br />
"We all know anything is possible when you pour nitro into the fuel tanks of these cars. We'll be aggressive with our approach to Vegas and then at the Finals at Pomona."<br />
<br />
For Beckman to have any chance at the world title, he knows that he can't control the fate of those he's chasing unless he faces them during Sunday eliminations. And he knows he has to win the last two titles of the year.<br />
<br />
"For our Infinite Hero team, it's all about the trophies right now. I just want to go win the last two Wallys of the year. If than happens we will have done everything we could.<br />
<br />
"Our goal is getting our picture taken with those two Wally trophies at the end of the day."<br />
<br />
<b>COUNTDOWN BREAKDOWN</b><br />
Antron Brown clinched his last two world championships for Don Schumacher Racing at Las Vegas and was able to celebrate two weeks later at the Pomona finale in Southern California.<br />
<br />
That won't happen for Brown or any other driver in the nitro categories this year, largely because NHRA enhanced the points value for the season-ending NHRA Finals by about 150 percent.<br />
<br />
At Las Vegas this weekend, like 22 of the previous 23 events in the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, the most a driver can earn with a perfect weekend is 130 points; at Pomona, 191 can be earned.<br />
<br />
No Top Fuel or Funny Car driver can leave Las Vegas with a 192-point lead and clinch a championship, and any driver 192 or more points out of first after Sunday's final round at Las Vegas will be eliminated from contention.<br />
<br />
The seven DSR drivers and 19 of the 20 in the Countdown remain alive in championship contention but most are likely to be mathematically eliminated after Las Vegas.<br />
<br />
In Funny Car, DSR's Ron Capps (NAPA AUTO PARTS) is atop the standings but just 24 points ahead of hard-charging Robert Hight of John Force Racing. The drivers each have won twice through the first four Countdown playoff races. Jack Beckman (Infinite Hero) is fourth, 186 back while Matt Hagan (Pennzoil/Mopar) is fifth (-226) and Tommy Johnson Jr. (Make-A-Wish) is seventh (-271).<br />
<br />
In Top Fuel, Steve Torrence leads Brittany Force and Doug Kalitta by 57 and 76 points, with DSR's three-time world champion Antron Brown, winner of the last two championships for Matco Tools, ranked fourth and 105 behind Torrence. Leah Pritchett (Pennzoil) is fifth (-180) and eight-time world champ Tony Schumacher is sixth (-192).<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>JACK BECKMAN, Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Crew chiefs: Dean Antonelli, John Medlen, Neal Strausbaugh</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2017 4th 22 2 2 6 9 3 0 0 34-20</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">CAREER 274 26 27 51 82 81 21 7 366-241 </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Career best time, speed: 3.825 sec., (2016 Pomona 2); 334.15 mph (Seattle 2016)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">BY THE NUMBERS</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Last event, Oct. 15, Dallas: Qualified No. 3, lost in semifinals to Ron Capps</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">A year ago at Las Vegas 2: Qualified No. 1, lost in semifinals to John Force</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">This spring at Las Vegas 1: Qualified No.5, lost in second round to Jonnie Lindberg</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Career at Las Vegas 2: Wins 1 (2006), Runner-ups 2 (2009, 2012), Poles 1 (2016)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Career at Las Vegas: Wins 1 (2006), Runner-ups 2 (2009, 2012), Poles 2 (2016-2)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Official standings through Dallas; 22 of 24 events; DSR drivers in CAPS) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Funny Car </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 1. RON CAPPS (8) 2495 -----</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 2. Robert Hight (4) 2471 -24</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 3. Courtney Force 2324 -171</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 4. JACK BECKMAN (2) 2309 -186</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 5. MATT HAGAN (3) 2269 -226</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 6. John Force (1) 2252 -243</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 7. TOMMY JOHNSON JR. (1) 2224 -271</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 8. Tim Wilkerson 2206 -289</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 9. J.R. Todd (2) 2199 -296</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">10. Cruz Pedregon 2128 -307</span><br />
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>About Don Schumacher Racing</b><br />
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/Mopar 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 the late Terry Chandler.<br />
DSR has won 316 NHRA national event titles and 16 world championships.<br />
Follow Don Schumacher Racing at ShoeRacing.com, on Twitter at @shoeracing and Facebook.com/shoeracing.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094809383204369744.post-4035752444045998602017-10-15T17:47:00.002-07:002017-10-15T17:47:43.066-07:00DSR: Beckman, Infinite Hero team move up to fifth in Mello Yello points after semifinals finish at the Texas Motorplex near Dallas; Vegas next<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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ENNIS, Texas (Oct. 15, 2017) - Jack Beckman and Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car team had a few lucky runs at the 32nd annual NHRA FallNationals near Dallas but their luck ran out when they ran into Don Schumacher Racing teammate and points leader Ron Capps in the semifinals.<br />
<br />
During an odd first round when several cars lost traction and smoked the tires, Beckman won a pedalfest over Kalitta Motorsports' J.R. Todd with 4.590-second pass at only 229.70 mph. In the next round, he had a solo run when part-time racer Daniel Wilkerson broke on his burnout past the starting line. Beckman went into tire smoke but got the win light with his 5.082 (145.89).<br />
<br />
Beckman then lined up against Capps. With another smoking lap by Beckman, Capps got the win with a 3.905 (329.10).<br />
<br />
"We went up there and smoked the tires in what was of the oddest first rounds I've seen in a long time," Beckman said. "And then we could've been beaten in the second round too."<br />
<br />
Despite their semifinal finish, the Infinite Hero team led by crew chiefs Dean Antonelli, John Medlen and Neal Strausbaugh moved from sixth to fifth in the NHRA points standings and are 186 behind Capps.<br />
<br />
"I'm going to take the silver-lining approach to this," Beckman said. "Yeah, it's crushing to not leave here with the trophy, especially but we picked up a position in the standing. We could've left here having closed the gap on first and second quite a bit. We let those (Capps and event winner Robert Hight) pull away from us. But our day could've ended in the first round.<br />
<br />
"The fact of the matter is we're going to leave here with 40 points, we're going to leave here fourth in points, within one round of third. So, we checked a bunch of things off our list except getting that darn trophy at Texas. We'll just have to settle for one at Vegas and one at Pomona."<br />
<br />
In two weeks, Beckman and the Infinite Hero team will compete at the NHRA Nationals at Las Vegas for the penultimate race of the season.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">JACK BECKMAN, Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Crew chiefs: Dean Antonelli, John Medlen, Neal Strausbaugh</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">First round: BECKMAN (4.590 sec., 229.70 mph) def. J.R. Todd (5.140, 190.78)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Second round: BECKMAN (5.082, 145.09) def. Daniel Wilkerson (broke)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Semifinals: Ron Capps (3.905, 329.10) BECKMAN (4.468, 196.13)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">QUALIFYING</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Qualified: No. 3</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">FRIDAY: 3.914 sec., 329.50 mph, (Session 1); 3.873, 332.34, (Session 2)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">SATURDAY: 6.907, 89.47, (Session 3); 3.971, 317.19, (Session 4)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2017 4th 22 2 2 6 9 3 0 0 34-20</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">CAREER 274 26 27 51 82 81 21 7 366-241</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Career best time, speed: 3.825 sec., (2016 Pomona 2); 334.15 mph (Seattle 2016)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">BY THE NUMBERS</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">A year ago at Dallas: Qualified No. 2, lost in second round to Ron Capps,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Career at Dallas: Wins 0, Runner-ups 2 (2009, 2015), Poles 0</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Funny Car </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 1. RON CAPPS (8) 2495 -----</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 2. Robert Hight (4) 2471 -24</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 3. Courtney Force 2324 -171</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 4. JACK BECKMAN (2) 2309 -186</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 5. MATT HAGAN (3) 2269 -226</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 6. John Force (1) 2252 -243</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 7. TOMMY JOHNSON JR. (1) 2224 -271</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 8. Tim Wilkerson 2206 -289</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 9. J.R. Todd (2) 2199 -296</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">10. Cruz Pedregon 2128 -307</span><br />
<br />
<b>About Don Schumacher Racing</b><br />
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/Mopar 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 the late Terry Chandler.<br />
DSR has won 316 NHRA national event titles and 16 world championships.<br />
Follow Don Schumacher Racing at ShoeRacing.com, on Twitter at @shoeracing and Facebook.com/shoeracing.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094809383204369744.post-88180686269076444222017-10-11T19:19:00.002-07:002017-10-11T19:19:17.680-07:00DSR: Beckman hopes to win at Motorplex for dad, Infinite Hero team at critical juncture of NHRA Countdown to Championship playoff<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Oct. 11, 2017) - As a former Funny Car world champion, Jack Beckman knows championships are not easily won.<br />
<br />
With only three events left in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season, Beckman and Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car need a big weekend at the Texas Motorplex near Dallas for a chance at a second Funny Car world title.<br />
<br />
But when Beckman strapes into the Chandler's 11,000-horsepower Funny Car, his main goal is to win this weekend's 32rd annual NHRA FallNationals a reason bigger that the championship.<br />
<br />
"I went to the first national event there in 1986 and at the 21 venues we race at, there is no location that I want an NHRA Wally trophy from more than Dallas," Beckman said. "I've won in Super Comp at Pomona. I've won at Indy. Dallas is 100 percent at the top of my list. That's the one that I want the most. I don't care about points. I want to win Dallas."<br />
<br />
Beckman's father, known to many as "Slow Bob" Beckman in contrast with his son's "Fast Jack" handle, has been a Texas resident for nearly 30 years. The younger Beckman would like nothing more than to present his dad with the Wally and the coveted black cowboy hat for winning the FallNationals.<br />
<br />
"Obviously there's a componet to move up in the standings, but I won't care about points when we pull into the Motorplex. I want to win Dallas more than any other race."<br />
<br />
In 2016, Beckman entered the event qualified second with a time of 3.843 seconds at 333.66 mph. He advanced to the quarterfinals before losing to Don Schumacher Racing teammate Ron Capps.<br />
<br />
"We can't control what Capps and (Robert) Hight are going to do these next three races. Those two are in the catbird seat," he said of points leader Capps and No. 2 Hight. "They've done the best at getting qualifiying bonus points and round wins after the Countdown reset after Indy."<br />
<br />
Beckman and the Infinite Hero team, led by crew chiefs Dean Antonelli, John Medlen and Neal Strausbaugh, are fifth but 167 out of first.<br />
<br />
