BAYTOWN, Texas (April 30, 2016) – Rain doesn’t deter avid surfer Jack
Beckman from catching a wave near his Southern California home, but
precipitation is a drag racers worst enemy.
And the former NHRA Funny Car world champion and his Infinite Hero
team led by crew chief Jimmy Prock were not rooting for farmers after
Friday’s overcast and humid opening day of qualifying for the NHRA
SpringNationals near Houston when his Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T
lost traction almost at the hit of the throttle.
“We hadn’t been past the Christmas tree on either of our Friday
runs,” said Beckman, whose team won seven time last year and has been
No. 1 qualifier at three of the first five events this season in the
Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.
“That first 200 feet are pretty critical. We needed to at least get
past halftrack, and did we that both times today. We can afford to push
it now.”
Although neither pass in the third and fourth sessions were stellar,
they were major improvements over subpar 7- and 10-second runs at less
than 90 mph on Friday. Beckman recorded 4.192 and 4.123 runs Saturday,
and although he lost traction late in the runs but it was enough to
provide computer data and encouragement for the first round of
eliminations that begin at 11 a.m. (CT).
“We had a very unusual Friday. It kind of painted us into a corner.
The car was spinning the tires early and we made big changes with the
clutch disc package to try to get it to run better. And we were better
on the first run on Saturday, and we were a little better than that on
the second run on Saturday.
The problem is, we’re going into Sunday as
the underdog against the car that’s made several laps quicker than our
best lap. So it really forces you to take an educated guess. We’re going
to have to apply older data with new parts that we don’t have a lot of
experience with and if our calculations come out okay, we’ll be fine.
This isn’t a position this team is used to being in but we’re hopeful
for good results.”
Beckman will face Robert Hight tomorrow for the first round of eliminations.
“We did not want to go into race day (Sunday) with only our two runs
from Friday, and truly no tune-up to take up there and be competitive,”
he said. “We feel like we made some logical changes and it showed on the
racetrack. Now we feel we will be a player on Sunday.
“We have a fast racecar. When the conditions have been right this
year we set the national record (3.879), several track records and were
No. 1 qualifier at three of the first five races. The problem has been
when the track gets warm our car hasn’t been as consistent as it was
last year.”
Championship eliminations are scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. (CT) with
a three-hour program starting at 5 p.m. (ET) on Fox Sports 1 (FS1).
FULL ARTICLE
Saturday, April 30, 2016
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
DSR: Beckman, Infinite Hero Dodge seek first Houston title this weekend after bizarre end to Sunday’s NHRA Four-Wide Nationals near Charlotte
BROWNSBURG, Ind. (April 26, 2016) – As a devout drag racing
historian, Jack Beckman has seen a lot happen in the sport and heard
about even more.
He can’t even recall many NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series team matching the performance of Don Schumacher Racing’s Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T team funded by Terry Chandler than it has produced over the past 12 months.
And the one common thread in the performance of Beckman’s team led by crew chief Jimmy Prock with assistants John Medlen and Chris Cunningham is that it began when Pennzoil became the “Official Oil” for DSR.
Pennzoil is celebrating the one-year anniversary of its partnership with DSR by hosting the inaugural Fanfest and Press Conference at Hermann Square Park at City Hall in Downtown Houston that begins at 11 a.m. (CT). The event, which is open to the public, will feature Beckman and all DSR drivers along with several racecars on display.
Since the fifth race of the past Mello Yello season, the Infinite Hero Dodge has accomplished the following with Pennzoil support:
• Mello Yello event titles: seven of the last 19 in 2016 and the Traxxas Nitro Shootout during the NHRA U.S. Nationals
• No. 1 qualifying: seven times in 2016, and at three of this year’s five events
• National elapsed time record: 3.879 (also tied with teammate Matt Hagan for quickest ever)
• NHRA track elapsed time records: 9 (21 tracks on Mello Yello circuit)
• NHRA track speed records: 4
“For nitro racing, the demands on oil are pretty unique,” said the 2012 NHRA Funny Car world champion. “We’re making more horsepower in one cylinder (about 1,250) than most other race engines make with all eight cylinders. The amount of load we put on our engines requires a completely different approach to developing lubrication. It’s clear that Pennzoil has done that.