"They were at the top going into the Countdown and they've maintaned that adventage over the rest of us. If we have any shot at Championship, those two really have to lose first round. Since we can't control that, I don't think there's any point to dwell on that. We just need to win the race. We need to win Dallas."<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">JACK BECKMAN, Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Crew chiefs: Dean Antonelli, John Medlen, Neal Strausbaugh</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2017 5th 21 2 2 5 9 3 0 0 32-19</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">CAREER 273 26 27 50 82 81 21 7 364-240 </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Career best time, speed: 3.825 sec., (2016 Pomona 2); 334.15 mph (Seattle 2016)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">BY THE NUMBERS</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Last event: Sept. 29-Oct. 1: Qualified No. 6, lost in second round to Ron Capps</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">A year ago at Dallas: Qualified No. 2, lost in second round to Ron Capps,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Career at Dallas: Wins 0, Runner-ups 2 (2009, 2015), Poles 0</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">FUNNY CAR </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 1. RON CAPPS (8) 2395 -----</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 2. Robert Hight (3) 2349 -46 </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 3. Courtney Force 2287 -108</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 4. MATT HAGAN (3) 2238 -157</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 5. JACK BECKMAN (2) 2228 -167 </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 6. John Force (1) 2197 -198</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 7. TOMMY JOHNSON JR. (1) 2191 -204 </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 8. J.R. Todd (2) 2168 -227</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 9. Tim Wilkerson 2130 -265</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">10 Cruz Pedregon 2096 -299</span><br />
<br />
<b>About Don Schumacher Racing</b><br />
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/Mopar 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 the late Terry Chandler.<br />
DSR has won 316 NHRA national event titles and 16 world championships.<br />
Follow Don Schumacher Racing at ShoeRacing.com, on Twitter at @shoeracing and Facebook.com/shoeracing.<br />
<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094809383204369744.post-4236297517244944862017-10-01T23:40:00.002-07:002017-10-01T23:40:41.640-07:00DSR: Valiant effort by Beckman, Chandlers' Infinite Hero Dodge team not enough to beat points leader Sunday at Gateway near St. Louis<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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MADISON, Ill. (Oct. 1, 2017) - Last year at Gateway Motorsports Park, Jack Beckman in Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car took home the NHRA Wally trophy.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, Beckman's day ended much earlier at this year's sixth annual NHRA Midwest Nationals.<br />
<br />
"I'm just going to be a realist, let's just look at facts and separate the emotion," Beckman said.<br />
<br />
"That round was our championship round. If we won that round, we stay in the race, keep earning points, and move closer to the top cars. We lost against the No. 1 car and it increased the spread. That was the biggest round of the year for us."<br />
<br />
That loss was to Beckman's Don Schumacher Racing teammate and NHRA points leader Ron Capps, who went on to win the event title and move 167 points ahead of Beckman who remains seventh.<br />
<br />
It was a great drag race as Beckman clocked a 3.895-second pass at 332.34 mph but he couldn't outrun Capps' 3.885.<br />
<br />
"We did everything very well, they did it a little better. There's nothing to do but go over and shake their hands.<br />
<br />
"But that's what we do at DSR. You give the fans those sort of incredible side-by-side runs with two drivers performing well under pressure and two crews doing everything right, and two groups of crew chiefs making all good calls.<br />
<br />
"Unfortunately, somebody had to come out on the losing end and that was us. So that one stings bitterly. We can't control what the cars ahead of us do in the points from here on out. We can still win 12 rounds and that's absolutely our goal."<br />
<br />
The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing series will take a weekend off before traveling to Dallas for the NHRA FallNationals.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">JACK BECKMAN, Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Crew chiefs: Dean Antonelli, John Medlen, Neal Strausbaugh</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">First round: BECKMAN (3.850 sec., 333.49 mph) def. Del Worsham (5.167, 153.11)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Second round: Ron Capps (3.885, 328.86) def. BECKMAN (3.895, 332.34)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">QUALIFYING</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Qualified: No. 6</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">FRIDAY: 3.873 sec., 331.77 mph, (Session 1); 3.877, 331.12, (Session 2)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">SATURDAY: 4.107, 239.10, (Session 3); 10.074, 69.65, (Session 4)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2017 5th 21 2 2 5 9 3 0 0 32-19</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">CAREER 273 26 27 50 82 81 21 7 364-240</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Career best time, speed: 3.825 sec., (2016 Pomona 2); 334.15 mph (Seattle 2016) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">BY THE NUMBERS</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">A year ago at Gateway: Qualified No. 2, won in championship round over Tommy Johnson Jr.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Career at Gateway: Wins 2 (2012, 2016), Runner-ups 2 (2010, 2013), Poles 1 (2012)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">FUNNY CAR </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 1. RON CAPPS (8) 2395 -----</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 2. Robert Hight (3) 2349 -46 </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 3. Courtney Force 2287 -108</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 4. MATT HAGAN (3) 2238 -157</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 5. JACK BECKMAN (2) 2228 -167</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 6. John Force (1) 2197 -198</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 7. TOMMY JOHNSON JR. (1) 2191 -204</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 8. J.R. Todd (2) 2168 -227</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 9. Tim Wilkerson 2130 -265</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">10 Cruz Pedregon 2096 -299</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>About Don Schumacher Racing</b><br />
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/Mopar 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 the late Terry Chandler.<br />
DSR has won 316 NHRA national event titles and 16 world championships.<br />
Follow Don Schumacher Racing at ShoeRacing.com, on Twitter at @shoeracing and Facebook.com/shoeracing.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094809383204369744.post-54950119215144233312017-09-27T15:34:00.003-07:002017-09-27T15:34:58.498-07:00DSR: Infinite Hero's Beckman looks for third win near St. Louis, move Chandlers' Dodge higher in NHRA playoff standings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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BROWNBURG, Ind. (Sept. 27, 2017) - Every NHRA racer would like to win at a racetrack in consecutive years and this weekend at the sixth annual NHRA Midwest Nationals near St. Louis driver Jack Beckman can accomplish that in Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car.<br />
<br />
"I think we have a great running car," Beckman said. "We are within striking range of the top spot in the Countdown to the Championship. I don't think we can take over first place at the next race but we can chip away at that lead if we execute well."<br />
<br />
Beckman and the team led by crew chiefs Dean Antonelli, John Medlen and Neal Strausbaugh are ranked fifth and 100 points behind Don Schumacher Racing teammate Ron Capps.<br />
<br />
In 2016 at Gateway, the Infinite Hero team definitely executed well. Beckman defeated Dale Creasy Jr., John Force and Capps before meeting another teammate, Tommy Johnson Jr., in the final round.<br />
<br />
It was a battle of the Chandlers' "Giving Cars,' as Johnson's Dodge is also funded by the Chandlers and banners the Make-A-Wish foundation.<br />
Johnson went up in tire smoke and Beckman got the round win and the NHRA Wally Trophy.<br />
<br />
Beckman has won at Gateway twice (2012, 2016) and finished as the runner-up twice (2010, 2013).<br />
<br />
The event this weekend marks the third event of the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoff. In a little over two months, NHRA will crown the 2017 Funny Car world champion and Beckman would love nothing more than to wear that crown for the second time in his career.<br />
<br />
"I recognize that there are a lot of things that we have no control over: the weather, the way the eliminations ladder stacks up on Sunday and what the car in the other lane does. All we can manage is our team, our attitude and our race car. If we do that to the best of our ability, no matter what the result is, we can hold our heads high."<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">JACK BECKMAN, Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Crew chiefs: Dean Antonelli, John Medlen, Neal Strausbaugh</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2017 5th 20 2 2 5 8 3 0 0 31-18</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">CAREER 272 26 27 50 81 81 21 7 363-239 </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Career best time, speed: 3.825 sec., (2016 Pomona 2); 334.15 mph (Seattle 2016) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">BY THE NUMBERS</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Last event: Sept. 22-24, Reading, Pa.: Qualified No. 5, lost in semifinals to Courtney Force</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">A year ago at Gateway: Qualified No. 2, won in championship round over Tommy Johnson Jr.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Career at Gateway: Wins 2 (2012, 2016), Runner-ups 2 (2010, 2013), Poles 1 (2012)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Standings after Reading, 2nd of 6 events in the Countdown playoff; wins in parenthesis; DSR drivers in CAPS) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Funny Car </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 1. RON CAPPS (7) 2273 -----</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 2. Robert Hight (3) 2265 -8</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 3. Courtney Force 2234 -39</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 4. MATT HAGAN (3) 2183 -90</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 5. JACK BECKMAN (2) 2173 -100</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 6. TOMMY JOHNSON JR. (1) 2159 -114</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 7. J.R. Todd (2) 2135 -138</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 8. John Force (1) 2116 -157</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 9. Tim Wilkerson 2098 -175</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">10. Cruz Pedregon 2065 -208</span><br />
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>About Don Schumacher Racing</b><br />
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/Mopar 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 the late Terry Chandler.<br />
DSR has won 315 NHRA national event titles and 16 world championships.<br />
Follow Don Schumacher Racing at ShoeRacing.com, on Twitter at @shoeracing and Facebook.com/shoeracing.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094809383204369744.post-67598751330180686962017-09-24T17:55:00.001-07:002017-09-24T17:55:37.134-07:00DSR: Beckman, Infinite Hero team look forward to repeating at St. Louis after a tough loss Sunday in NHRA Dodge Nationals at Maple Grove<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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MOHNTON, Pa. (Sept. 24, 2017) - It is very easy to place the blame on someone else when mistakes happen, especially when racing an 11,000-horsepower nitro burning Funny Car.<br />
<br />
But, Jack Beckman, driver of Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T, was quick to take full responsibility for his team's semifinals lose on Sunday in the 33rd annual NHRA Dodge Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway near Reading, Pa.<br />
<br />
"I'm not going to candy-coat it. It's 100 percent driver error," Beckman said. "It was my worst light of the year. It was a very inopportune time to have my worst light of the year."<br />
<br />
In the semifinals, Beckman lined up against Courtney Force. Beckman's reaction time of 0.148 seconds negated a quicker run at 3.948 seconds at 327.74 mph but that wasn't enough to catch Force's slower 3.968.<br />
<br />
"We had a great car. I've always said we may not be the quickest car in (ideal) conditions, but throw a little bit of heat on the track and this Infinite Hero car's right at the top of the heap," he said of temperatures in the low 90s. "We showed it today."<br />
<br />
The Infinite Hero Dodge made three great passes in the heat ranging from 3.93 to 3.95.<br />
<br />
"I let the team down. That's a bitter feeling," he said. "That's tough, knowing everybody did their best and if I'd have done any other light this year it would have won that race. So I'm going to shake it off, I'm going to think positive, we are going to take this thing to St. Louis with a winning mindset and see if we can get the trophy there."<br />
<br />
The bright note of the day was Beckman racing in the 600th round of his career in the opening round.<br />
<br />
"That's 590 more rounds than I thought I'd be driving in a nitro Funny Car," Beckman said after the run.<br />
<br />
Next weekend he'll look for four round wins to add to his tally when the NHRA travels to Gateway Motorsports Park where the Infinite Hero team won the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals last year.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">JACK BECKMAN, Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Crew chiefs: Dean Antonelli, John Medlen, Neal Strausbaugh</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">First round: BECKMAN (3.938 sec., 330.63 mph) def. Cruz Pedregon (4.027, 318.39</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Second round: BECKMAN (3.952, 326.40) def. Jonnie Lindberg (11.160, 95.71)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Semifinals: Courtney Force (3.968, 329.50) def. BECKMAN (3.948, 327.74)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">QUALIFYING</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Qualified: No. 5</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">FRIDAY:3.914 sec., 330.55 mph, (Session 1); 3.925, 327.82, (Session 2)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">SATURDAY: 4.527, 186.67, (Session 3); 3.936, 331.20, (Session 4)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">BY THE NUMBERS</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">A year ago at Reading: Qualified No. 11, lost in semifinals to Tommy Johnson Jr.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Career at Reading: Wins 2 (2008, 2015), Runner-ups 0, Poles 1 (2012)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2017 7th 20 2 2 5 8 3 0 0 31-18</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">CAREER 272 26 27 50 81 81 21 7 363-239</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Career best time, speed: 3.825 sec., (2016 Pomona 2); 334.15 mph (Seattle 2016)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Funny Car </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 1. RON CAPPS (7) 2273 -----</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 2. Robert Hight (3) 2265 -8</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 3. Courtney Force 2234 -39</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 4. MATT HAGAN (3) 2183 -90</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 5. JACK BECKMAN (2) 2173 -100</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 6. TOMMY JOHNSON JR. (1) 2159 -114</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 7. J.R. Todd (2) 2135 -138</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 8. John Force (1) 2116 -157</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 9. Tim Wilkerson 2098 -175</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">10. Cruz Pedregon 2065 -208</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>About Don Schumacher Racing</b><br />
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/Mopar 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 the late Terry Chandler.<br />
DSR has won 315 NHRA national event titles and 16 world championships.<br />
Follow Don Schumacher Racing at ShoeRacing.com, on Twitter at @shoeracing and Facebook.com/shoeracing.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094809383204369744.post-68495464715141231972017-09-20T20:00:00.000-07:002017-09-21T00:02:55.288-07:00Competition Plus: THUS SAYETH THE REV. FAST JACKOne thing is for sure at any NHRA event; the drivers know how to show their appreciation for the fans, whether it is through autograph signing, posing for photographs… or helping a couple tie the knot.<br />
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NHRA Funny Car driver Jack Beckman has now performed his services as an ordained minister at several NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events, the latest of which were wed Saturday afternoon behind the Don Schumacher Racing hospitality units at zMAX Dragway.<br />
<br />
“A lot of people want that highly religious, God-surrounding type of wedding, and I’m not that guy,” explained Beckman. “I married a couple in Reading two or three years ago and they asked me if I would do it. And I said, ‘Well, I can’t, I wouldn’t know how to do something like that.’ And they go, ‘Well, it’s easy.’ They gave me the website to go to. You log in, you become an ordained minister, and away you go.<br />
<br />
“Well I think that was my sixth or seventh wedding now. I did one for friends of mine, a formal type of ceremony, indoors, everything you would think a wedding would be, minus the church. And then the majority of them have been in Don Schumacher hospitality, and it’s just folks who typically they’re their second marriage, or they’re older. They don’t necessarily want the fanfare. They’re hardcore drag race fans. They’re having a fun weekend, they think it’d be a wonderful way to incorporate the wedding.”<br />
<br />
Beckman wed Mike and Helen Thompson Saturday in front of a small crowd in the zMAX Dragway pit area. For both Mike and Helen, a couple in their 50s who met at the speedway two years ago, it was their first marriage.<br />
<br />
“This is the only one I’ve ever done that I never spoke to them until the day of the wedding,” said Beckman. “Every other one, some of them asked me a year in advance, and then we’ll communicate a couple times and I say, ‘OK, give me some background.’ I figure if I’m going to do this and it’s going to tie them together legally and hopefully emotionally, I want to be able to say some things about them. This one I literally had about 10 minutes of prep time. But as it turns out, it was a good 10 minutes. They met here at the race two years ago, and I love their vows. They read vows to each other that they had written, and they were really sincere and heartfelt. So a lot of people say, ah it’s a gimmick that people want to get married at a racetrack. Well, to each their own. This is what they decided to do for that, but they’re taking it very, very seriously.”<br />
<br />
Something else Beckman is taking very seriously is the NHRA Funny Car championship, where he enters the countdown fourth in the points. While Ron Capps, Robert Hight and Matt Hagan have been making the headlines in the top three in points, Beckman hasn’t been flying far under the radar as he enters the countdown in fourth.<br />
<br />
““I’ve got my share of time in the limelight here,” says Beckman. “I don’t do this for the limelight, but we’re not done having the spotlight shined on us, and that’s fine. You know, the NAPA car really has been the class of the field this year, they won a third of the races. They just saw a big lead evaporate. Dickie Venables and Hagan, they set the world on fire, they run huge numbers. Same with Jimmy Prock and Robert Hight. So I actually don’t mind kind of being in the shadows and making that surge at the last minute. I don’t think anybody’s overlooking us.”<br />
<br />
by Samuel Reiman Wed, 2017-09-20 14:21<br />
Competition Plus<br />
<a href="http://competitionplus.com/drag-racing/news/thus-sayeth-the-rev-fast-jack" target="_blank">Article Link</a><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094809383204369744.post-27238253422804619702017-09-20T10:04:00.004-07:002017-09-20T10:04:42.441-07:00DSR: Beckman, Infinite Hero team travel to Reading for second event of Countdown playoffs after first-round upset near Charlotte<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Sept. 20, 2017) - Despite an early exit at Sunday's NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event, driver Jack Beckman with Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car team remain optimistic for this weekend's NHRA Dodge Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway near Reading, Pa.<br />
<br />
"Coming off a gut punch lose like that it would be really easy as a team to get down and get discouraged, but that's not what we're about," said Beckman.<br />
<br />
Last weekend near Charlotte, Beckman was taken out in the opening round by the lower qualified Jim Campbell of Jim Dunn Racing. Beckman and Infinite Hero team understand the importance of every round win during the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs.<br />
<br />
"Historically, Reading has always been a pivotal race mainly because it was always a little later in the Countdown. For us, it's going to be a pivotal race because we've dug a big hole in the first race of the Countdown.<br />
<br />
"So even though they moved Reading earlier into the schedule to try to avoid dicey weather, I think for the Infinite Hero team it's as important or more important for any team."<br />
<br />
The Dodge Nationals was moved a week earlier, from the third to second race in the six-event Countdown. In the past several years, weather conditions were chilly and often spiced with rain. This weekend the forecast is for the high 80s with a very slight chance of rain.<br />
<br />
The team has ground to make up at this weekend's 33rd annual national event at the picturesque facility.<br />
<br />
"You just can't go out early multiple times in the Countdown and hope to win the championship," said Beckman, the 2012 Funny Car world champ who has won two titles at Maple Grove.<br />
<br />
"If you look at the last couple season, it takes 14 to 15 round wins in the Countdown to have a legitimate shot at the championship.<br />
<br />
"Right now, that would mean us averaging a final round finish so I think we need to take all four round wins at Maple Grove to get right back in the hunt. It's possible that cars in front us could all go out early the next few races but it's not likely. You sure can't depend on your opponents failing for you to succeed."<br />
<br />
Beckman currently sits No. 7 in the NHRA points standings, 102 points behind new points leader, Robert Hight of John Force Racing who won the title Sunday near Charlotte.<br />
<br />
"I think it's imperative for us to unload with a good run (Friday) and really that preparation started right after we lost at Charlotte. It's the three crew chiefs digging into the data and looking at the hard parts. We think we have some horsepower consistency issues that we're going to address. And it's me getting into that mind set of winning."<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">JACK BECKMAN, Terry & Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Foundation 2017 Dodge Charger R/T</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Crew chiefs: Dean Antonelli, John Medlen, Neal Strausbaugh</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">BY THE NUMBERS</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Last event: Sept. 15-17, Charlotte: Qualified No. 4, lost in first round to Jim Campbell</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">A year ago at Reading: Qualified No. 11, lost in semifinals to Tommy Johnson Jr.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Career at Reading: Wins 2 (2008, 2015), Runner-ups 0, Poles 1 (2012)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2017 7th 19 2 2 4 8 3 0 0 29-17</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">CAREER 271 26 27 49 81 81 21 7 361-238 </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Career best time, speed: 3.825 sec., (2016 Pomona 2); 334.15 mph (Seattle 2016)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP - FUNNY CAR </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Through Charlotte, 19 of 24 events, 1 of 6 in Countdown playoff; wins in parenthesis; DSR drivers in CAPS)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 1. Robert Hight (3) 2197 ----- </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 2. Ron Capps (6) 2153 -44</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 3. Courtney Force 2141 -56 </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 4. Tommy Johnson Jr. (1) 2107 -90</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 5. Matt Hagan (3) 2102 -95</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 5. J.R. Todd (2) 2102 -95</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 7. Jack Beckman (2) 2095 -102</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 8. John Force (1) 2085 -112</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 9. Tim Wilkerson 2046 -151</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">10. Cruz Pedregon 2033 -164</span><br />