“The cool thing is what the Pennzoil engineers have learned from DSR drag racing is making a better product for high performance and passenger car oils.”
The Infinite Hero team nearly won at Houston a year ago when it was runner-up to DSR teammate Ron Capps after earning the No. 1 qualifying position and setting both track records. It was Beckman’s second final round at the track but he has yet to collect an NHRA Wally trophy there.
While his team’s staggering performance was a new experience for Beckman, so was how his day ended Sunday in the Four-Wide Nationals near Charlotte.
In the first round of the unique event that features four cars racing abreast, Beckman’s Dodge instantly went up in tire smoke at the starting line after completing its pre-race burnout.
Apparently, one of the sticky, giant rear tires picked up debris that made getting traction at the hit impossible.
“Something stuck on a tire before that run and the frustrating thing is we have no idea where it came from,” he said. “We’re not going to cry about it, just pack up and head to Houston.”
FULL ARTICLE
He can’t even recall many NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series team matching the performance of Don Schumacher Racing’s Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T team funded by Terry Chandler than it has produced over the past 12 months.
And the one common thread in the performance of Beckman’s team led by crew chief Jimmy Prock with assistants John Medlen and Chris Cunningham is that it began when Pennzoil became the “Official Oil” for DSR.
Pennzoil is celebrating the one-year anniversary of its partnership with DSR by hosting the inaugural Fanfest and Press Conference at Hermann Square Park at City Hall in Downtown Houston that begins at 11 a.m. (CT). The event, which is open to the public, will feature Beckman and all DSR drivers along with several racecars on display.
Since the fifth race of the past Mello Yello season, the Infinite Hero Dodge has accomplished the following with Pennzoil support:
• Mello Yello event titles: seven of the last 19 in 2016 and the Traxxas Nitro Shootout during the NHRA U.S. Nationals
• No. 1 qualifying: seven times in 2016, and at three of this year’s five events
• National elapsed time record: 3.879 (also tied with teammate Matt Hagan for quickest ever)
• NHRA track elapsed time records: 9 (21 tracks on Mello Yello circuit)
• NHRA track speed records: 4
“For nitro racing, the demands on oil are pretty unique,” said the 2012 NHRA Funny Car world champion. “We’re making more horsepower in one cylinder (about 1,250) than most other race engines make with all eight cylinders. The amount of load we put on our engines requires a completely different approach to developing lubrication. It’s clear that Pennzoil has done that.
“The cool thing is what the Pennzoil engineers have learned from DSR drag racing is making a better product for high performance and passenger car oils.”
The Infinite Hero team nearly won at Houston a year ago when it was runner-up to DSR teammate Ron Capps after earning the No. 1 qualifying position and setting both track records. It was Beckman’s second final round at the track but he has yet to collect an NHRA Wally trophy there.
While his team’s staggering performance was a new experience for Beckman, so was how his day ended Sunday in the Four-Wide Nationals near Charlotte.
In the first round of the unique event that features four cars racing abreast, Beckman’s Dodge instantly went up in tire smoke at the starting line after completing its pre-race burnout.
Apparently, one of the sticky, giant rear tires picked up debris that made getting traction at the hit impossible.
“Something stuck on a tire before that run and the frustrating thing is we have no idea where it came from,” he said. “We’re not going to cry about it, just pack up and head to Houston.”
FULL ARTICLE
Sunday, April 24, 2016
DSR: Track debris appears to be culprit that thwarted attempt by Beckman, Infinite Hero Dodge to defend their title in NHRA Four-Wide Nationals
CONCORD, N.C. (April 24, 2016) – Sunday might mark the most bizarre day in the racing career of Jack Beckman.
The driver of Don Schumacher Racing’s Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T funded by Terry Chandler knows his team led by crew chief Jimmy Prock are sticklers for details. Rarely does anything get past them, including other Funny Cars.