<br />
<b>About Don Schumacher Racing</b><br />
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/Mopar 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 the late Terry Chandler.<br />
DSR has won 314 NHRA national event titles and 16 world championships.<br />
Follow Don Schumacher Racing at ShoeRacing.com, on Twitter at @shoeracing and Facebook.com/shoeracing.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094809383204369744.post-81339640312861179222017-09-17T18:41:00.001-07:002017-09-17T18:41:11.038-07:00DSR: Frustrating first-round loss for Infinite Hero Dodge team motivates Beckman for remaining five NHRA Countdown playoff races<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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CONCORD, N.C. (Sept. 17, 2017) - No NHRA driver wants to lose in the first round during a national event but losing the opening round of the Countdown to the Championship playoff is one that Jack Beckman hopes will not hurt a chance at a championship.<br />
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"I just hope that this one doesn't come back to bite us at the end of the year," said Beckman, the 2012 Funny Car champion and driver of Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car for Don Schumacher Racing.<br />
<br />
"You can't not take advantage of that big of an opportunity."<br />
<br />
No round of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing series is easy but when Beckman entered the event as the No. 4 qualifier and was matched against No. 13 Jim Campbell, the team had to like their chances of a round win.<br />
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When the two lined up for the first round, Beckman left the starting line nearly three tenths of a second before Campbell but he had issues down track and Campbell drove around him. Beckman slowed to a 4.534-second lap at 225.82 mph to Campbell's 4.189 effort.<br />
<br />
"If someone had told me that you're going to race the No. 13 car and you're going to have a reaction time of more than three tenths better than them, you get a free head start, I would have thought it's a 100 percent shot that we win the race and we smoked the tires.<br />
<br />
"I pedaled, and it started to move over towards the center line and I didn't want to take the cones out, so I lifted early and we lost by 16 thousandths of a second. If we would have lost by a second, it wouldn't have stung this bad because I feel like if I would have done a better job of pedaling the car, we would have been 17 thousandths ahead and we would have still been able to salvage the win light.<br />
<br />
"It's a team effort. When we win, we win as a team of 11 plus all the folks back at the Don Schumacher shop and when we lose, it's the same thing. I don't know what this does. It's a big hole at we've dug ourselves into. We just need to move forward and figure out what this thing needs on a hot race track. We just never quite zeroed in on our horsepower numbers this weekend. We either other shot it or under shot it. We are going to make sure that we get all of our hard parts at the same power level so that this doesn't bite us again."<br />
<br />
The 10th annual Carolina Nationals marks the first event of the NHRA's six-race playoffs. The next race begins next week at Maple Grove Raceway at the Dodge NHRA Nationals.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>JACK BECKMAN, Doug & Terry Chandler's Infinite Hero Foundation 2017 Dodge Charger R/T</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Crew chiefs: Dean Antonelli, John Medlen, Neal Strausbaugh</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">First round: Jim Campbell (4.189 sec., 295.85) def. BECKMAN (4.539, 225.82)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">QUALIFYING RESULTS</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Qualified: No: 4</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">FRIDAY: 5.820 sec., 117.11 mph, (Session 1); 3.906, 330.47, (Session 2)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">SATURDAY: 4.565, 187.60, (Session 3); 3.988, 325.92, (Session 4)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">2017 7th 19 2 2 4 8 3 0 0 29-17</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">CAREER 271 26 27 49 81 81 21 7 361-238</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Career best time, speed: 3.825 sec., (2016 Pomona 2); 334.15 mph (Seattle 2016)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">BY THE NUMBERS</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Last event: Sept. 1-4, Indy: Qualified No. 5, lost in semifinals to Ron Capps</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">2016 Fall at zMAX: Qualified No. 5, lost in first round to Del Worsham</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">2017 Four-Wide: Qualified No. 10, runner-up to Ron Capps</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Career at Four-Wide: Wins 2 (2011, 2015); Runner-ups 0; Poles 0 </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>FUNNY CAR </b> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> 1. Robert Hight (3) 2197 ----- </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> 2. Ron Capps (6) 2153 -44</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> 3. Courtney Force 2141 -56 </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> 4. Tommy Johnson Jr. (1) 2107 -90</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> 5. Matt Hagan (3) 2102 -95</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> 5. J.R. Todd (2) 2102 -95</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b> 7. Jack Beckman (2) 2095 -102</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> 8. John Force (1) 2085 -112</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> 9. Tim Wilkerson 2046 -151</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">10. Cruz Pedregon 2033 -164</span><br />
<br />
<b>About Don Schumacher Racing</b><br />
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/Mopar 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 the late Terry Chandler.<br />
DSR has won 314 NHRA national event titles and 16 world championships.<br />
Follow Don Schumacher Racing at ShoeRacing.com, on Twitter at @shoeracing and Facebook.com/shoeracing.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094809383204369744.post-37857404964474045722017-09-13T20:21:00.000-07:002017-09-13T20:21:33.390-07:00DSR: Traxxas Shootout title gives Beckman, Infinite Hero Dodge team, momentum to start the Countdown playoff near Charlotte<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Sept. 13, 2017) - As the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing series begins its six-race Countdown to the Championship playoff, Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car team with driver Jack Beckman look to continue their momentum from the regular season as they compete for the NHRA Mello Yello Series championship.<br />
<br />
"We have to eliminate parts failure, minimize tune up issues and maximize opportunities for points," said Beckman, the 2012 Funny Car World Champion.<br />
<br />
"The issue with drag racing is that we run these 11,000-horsepower cars to the ragged edge. Any little issue can cause you problems in eliminations then you don't get to go back and make more laps for points. You're done for the day."<br />
<br />
There are only 24 elimination rounds left in the 2017 NHRA season. <br />
<br />
"You're only going to get a chance to compete in, at best, 24 rounds and I think that would be overly optimistic for anybody to think they're going to make it to six finals in a row, especially with how competitive Funny Car is right now. What you really need to avoid is the early exits. We can worry the points into the ground or we can keep plugging away like we have been for the past few months."<br />
<br />
The Infinite Hero team, led by crew chiefs Dean Antonelli, John Medlen and Neal Strausbaugh, has advanced to the quarterfinals or better since the event at Englishtown, N.J. this summer where they earned their first title of the year. Two weeks later, they won at Norwalk, Ohio.<br />
<br />
Over Labor Day Weekend during the U.S. Nationals near Indianapolis, the Infinite Hero team the "race within a race" Traxxas Nitro Shootout all-star event and earned Don Schumacher Racing the $100,000 grand prize.<br />
<br />
"We've been heading in a positive direction. We have a good car and we have a quick car. It's just a matter that everybody has to do their job well and you better hope it's better than the team in the other lane.<br />
<br />
"I would like to think that if we continue what we've done for the past few months and that's treat every single run, whether it's qualifying or eliminations, with a high level of significance. Then prepare, prepare, prepare and then go out there and execute."<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">JACK BECKMAN, Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T - won Traxxas Shootout</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2017 4th 18 2 2 4 8 2 0 0 29-16</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">CAREER 270 26 27 49 81 80 21 7 361-237</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Career best time, speed: 3.825 sec., (2016 Pomona 2); 334.15 mph (Seattle 2016)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">BY THE NUMBERS</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Last event: Sept. 1-4, Indy: Qualified No. 5, lost in semifinals to Ron Capps</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2016 Fall at zMAX: Qualified No. 5, lost in first round to Del Worsham</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2017 Four-Wide: Qualified No. 10, runner-up to Ron Capps</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Career at Four-Wide: Wins 2 (2011, 2015); Runner-ups 0; Poles 0 </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Career at zMAX: Wins 3 (2008, 2011, 2015); Runner-ups 1 (2010): Poles 0</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Reset for six-race playoff; wins in parenthesis; DSR drivers in CAPS)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 1. RON CAPPS (6) 2,100 -----</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 2. Robert Hight (2) 2,080 -20</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 3. MATT HAGAN (3) 2,070 -30</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 4. JACK BECKMAN (2) 2,060 -40</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 5. TOMMY JOHNSON JR. (1) 2,050 -50</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 6. Courtney Force 2,040 -60</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 7. John Force (1) 2,030 -70</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 8. J.R. Todd (2) 2,020 -80</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 9. Tim Wilkerson 2,010 -90</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">10. Cruz Pedregon 2,000 -100</span><br />
<br />
<b>About Don Schumacher Racing</b><br />
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/Mopar 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 the late Terry Chandler.<br />
<br />
DSR has won 314 NHRA national event titles and 16 world championships.<br />
<br />
Follow Don Schumacher Racing at ShoeRacing.com, on Twitter at @shoeracing and Facebook.com/shoeracing.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094809383204369744.post-56911289375798610772017-09-04T19:17:00.001-07:002017-09-04T19:17:45.348-07:00DSR: Beckman, Infinite Hero team advance to semifinals of U.S. Nationals to earn No. 4 Countdown seed after winning Traxxas Shootout<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Sept. 4, 2017) - Sunday of the U.S. Nationals was a perfect day for Jack Beckman and Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Foundation Funny Car Powered by Pennzoil as they won the Traxxas Nitro Shootout all-start event and $100,000 for Don Schumacher Racing.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, on Monday the team was defeated in a close race in the semifinals by DSR teammate and points leader Ron Capps with the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car.<br />
<br />
"We came within two win lights of having the most perfect drag racing weekend you can have," Beckman said.<br />
<br />
"It's always frustrating to not close the deal, we just barely lost to our teammate out there and that's a tough loss coming off a day like we had and a car like we have."<br />
<br />
Beckman entered the 63rd annual U.S. Nationals as the No. 5 qualifier with his 3.859 at 333.16 mph. He faced Tommy Johnson Jr. in the opening session, who is also funded by the Chandlers. Beckman ran a 3.890 (328.54) to win over Johnson's 3.923.<br />
<br />