But the team that won seven races last year in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series might have been sidelined in Sunday’s opening round of the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals near Charlotte Motor Speedway by an errant rag.
After completing his burnout to kick off the unique four-wide race at zMAX Dragway, Beckman backed up his Dodge and a crewman noticed something was adhered to one of the massive rear racing slicks.
“Something stuck on a tire before that run and the frustrating thing is we have no idea where it came from,” he said. “It didn’t look like it came off the car that ran before us. It looked like one of the oil absorbing cloths and it was stuck to our tire after the burnout. That is the smoking gun about why it smoked the tires at the start.
“This is a sport where you can’t afford to give anything away. This is the only race where we could have gotten to the finish line second and still been able to advance to the next round. Even with all the issues we had, we still almost finished second in that heat. It’s doubly frustrating.
“I don’t think we’re far away from our first win of the year. And boy, once the flood gates open. Look what happened to us last year,” Beckman said of the team’s seven wins during last season.
The team heads to Baytown, Texas, near Houston for the SpringNationals next week.
“We’re not going to cry about it, just pack up and head to Houston.”
NHRA fans are invited to join Don Schumacher Racing and Pennzoil representatives on Thursday beginning at 11 a.m. at Hermann Square Park at City Hall in downtown Houston for NHRA Day.
The event is a celebration of the partnership between DSR and Pennzoil that began one year ago. All seven DSR drivers will attend along with several DSR Funny Cars and dragsters.
FULL ARTICLE
The driver of Don Schumacher Racing’s Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T funded by Terry Chandler knows his team led by crew chief Jimmy Prock are sticklers for details. Rarely does anything get past them, including other Funny Cars.
But the team that won seven races last year in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series might have been sidelined in Sunday’s opening round of the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals near Charlotte Motor Speedway by an errant rag.
After completing his burnout to kick off the unique four-wide race at zMAX Dragway, Beckman backed up his Dodge and a crewman noticed something was adhered to one of the massive rear racing slicks.
“Something stuck on a tire before that run and the frustrating thing is we have no idea where it came from,” he said. “It didn’t look like it came off the car that ran before us. It looked like one of the oil absorbing cloths and it was stuck to our tire after the burnout. That is the smoking gun about why it smoked the tires at the start.
“This is a sport where you can’t afford to give anything away. This is the only race where we could have gotten to the finish line second and still been able to advance to the next round. Even with all the issues we had, we still almost finished second in that heat. It’s doubly frustrating.
“I don’t think we’re far away from our first win of the year. And boy, once the flood gates open. Look what happened to us last year,” Beckman said of the team’s seven wins during last season.
The team heads to Baytown, Texas, near Houston for the SpringNationals next week.
“We’re not going to cry about it, just pack up and head to Houston.”
NHRA fans are invited to join Don Schumacher Racing and Pennzoil representatives on Thursday beginning at 11 a.m. at Hermann Square Park at City Hall in downtown Houston for NHRA Day.
The event is a celebration of the partnership between DSR and Pennzoil that began one year ago. All seven DSR drivers will attend along with several DSR Funny Cars and dragsters.
FULL ARTICLE
Saturday, April 23, 2016
DSR: Infinite Hero Dodge rallies with Beckman after fuel leak to rebound for No. 6 seed in Four-Wide before full house
CONCORD, N.C. (April 23, 2016) - Jack Beckman knows the importance of timing in racing.
Although a minor mechanical glitch affected his performance in Friday's opening qualifying session of the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals near Charlotte Motor Speedway, it was better to happen in qualifying than during Sunday's championship eliminations that begin at noon (ET).
"The first session (Friday), we went out there and had a fuel leak and drove right into the fluid and smoked the tires instantly," he said of what was the day's only session after rain washed out the second one.
"It's tough when you get behind like that because the time from that run sets up the qualifying order for the next session (that was on Saturday). The farther back you can run, by doing better on the first run, the more shots you have to look at how other cars are running.
"Well, it is what it is, we didn't have a choice. Conditions looked great last night, but it rained out so we lost that session. But then you're in a position where you don't want to let that fuel leak, dictate a poor weekend."
The Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T team funded by Terry Chandler and led by crew chief Jimmy Prock, rallied Saturday with a times of a 3.964 seconds (319.45 mph) and 3.971 (320.51) to earn the No. 6 qualifying position.
"We did a great job this morning with that 3.964, which put us in the top half and this last run we went 3.971 at 320. On paper, it looks like a fantastic run, and we actually had some kind of ignition anomaly, right at the launch, which is too bad.
"It scrubbed a couple hundredths of a second off the early numbers of the run. And if we could fix that, the run becomes a 3.93 so, the million-dollar question is: Can we find that smoking gun and tune for that tomorrow? And if we can, I think we'll be in great shape."
It marked only the second time in five events this year that the Infinite Hero Dodge did not win the pole.
zMAX Dragway officials announced a sellout crowd on Saturday afternoon near Charlotte. The Four-Wide Nationals is the only of its kind that features 10,000-horsepower foursomes with the top two-cars of each quad advancing to the next round.
FULL ARTICLE
Although a minor mechanical glitch affected his performance in Friday's opening qualifying session of the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals near Charlotte Motor Speedway, it was better to happen in qualifying than during Sunday's championship eliminations that begin at noon (ET).
"The first session (Friday), we went out there and had a fuel leak and drove right into the fluid and smoked the tires instantly," he said of what was the day's only session after rain washed out the second one.
"It's tough when you get behind like that because the time from that run sets up the qualifying order for the next session (that was on Saturday). The farther back you can run, by doing better on the first run, the more shots you have to look at how other cars are running.
"Well, it is what it is, we didn't have a choice. Conditions looked great last night, but it rained out so we lost that session. But then you're in a position where you don't want to let that fuel leak, dictate a poor weekend."
The Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T team funded by Terry Chandler and led by crew chief Jimmy Prock, rallied Saturday with a times of a 3.964 seconds (319.45 mph) and 3.971 (320.51) to earn the No. 6 qualifying position.
"We did a great job this morning with that 3.964, which put us in the top half and this last run we went 3.971 at 320. On paper, it looks like a fantastic run, and we actually had some kind of ignition anomaly, right at the launch, which is too bad.
"It scrubbed a couple hundredths of a second off the early numbers of the run. And if we could fix that, the run becomes a 3.93 so, the million-dollar question is: Can we find that smoking gun and tune for that tomorrow? And if we can, I think we'll be in great shape."
It marked only the second time in five events this year that the Infinite Hero Dodge did not win the pole.
zMAX Dragway officials announced a sellout crowd on Saturday afternoon near Charlotte. The Four-Wide Nationals is the only of its kind that features 10,000-horsepower foursomes with the top two-cars of each quad advancing to the next round.
FULL ARTICLE
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
DSR: Hot rod project takes two-week hiatus while Beckman strives to transition three poles into winner’s circle trip for Infinite Hero
BROWNSBURG, Ind. (April 19, 2016) – Jack Beckman’s next career could
involve a reality show on HGTV, the Discovery Channel or another cable
outlet that features at-home, do-it-yourself projects.
And now the 2012 Funny Car world championship driver for the Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T team funded by Terry Chandler is returning to his mechanical roots with a very special automotive repair project destined for reality TV.
Before becoming a full-time Funny Car pilot in 2006 for Don Schumacher Racing, the Southern California resident was the primary mechanic on the dragster he drove to the 2003 NHRA Super Comp world championship.
After being featured in NHRA videos over the past years that have chronicled construction of a garage at his home in Norco, Calif., that project was sealed as he helped apply a high-tech epoxy coating to his “man cave” garage floor.
And now it’s time for the 49-year-old father of two to put the space to use as the headquarters for restoration of the 1968 Chevrolet El Camino that he used to obtain his driver’s license when he was 16.
“My temporary driver’s permit is still in the glovebox.
“It’s been at least 15 years since I drove it,” said Beckman, who clocked a time of 15.06 seconds at 90 mph on his first pass down a dragstrip in the El Camino when he was 19 and stationed in the U.S. Air Force at Clovis, N.M.