Beckman then faced NHRA underdog, Jim Campbell, in the second round and won with a time of 3.878 (327.35).<br />
<br />
It was a very close race in the semifinals when Beckman ran a 3.948 (322.81) as Capps went 3.940.<br />
<br />
The Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T led by crew chiefs Dean Antonelli, John Medlen and Neal Strausbaugh could not be too disappointed. They also secured the No. 4 seed for the six-race Countdown to the Championship that opens in two weeks near Charlotte.<br />
<br />
As the NHRA heads into the Countdown and the points are reset, Beckman is 40 points behind Capps.<br />
<br />
"But that is our silver lining," said Beckman, the 2012 Funny Car world champ who has won three Shootout titles. "This car has been fantastic, we're making good tune-up calls, I feel comfortable in the cockpit. Now when they re-set the points we are right on the NAPA car's rear bumper and I like our odds of winning the championship.<br />
<br />
"Plus we did pocket a hundred thousand dollars on Sunday so it wasn't a bad weekend."<br />
<br />
<b>JACK BECKMAN, Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T - won Sunday's Shootout</b><br />
<b>Crew chiefs: Dean Antonelli, John Medlen, Neal Strausbaugh</b><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">MONDAY CHAMPIONSHIP ELIMINATIONS</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">First round: BECKMAN (3.890 sec., 327.03 mph) def. Tommy Johnson Jr. (3.925, 329.34)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Second round: BECKMAN (3.878, 327.35) def. Del Worsham (4.132, 252.90)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Semifinals: Ron Capps (3.940, 324.75) def. BECKMAN (3.948, 322.81)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">QUALIFYING</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Qualified: No. 5</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">FRIDAY: 3.900 sec., 330.08 mph, (Session 1 of 5)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">SATURDAY: 4.869, 157.98, (Session 2 of 5); 3.859, 333.16, (Session 3 of 5)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">SUNDAY: 3.872, 331.77, (Session 4 of 5); , (Session 5 of 5)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2017 4th 18 2 2 4 8 2 0 0 29-16</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">CAREER 270 26 27 49 81 80 21 7 361-237 </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Career best time, speed: 3.825 sec., (2016 Pomona 2); 334.15 mph (Seattle 2016)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">INDY BY THE NUMBERS</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">A year ago at Indy: Qualified No. 2, lost in first round to Dave Richards</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Career at Indy: Wins 1 (2015); Runner-ups 2 (2008, 2013); Poles 1 (2015);</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">All-star/Invitational event titles 4 (2007, 2013, 2015, 2017)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">FUNNY CAR STANDINGS </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2017 COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 1. RON CAPPS (6) 2,100 -----</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 2. Robert Hight (2) 2,080 -20</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 3. MATT HAGAN (3) 2,070 -30</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 4. JACK BECKMAN (2) 2,060 -40</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 5. TOMMY JOHNSON JR. 2,050 -50</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 6. Courtney Force 2,040 -60</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 7. John Force (1) 2,030 -70</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 8. J.R. Todd (2) 2,000 -80</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 9. Tim Wilkerson 2,010 -90</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">10. Cruz Pedregon 2,000 -100</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">FINAL 2017 NHRA MELLO YELLO REGULAR SEASON</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 1. RON CAPPS (6) 1,530</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 2. Robert Hight (2) 1,344</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 3. MATT HAGAN (3) 1,280</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 4. JACK BECKMAN (2) 1,275</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 5. TOMMY JOHNSON JR. (1) 1,229</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 6. Courtney Force 1,072</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 7. John Force (1) 1,007</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 8. J.R. Todd (2) 959</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 9. Tim Wilkerson 902</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">10. Cruz Pedregon 730</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>About Don Schumacher Racing</b><br />
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/Mopar 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 the late Terry Chandler.<br />
DSR has won 314 NHRA national event titles and 16 world championships.<br />
Follow Don Schumacher Racing at ShoeRacing.com, on Twitter at @shoeracing and Facebook.com/shoeracing.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094809383204369744.post-9184177050619040052017-09-03T19:13:00.001-07:002017-09-03T19:13:17.793-07:00DSR: Beckman drives Chandlers' Infinite Hero Dodge to $100,000 Traxxas win; Hagan holds on to Funny Car pole with Mopar, aims for Labor Day history<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Sept. 3, 2017) - Don Schumacher Racing won at least one Traxxas Nitro Shootout title since the event's inception in 2012, and no one has won the $100,000 bonus for DSR more than Jack Beckman.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
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"Just getting into the Shootout is incredibly difficult," Beckman said. "There are a litany of ways you can get into the Shootout but only one way to get the trophy: You have to beat three of the baddest cars on the planet in one day. There were no gimmes."<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
"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.<br />
<br />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.<br />
<br />
"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."<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
"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.<br />
<br />
"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."<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
"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.<br />
<br />
"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<br />
ns making things safer out here.<br />
<br />
"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.<br />
<br />
"It's Indy baby. The carnage is big, because it's worth it."<br />
<br />
PAPA JOHN'S, SCHUMACHER PRESENT $40,000 TO CHARITIES <br />
"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.<br />
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.<br />
This year, the Charity Challenge has raised $80,000 for Infinite Hero and $20,000 for Riley Kids.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">SUNDAY'S TRAXXAS FUNNY CAR NITRO SHOOTOUT </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Sunday's Results</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(NOTE: First and final rounds of Traxxas Shootout count toward second and third round qualifying session.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">FIRST ROUND</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">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;</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">John Force, 3.949, 309.98 def. MATT HAGAN (80th Anniversary Mopar/Express Lane), 3.918, 331.45;</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">RON CAPPS (NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge), 3.871, 330.55 def. Courtney Force, 3.911, 329.91;</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Robert Hight 3.889, 332.34 def. J.R. Todd 3.956, 316.60</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">SEMIFINALS</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Hight (3.893, 332.51) def. J. Force (3.954, 314.24)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">BECKMAN (4.942, 204.23) def. CAPPS (5.568, 129.33)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">FINAL</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">BECKMAN (3.952, 324.67) def. Hight (4.360, 207.11</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Traxxas Nitro Funny Car Shootout winners</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2017 - JACK BECKMAN (DSR)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2016 - Courtney Force (JFR)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2015 - JACK BECKMAN (DSR)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2014 - John Force (JFR)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2013 - JACK BECKMAN (DSR)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2012 - John Force (JFR)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The following are Sunday's final qualifying results for DSR:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">TOP FUEL</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">No. 1 qualifier: Clay Millican (Doug Stringer Racing) 3.663 sec.-track record, 329.10 mph</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">LEAH PRITCHETT, Papa John's Pizza </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Crew chief: Todd Okuhara; assistant crew chief: Joe Barlam</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">MONDAY CHAMPIONSHIP ELIMINATIONS</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">First round: Wayne Newby</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">QUALIFYING</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Qualified: No. 2</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">FRIDAY: 3.667 sec.-track record, 329.50 mph, (Session 1 of 5)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">SATURDAY: 3.782, 312.13* (Session 2 of 5); 8.881, 8.087, (Session 3 of 5)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">SUNDAY: 3.771, 316.45, (Session 4 of 5); 3.764, 322.11, (Session 5 of 5)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2017 3rd 17 4 2 7 3 1 6 0 39-13</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">CAREER 87 5 3 14 16 43 7 6 73-76</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Career best time, speed: 3.640 sec.-world record (2017 Brainerd); 331.53 (2017 Brainerd)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">INDY BY THE NUMBERS</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">A year ago at Indy: Qualified No. 10, lost in first round to Shawn Langdon</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Career at Indy: Wins 0, Runner-ups 0, Poles 0</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">TONY SCHUMACHER, U.S. Army </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Crew chief: Mike Green; assistant crew chief: Phil Shuler</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">MONDAY CHAMPIONSHIP ELIMINATIONS</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">First round: Terry McMillen</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">QUALIFYING</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Qualified: No. 4</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">FRIDAY: 3.735 sec., 327.82 mph, (Session 1 of 5)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">SATURDAY: 3.747, 324.51, (Session 2 of 5); 3.680, 330.31, (Session 3 of 5)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">SUNDAY: 4.754, 152.74, (Session 4 of 5); (Session 5 of 5)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2017 4th 17 1 3 3 6 5 3 0 24-16</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">CAREER 473 83 64 74 131 114 83 8 800-382</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Career best time, speed: 3.660 sec. (2017, Topeka); 332.51 mph (2016, Brainerd)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">BRAINERD BY THE NUMBERS</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Last event (Aug. 6), Seattle: Qualified No. 6, lost in second round to Leah Pritchett</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">INDY BY THE NUMBERS</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">A year ago at Indy: Qualified No. 4, won in championship round over Steve Torrence</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Career at Indy: Wins 10-record (2000, 2002-04, 2006-09, 2012, 2016); Runner-ups 2 (2005, 1996);</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Poles 4 (2005-07, 2014); All-star/Invitational event titles 1 (2005)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">ANTRON BROWN, Mello Yello/Matco Tools/U.S. Army/Toyota </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Crew chiefs: Brian Corradi, Mark Oswald; assistant crew chief: Brad Mason</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">MONDAY CHAMPIONSHIP ELIMINATIONS</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">First round: Scott Palmer</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">QUALIFYING</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Qualified: No. 6</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">FRIDAY: 3.689 sec., 329.75 mph, (Session 1 of 5)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">SATURDAY: 3.808, 312.42*, (Session 2 of 5); 3.694, 329.91, (Session 3 of 5)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">SUNDAY: 4.860, 149.05, (Session 4 of 5); 3.744, 326.95, (Session 5 of 5)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2017 1st 17 4 6 2 5 0 2 0 43-13</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">CAREER 375 65* 53 76 98 80 49 3 666-307 </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> * 49 TF/16 PSB </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Career best time, speed: 3.667 (2017, Phoenix); 333.16 mph (2017, Topeka)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">INDY BY THE NUMBERS</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">A year ago at Indy: Qualified No. 5, lost in second round to Tony Schumacher</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Career at Indy: Wins 3 (2000, 2004-PSM; 2011-TF), Runner-ups 0, Poles 4 (2009, 2011, 2012, 2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">FUNNY CAR</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">No. 1 qualifier: Matt Hagan (Don Schumacher Racing), 3.799 sec., 338.77 mph - track records</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">MATT HAGAN, 80th Anniversary Mopar/Express Lane Dodge Charger R/T </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Crew chief: Dickie Venables; assistant crew chief: Michael Knudsen</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">MONDAY CHAMPIONSHIP ELIMINATIONS</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">First round: Jim Campbell</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">QUALIFYING</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Qualified: No. 1</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">FRIDAY: 3.799 sec., 338.77 mph - track records, (Session 1 of 5)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">SATURDAY: 3.848m 336.23, (Session 2 of 5); 3.821, 337.83, (Session 3 of 5)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">SUNDAY: 3.918, 331.45, (Session 4 of 5); 3.905, 329.83, (Session 5 of 5)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2017 3rd 17 3 1 6 4 3 3 0 31-14</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">CAREER 209 25 23 34 66 59 29 4 296-180 </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Career best time, speed: 3.802 sec. (2017,Topeka); 338.85 mph (2017, Topeka)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">INDY BY THE NUMBERS</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">A year ago at Indy: Qualified No. 1, won in championship round over Del Worsham</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Career at Indy: Wins 1 (2016); Runner-ups 0; Poles 5 (2010, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">JACK BECKMAN, Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Crew chiefs: Dean Antonelli, John Medlen, Neal Strausbaugh</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">MONDAY CHAMPIONSHIP ELIMINATIONS</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">First round: Tommy Johnson Jr.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">QUALIFYING</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Qualified: No. 5</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">FRIDAY: 3.900 sec., 330.08 mph, (Session 1 of 5)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">SATURDAY: 4.869, 157.98, (Session 2 of 5); 3.859, 333.16, (Session 3 of 5)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">SUNDAY: 3.872, 331.77, (Session 4 of 5); , (Session 5 of 5)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2017 5th 17 2 2 3 8 2 0 0 27-15</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">CAREER 269 26 27 48 81 80 21 7 359-236</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Career best time, speed: 3.825 sec., (2016 Pomona 2); 334.15 mph (Seattle 2016)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">INDY BY THE NUMBERS</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">A year ago at Indy: Qualified No. 2, lost in first round to Dave Richards</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Career at Indy: Wins 1 (2015); Runner-ups 2 (2008, 2013); Poles 1 (2015);</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">All-star/Invitational event titles 3 (2007, 2013, 2015)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">RON CAPPS, NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Crew chief Rahn Tobler:; assistant crew chief: Eric Lane</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">MONDAY CHAMPIONSHIP ELIMINATIONS</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">First round: Alexis DeJoria</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">QUALIFYING</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Qualified: No. 8</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">FRIDAY: 10.938 sec., 71.07 mph, (Session 1 of 5)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">SATURDAY: 3.883, 329.67, (Session 2 of 5); 3.906, 308.57, (Session 3 of 5)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">SUNDAY: 3.871, 330.55, (Session 4 of 5); 4.053, 262.13, (Session 5 of 5)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2017 1st 17 6 2 2 4 3 0 0 36-11</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">CAREER 500 56* 52 91 102 181 21 19 663-425</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> * 55 FC/1 TF</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Career best time, speed: 3.839 sec. (2017, Phoenix); 333.58 mph (2017, Phoenix)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">INDY BY THE NUMBERS</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">A year ago at Indy: Qualified No. 3, lost in semifinals to Del Worsham</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Career at Indy: Wins 0; Runner-ups 0; Poles 0; All-star/Invitational event titles 3 (1998-99, 2002)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">TOMMY JOHNSON JR., Terry and Doug Chandler's Riley Kids Dodge Charger R/T </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Crew chief: John Collins; assistant crew chief: Rip Reynolds</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">MONDAY CHAMPIONSHIP ELIMINATIONS</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">First round: Jack Beckman</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">QUALIFYING</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Qualified: No. 12</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">FRIDAY: 9.922 sec., 76.00 mph, (Session 1 of 5)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">SATURDAY: 10.777, 79.36, (Session 2 of 5);11.027, 84.08, (Session 3 of 5)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">SUNDAY: 4.000, 324.98, (Session 4 of 5); 3.988, 324.20, (Session 5 of 5)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2017 4th 17 1 4 5 3 4 1 0 29-16</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">CAREER 415 16* 28 58 101 168 15 44 365-355</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> * 14 FC/2 TF</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Career best time, speed: 3.837 sec. (Phoenix 2017); 332.02 mph (Sonoma 2017)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">INDY BY THE NUMBERS</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">A year ago at Indy: Qualified No. 5, lost in semifinals to Matt Hagan</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Career at Indy: Wins 0; Runner-ups 1 (2002); Poles 2 (2000, 1999)</span><br />
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<b>About Don Schumacher Racing</b><br />
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.<br />
<br />
DSR has won 314 NHRA national event titles and 16 world championships.<br />
Follow Don Schumacher Racing at ShoeRacing.com, on Twitter at @shoeracing and Facebook.com/shoeracing.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094809383204369744.post-87593354095824178292017-08-31T11:53:00.002-07:002017-08-31T11:53:53.111-07:00DSR: Beckman, Infinite Hero Dodge look forward to prestigious U.S. Nationals near Indianapolis this weekend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Aug. 29, 2017) - Jack Beckman would prefer NHRA didn't enhance points values this weekend for the NHRA U.S., Nationals near Indianapolis for the biggest event of the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.<br />
<br />
Points awarded for each round win during Monday's championship eliminations will be worth 30 points instead of the customary 20.<br />
<br />
"I'm not in favor of the making the points one-and-a-half times the value that they usually are, but I understand they want to create more drama for fans," said Beckman, who won the Funny Car title at Indy in 2015 for Don Schumacher Racing in Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T.<br />
<br />
"Points should be absolute like they are in football and baseball: points and runs don't change all year. Let's not change our sport."<br />
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But the veteran driver, who also owns three all-star shootout titles at Indy, acknowledges when it comes to the 63rd annual "Big Go" points do not matter.<br />
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"Even without any points, you'd still do everything you could to win Indy," he said, "The proof is how many teams were at Indy to test for two days last week. These teams could have used a break and we didn't need to tear up any more parts. But we were there flogging our stuff making seven or eight runs to get ready for Indy.<br />
<br />
"They could not offer any points at Indy and it would still be Indy. And we'd all still be there."<br />
<br />
Beckman called his team's test last week one of the five best of his career. "And I've tested a lot."<br />
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One example was a Friday night run when he set unofficial Indy track records with a run in 3.827 seconds at 337.07 mph with crew chiefs Dean Antonelli, John Medlen and Neal Strausbaugh.<br />
<br />
"I think if you go to a test session and your car goes to the finish line under power on every run, you're not pushing the envelope enough," Beckman said. "The whole point of a test session isn't to just go and make laps, it's not practice. It's trying things you think might work and they don't all work."<br />
<br />
Beckman and the Infinite Hero Dodge has won two titles this year and will start Friday night qualifying ranked fifth in points behind DSR teammates Ron Capps (first), Matt Hagan (third) and Tommy Johnson Jr. (fourth).<br />
<br />
The potential for a big points swing with 191 points up for grabs over Labor Day Weekend could allow Beckman to move up as high as second. Each position he can advance would pay dividends when the six-race Countdown to the Championship playoff begins two weeks after Indy near Charlotte and the points for the top-10 drivers will be reset. The regular season points leader will start 20 points ahead of No. 2 with others set apart by 10-point intervals.<br />
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"Every spot you can advance could be instrumental when the Mello Yello championship trophy is handed out. It's important to move up in the standings this weekend but it's more important to win Indy. And if you win Indy, the points will take care of themselves."<br />
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JACK BECKMAN, Doug & Terry Chandler's Infinite Hero Foundation 2017 Dodge Charger R/T Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L<br />
2017 5th 17 2 2 3 8 2 0 0 27-15<br />
CAREER 269 26 27 48 81 80 21 7 359-236<br />
<br />
Career best time, speed: 3.825 sec., (2016 Pomona 2); 334.15 mph (Seattle 2016)<br />
INDY BY THE NUMBERS<br />
Last event (Aug. 20), Brainerd, Minn.: Qualified No. 6, lost in second round to John Force<br />
A year ago at Indy: Qualified No. 2, lost in first round to Dave Richards<br />
Career at Indy: Wins 1 (2015); Runner-ups 2 (2008, 2013); Poles 1 (2015);<br />
All-star/Invitational event titles 3 (2007, 2013, 2015)<br />
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2017 NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES FUNNY CAR STANDINGS <br />
(Official after Brainerd; 17 of 24 events: wins in parenthesis; DSR drivers in CAPS)<br />
FUNNY CAR <br />
1. RON CAPPS (6) 1,383 ----<br />
2. Robert Hight (2) 1,247 -136<br />
3. MATT HAGAN (3) 1,214 -169<br />
4. TOMMY JOHNSON JR. (1) 1,180 -203<br />
5. JACK BECKMAN (2) 1,160 -223<br />
6. Courtney Force 1,012 -371<br />
7. John Force (1) 954 -429<br />
8. Tim Wilkerson 792 -591<br />
9. J.R. Todd (1) 788 -595<br />
10. Alexis DeJoria (1) 664 -719<br />
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DSR OPEN HOUSE PRESENTED BY PENNZOIL TO BENEFIT RILEY HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN: The 12th annual DSR Open House presented by Pennzoil to benefit Riley Hospital for Children is 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday at Don Schumacher Racing headquarters (1681 E. Northfield Drive, Brownsburg) to kick off the U.S. Nationals held only 2 miles from DSR.<br />
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DSR's seven nitro drivers and team owner Don Schumacher will be on hand to sign autographs at noon after a performance by the Gordon Pipers bagpipe and drum corp. In addition to a silent auction (see early items at dsr17.auction-bid.org), the Open House features one of Indiana's biggest indoor car and bike shows organized by the Indy Hi-Winders Car Club, nitro Cacklefest, various displays and vendors and some of the area's most popular food trucks and Papa John's pizza.<br />
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COUNTDOWN TO THE COUNTDOWN: Many drivers consider the U.S. Nationals to be the "first" race of the Mello Yello Series Countdown to the Championship six-race playoff that begins two weeks after Indy near Charlotte.<br />
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Although Indy is the last of 18 regular season events, it will finalize the top-10 drivers who qualify to contend for their respective world titles, and points are reset after Indy for the Countdown.<br />
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This week offers drivers a chance to earn a maximum of 191 points compared to 130 offered at the previous 17 races. Indy is the only Mello Yello event with five qualifying sessions instead of four.<br />
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The quickest driver in each session earns four bonus points, second quick gets three, third quick gets two and fourth quick gets one. Each round win on Monday pays 30 points instead of 20. Each driver making a qualifying attempt earns 15 and added points are issued for the final qualifying order: 10 for first, nine for second, eight for third, seven for fourth, six each for fifth and sixth, five for seventh and eighth, four for ninth through 12th and three for 13th through 16th.<br />
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$100,000 TRAXXAS TOP FUEL NITRO SHOOTOUT: All three DSR nitro teams are qualified for the $100,000-to-win Traxxas Top Fuel Nitro Shootout. One spot in each category will be determined by a fan vote and lottery drawing on Wednesday during Fanfest at Monument Circle in downtown Indy.<br />
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The top seed for Saturday's Top Fuel Shootout is DSR's three-time and reigning world champion ANTRON BROWN, who will race the lottery winner in the first round. Other first-round matchups are: LEAH PRITCHETT vs. Doug Kalitta, TONY SCHUMACHER vs. Brittany Force and Steve Torrence vs. Clay Millican.<br />
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The top-seed for Sunday's Funny Car Shootout is DSR's reigning world champion RON CAPPS, who will race the lottery winner in the first round. Other first-round matchups are: MATT HAGAN vs. John Force, TOMMY JOHNSON JR. vs. JACK BECKMAN and Robert Hight vs. J.R. Todd.<br />
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U.S. NATIONALS ON FOX: FOX national broadcast and FS1 will televise coverage of the U.S. Nationals, starting with qualifying on Sunday, Sept. 3 on FS1 at 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. (EDT). The broadcasts continue on FS1 with two hours of live coverage of eliminations on Monday, Sept. 4 starting at 11 a.m., continuing live on FOX at 1 p.m.<br />
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About Don Schumacher Racing<br />
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/Mopar 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 the late Terry Chandler.<br />
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DSR has won 314 NHRA national event titles and 16 world championships.<br />
Follow Don Schumacher Racing at ShoeRacing.com, on Twitter at @shoeracing and Facebook.com/shoeracing.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094809383204369744.post-90328479371804110592017-08-24T22:24:00.000-07:002017-08-24T22:24:01.807-07:00NHRA: FORMER CHEVROLET PERFORMANCE U.S. NATIONALS WINNER BECKMAN LEADS FUNNY CAR TESTING AT LUCAS OIL RACEWAY AT INDIANAPOLIS <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
(BROWNSBURG, Ind.) Jack Beckman led the Funny Car category during the second and final day of testing for the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis. Tony Schumacher improved upon his time from Wednesday to lead Top Fuel.<br />
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Beckman, the 2015 event winner, ran a time of 3.827 seconds at 337.07 mph in his first run of the day. Beckman has two wins, two runner-up finishes on the season, and is using the test to prepare his Infinite Hero Foundation Charger R/T for the coming event.<br />
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“I think if you go to a test session and your car goes to the finish line under power on every run, you’re not pushing the envelope enough,” Beckman said. The whole point of a test session isn’t to just go and make laps, it’s not practice. It’s trying things you think might work and they don’t all work.”<br />
<br />
Robert Hight in his Auto Club of Southern California Chevy Camaro had the second best lap during the session with a run of 3.842 at 330.88. He has three wins at ‘The Big Go’, his last coming in 2013. His win total ties him for fourth on the all-time Funny Car event win list and one more would put him into a tie with his boss John Force and legendary racer Don Prudhomme. Hight and his team had consistent runs during the day and will bring favorable tune-up into the race.<br />
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“We’ve made about seven runs and all of them have been in the 3.80’s,” Hight stated. “We failed to go one time but we were trying some crazy stuff. I wish Indy started tomorrow. It’s a big week and I can’t wait.”<br />
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In Top Fuel Tony Schumacher again led the field with his time of 3.702 at 332.34 in his U.S. Army dragster. Antron Brown was in second at 3.722 at 330.72.<br />
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The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series teams that participated in the test were all preparing for the world’s biggest drag race, the 63rd annual Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, Aug. 30-Sept. 4, unleashing the thrilling, 10,000-horsepower action of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.<br />
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Drag racing’s grandest event marks the end of the NHRA regular season and is the 18th of 24 races in the 2017 season. With teams battling for top 10 spots in the six-race Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship and with an increased amount of points in play via the point-and-a-half system for this event (150 points to the winner), the stakes will be high at the event know as the Big Go.<br />
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In all, during the course of six days, nearly 1,000 drivers competing across 12 categories have the goal of holding the Wally trophy on Labor Day Monday and expanded prize money, the prestigious Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals the most-coveted victory in drag racing. Winning the event has become a necessity for drivers, who say that no career is truly complete without a win at drag racing’s biggest race.<br />
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The top drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will compete for their place in Indy history. Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Chris McGaha (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year’s winners of a race that will be broadcasted on the FOX national broadcast network and Fox Sports 1 (FS1), including a live broadcast of Monday’s finals on both FOX and FS1 on Monday, Sept. 4.<br />
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The first of five Mello Yello Series qualifying sessions is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 1. Two more sessions will take to the track on Saturday, Sept. 2 at 2:30 p.m. and 6:15 p.m., and the final two qualifying sessions will take place on Sunday, Sept. 3 at 11:30 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. Final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 4. The Traxxas Nitro Shootout for Top Fuel will be contested Saturday, Sept. 2 with rounds at 3:45 p.m., 5:45 p.m. and 7:40 p.m. The Traxxas Nitro Shootout for Funny Car takes place on Sunday, Sept. 3 for the eight qualified drivers, with rounds at 12:45 p.m., 2:45 p.m. and 4:40 p.m.<br />
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FOX national broadcast and FS1 will televise coverage of the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, starting with qualifying on Sunday, Sept. 3 on FS1 at 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. EST. The broadcasts continue on FS1 with two hours of live coverage of eliminations on Monday, Sept. 4 starting at 11 a.m. EST, continuing live on FOX at 1 p.m. EST.<br />
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Tickets for the world’s most prestigious drag race can be purchased by calling the NHRA Ticket Sales Center at (800) 884-NHRA (6472), or online at www.NHRA.com/tickets. Kids 12 and under are free in general admission areas with a paid adult. To honor the Salute to First Responders, military and first responders can save 20 percent on general admission tickets at the gate. For more information about the NHRA visit www.NHRA.com.<br />
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Top Fuel<br />
1.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Tony Schumacher: 3.702, 332.34<br />
2.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Antron Brown: 3.722, 330.72<br />
3.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Billy Torrence: 3.775, 292.08<br />
4.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Shawn Langdon: 3.817, 259.41<br />
5.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Wayne Newby: 3.840, 306309.91<br />
6.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Ashley Sanford: 3.848, 302.48<br />
7.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Troy Coughlin Jr.: 3.882, 258.07<br />
8.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Brittany Force: 4.599, 163.12<br />
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Funny Car<br />
1.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Jack Beckman: 3.827, 337.07<br />
2.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Robert Hight: 3.842, 330.88<br />
3.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Ron Capps: 3.863, 330.72<br />
4.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Tommy Johnson Jr.: 3.864, 311.63<br />
5.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Courtney Force: 3.868, 332.18<br />
6.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>John Force: 3.868, 292.14<br />
7.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>J.R. Todd: 3.899, 308.71<br />
8.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Johnnie Lindberg: 3.935, 296.63<br />
9.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Alexis DeJoria: 3.946, 286.13<br />
10.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Cruz Pedregon: 4.761, 167.18Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094809383204369744.post-10671056225972560002017-08-20T19:09:00.000-07:002017-08-20T19:09:07.882-07:00DSR: Beckman, Infinite Hero Dodge leave Brainerd No. 5 in NHRA points, ready to test this week near Indy to prepare for U.S. Nationals<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 20, 2017) - After getting a fortuitous break in Sunday's first round, Jack Beckman's luck went up in smoke in the second round of the NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway.<br />
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"A lot of times you have race weekends where from the moment you unload the car on Friday morning until the moment you put it back in the trailer after the winner's circle Sunday night, everything goes right. This was not one of those weekends for the Infinite Hero team," Beckman said of Terry and Doug Chandler's Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car team.<br />
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"We had an air-line leak on our first qualifying run. I have never done a burnout where the thing stuck the tire and yanked the front end. After that, we made three solid runs, he said of qualifying sixth.<br />
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"Went to load the car Saturday night and it wouldn't steer. A chunk of metal had come loose in the steering box and we thought, 'well, we're really being watched over right now.' Then we go up there in this morning and dodged a huge bullet when Brian Stewart redlights before we overpowered the track."<br />
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Beckman qualified with a time of 3.886 seconds at 333.25 mph on Friday night. He lined up with the No. 11 qualifier Stewart and went up in smoke and coasted to a 4.290 (207.56) while Stewart's disallowed time was quicker.<br />
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In the second round, Beckman smoked the tires against John Force.<br />
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"We thought we made the proper adjustments, we took what we thought was going to be a really quick racecar up there second round and it literally did not go one foot before it smoked the tires," Beckman said.<br />
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In two weeks, the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing series heads to Indianapolis of the prestigious U.S. Nationals. The points standings will then be reset for the NHRA's version of the playoffs. Beckman and the Chandlers' Dodge dropped one spot to fifth in points.<br />
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"We're OK, we're solidly in the Countdown (to the Championship) and we want to win Indy. We still have a chance to move up a position or two before they reset the Countdown points."<br />
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This week, the Infinite Hero team will join other top nitro teams for testing Wednesday and Thursday at Indy.<br />
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"We will work our tails off Wednesday and Thursday, and flog this car, and make sure we exorcise our demons. I am not superstitious, but we just had a whole bunch of dumb racing luck here at Brainerd. We'll get that out of our system and move forward."<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">JACK BECKMAN, Doug & Terry Chandler's Infinite Hero Foundation 2017 Dodge Charger R/T</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Crew chiefs: Dean Antonelli, John Medlen, Neal Strausbaugh</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">SUNDAY CHAMPIONSHIP ELIMINATIONS</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">First round: BECKMAN (4.290 sec., 207.56 mph) def. Brian Stewart (4.083, 247.25-DQ/redlight)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Second round: John Force (3.896, 335.48) def. BECKMAN (9.505, 72.67)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">QUALIFYING RESULTS</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Qualified: No. 6</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">FRIDAY: 6.535 sec., 129.18 mph, (first session); 3.886, 333.25, (second session)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">SATURDAY: 3.931, 326.87, (third session); 3.914, 329.83, (fourth session)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">BRAINERD BY THE NUMBERS</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">A year ago at Brainerd: Qualified No. 4, lost in second round to DSR teammate Ron Capps</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Career at Brainerd: Wins 0, Runner-ups 2 (2008, 2010), Poles 3 (2012, 2013, 2012)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2017 4th 16 2 2 3 7 2 0 0 26-14</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">CAREER 268 26 27 48 80 80 21 7 358-235</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Career best time, speed: 3.825 sec., (2016 Pomona 2); 334.15 mph (Seattle 2016)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2017 NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES FUNNY CAR STANDINGS </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Official after Brainerd; 17 of 24 events; wins in parenthesis; DSR drivers in CAPS)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 1. RON CAPPS (6) 1,383 ----</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 2. Robert Hight (2) 1,247 -116</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 3. MATT HAGAN (3) 1,214 -149</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 4. TOMMY JOHNSON JR. (1) 1,180 -183</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 5. JACK BECKMAN (2) 1,160 -203</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 6. Courtney Force 1,012 -351</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 7. John Force (1) 954 -409</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 8. Tim Wilkerson 792 -571</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 9. J.R. Todd (1) 788 -575</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">10. Alexis DeJoria (1) 664 - 699</span><br />
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<b>12th annual DSR Open House for Riley Kids presented by Pennzoil set for 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Friday Sept. 1 to during U.S. Nationals<br /></b></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Don Schumacher Racing will host its most special day of the year on Sept. 1 (Friday) when it opens its doors to the public to support Riley Hospital for Children with its 12th annual Open House presented by Pennzoil from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. as the nitro kickoff for the NHRA U.S. Nationals.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />The DSR Open House presented by Pennzoil attracted more than 4,000 fans last year to DSR's 145,000-square-foot facility and raised a record $65,000 that pushed DSR's total contributions to over $500,000 for the Riley Hospital for Children.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />Open House activities include:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">- A meet and greet with DSR's seven winning drivers (Tony Schumacher, Antron Brown, Leah Pritchett, Ron Capps, Matt Hagan, Jack Beckman and Tommy Johnson Jr.) along with hall-of-fame owner Don Schumacher;</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">- Expansive silent auction courtesy of DSR with racing memorabilia, products and services donated by friends and sponsors;</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">- Behind-the-scenes access to the DSR drag racing facility including tours of its fabrication and machine shops;</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">- One of the largest indoor car shows in Indiana featuring 200 of the Midwest's best custom and muscle cars, and motorcycles;</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">- Cacklefest featuring nostalgia dragsters that will delight fans with the sounds of vintage nitro horsepower;</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">- Papa John's Pizza will be selling pizza with all proceeds going to Riley Kids; Food trucks also will be on site with a portion of sales going to Riley;</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> <br />A new feature this year will be a performance by the Gordon Pipers bagpipe and drum marching band that features Scottish/Celtic culture and music. The Gordon Pipers have been one of the most popular elements of Indy 500 pre-race festivities and perform at Indianapolis Colts games and other major Indy events.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><b>About Don Schumacher Racing</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">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/Mopar 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 the late Terry Chandler.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">DSR has won 314 NHRA national event titles and 16 world championships.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />Follow Don Schumacher Racing at ShoeRacing.com, on Twitter at @shoeracing and Facebook.com/shoeracing. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094809383204369744.post-38455756871246091502017-08-16T11:36:00.003-07:002017-08-16T11:39:26.831-07:00DSR: Beckman counting down to championship playoff with Chandlers' Infinite Hero Dodge as he heads for third NHRA Mello Yello title this weekend in Northern Minnesota<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Aug. 16, 2017) - Jack Beckman returned to his drag racing roots last weekend with a trip to near Boise, Idaho, to compete in NHRA Sportsman competition during the Nightfire Nationals at Firebird Raceway.<br />
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The 2003 NHRA Super Comp world champion drove Dick VanderMeer's 180-mph Top Dragster and realized to stay on top of the Sportsman game you had better race in it more than once a year.<br />
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"It was a great weekend even if I could have done better in Dick's dragster," said Beckman, who returns to his full-time job driving Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T Funny for Don Schumacher Racing this weekend in the NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway in North Minnesota.<br />
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He spent several days in Idaho with his family but is eager to get back to work when qualifying begins Friday at Brainerd, where he has advanced to two final rounds, won three poles but has yet to add a Brainerd Wally Trophy to his collection of 26.<br />
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Brainerd marks the 17th of 18 events in the Mello Yello regular season, and after this weekend only the prestigious NHRA U.S. Nationals two weeks later near Indianapolis over Labor Day Weekend left before points are reset to begin the six-race Countdown to the Championship playoff for the top-10 drivers who qualify to contend for the world title. The regular-season points leader will have a 30-point lead over No. 2 and others will be separated at 10-point increments to open the Countdown at Charlotte.<br />
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Beckman and his Dodge Charger R/T team led by crew chiefs Dean Antonelli, John Medlen and Neal Strausbaugh will start the Brainerd race ranked fourth in Mello Yello points. Beckman is 68 points out of second place but only 23 ahead fifth-ranked DSR teammate Tommy Johnson Jr.<br />
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"We dropped from third to fourth after the last race (two weeks ago at Seattle), and a couple drivers behind us close to catching us," Beckman said. "We can get up to second before the Countdown.<br />
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"This is the time of the year when teams contending for the championship are going to raise their hands and notify everyone else of what they can do. We'll be smart and keep picking away at stuff at Brainerd."<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">BY THE NUMBERS FOR DSR AT BRAINERD </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2017 4th 16 2 2 3 7 2 0 0 26-14</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">CAREER 268 26 27 48 80 80 21 7 358-235 </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Career best time, speed: 3.825 sec., (2016 Pomona 2); 334.15 mph (Seattle 2016)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Last event (Aug. 6), Seattle: Qualified No. 5, lost in second round to Courtney Force</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">A year ago at Brainerd: Qualified No. 4, lost in second round to DSR teammate Ron Capps</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Career at Brainerd: Wins 0, Runner-ups 2 (2008, 2010), Poles 3 (2012, 2013, 2012)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>2017 NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES FUNNY CAR STANDINGS </b> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Official after Seattle; 16 of 24 events: wins in parenthesis; DSR drivers in CAPS)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 1. RON CAPPS (6) 1,330 -----</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 2. MATT HAGAN (3) 1,172 -158</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 3. Robert Hight (2) 1,164 -166</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b> 4. JACK BECKMAN (2) 1,104 -226</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 5. TOMMY JOHNSON JR. (1) 1,081 -249</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 6. Courtney Force 951 -379</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 7. John Force (1) 877 -453</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 8. Tim Wilkerson 759 -571</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> 9. J.R. Todd (1) 756 -574</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">10. Cruz Pedregon 601 -729</span><br />
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<b>About Don Schumacher Racing</b><br />
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/Mopar 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 the late Terry Chandler.<br />
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DSR has won 313 NHRA national event titles and 16 world championships.<br />
Follow Don Schumacher Racing at ShoeRacing.com, on Twitter at @shoeracing and Facebook.com/shoeracing.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com