His father, Bob Beckman, bought it in 1979 and sold it to his son two years later when he was 15.
“In addition to all of my kids’ sporting and extracurricular activities I decided to fill up the remainder of my free time with a hot rod project.”
But don’t expect his Infinite Hero crew chief Jimmy Prock or assistants John Medlen and Chris Cunningham to start asking Beckman to do much more than drive the Funny Car.
“After I busted my pinkie trying to work on our racecar during the test at Phoenix (in February) they won’t let me touch anything but the steering wheel and parachute,” he said. “That’s probably a good idea.”
Beckman, whose team now owns nine NHRA track elapsed time records and five speed marks, won’t have much time over the next two weeks to work on his hot rod considering he’ll be racing in the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals near Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend and a week later near Houston.
The Infinite Hero team will start this weekend ranked fourth and 70 points out of first heading to the unique four-lane zMAX Dragway in the sport’s only event that matches four Funny Cars at a time.
Results have been unpredictable through four events in the 24-race Mello Yello Series with four different teams winning. That does not include Beckman, who won seven times last year, although he has earned three of this year’s four No. 1 qualifying spots and set the national time record with a run of 3.879 seconds last month at Gainesville, Fla.
“I’d trade my three green hats (for winning those poles) for one yellow one you get for winning the race,” he said. “I’m not tired of winning those green hats because that’s worth (qualifying bonus) points, but I’d rather qualify 16th and end up winning the trophy.”
A year ago in the Four-Wide, the Infinite Hero team won the title that broke the longest non-winning streak of Beckman’s career at 54 races that dated to his 2012 championship season.
The race will be televised on FOX Sports 1 (FS1), with qualifying highlights on April 23 at 10 p.m. and finals coverage on April 24 at 4:30 p.m.
FULL ARTICLE
And now the 2012 Funny Car world championship driver for the Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T team funded by Terry Chandler is returning to his mechanical roots with a very special automotive repair project destined for reality TV.
Before becoming a full-time Funny Car pilot in 2006 for Don Schumacher Racing, the Southern California resident was the primary mechanic on the dragster he drove to the 2003 NHRA Super Comp world championship.
After being featured in NHRA videos over the past years that have chronicled construction of a garage at his home in Norco, Calif., that project was sealed as he helped apply a high-tech epoxy coating to his “man cave” garage floor.
And now it’s time for the 49-year-old father of two to put the space to use as the headquarters for restoration of the 1968 Chevrolet El Camino that he used to obtain his driver’s license when he was 16.
“My temporary driver’s permit is still in the glovebox.
“It’s been at least 15 years since I drove it,” said Beckman, who clocked a time of 15.06 seconds at 90 mph on his first pass down a dragstrip in the El Camino when he was 19 and stationed in the U.S. Air Force at Clovis, N.M.
His father, Bob Beckman, bought it in 1979 and sold it to his son two years later when he was 15.
“In addition to all of my kids’ sporting and extracurricular activities I decided to fill up the remainder of my free time with a hot rod project.”
But don’t expect his Infinite Hero crew chief Jimmy Prock or assistants John Medlen and Chris Cunningham to start asking Beckman to do much more than drive the Funny Car.
“After I busted my pinkie trying to work on our racecar during the test at Phoenix (in February) they won’t let me touch anything but the steering wheel and parachute,” he said. “That’s probably a good idea.”
Beckman, whose team now owns nine NHRA track elapsed time records and five speed marks, won’t have much time over the next two weeks to work on his hot rod considering he’ll be racing in the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals near Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend and a week later near Houston.
The Infinite Hero team will start this weekend ranked fourth and 70 points out of first heading to the unique four-lane zMAX Dragway in the sport’s only event that matches four Funny Cars at a time.
Results have been unpredictable through four events in the 24-race Mello Yello Series with four different teams winning. That does not include Beckman, who won seven times last year, although he has earned three of this year’s four No. 1 qualifying spots and set the national time record with a run of 3.879 seconds last month at Gainesville, Fla.
“I’d trade my three green hats (for winning those poles) for one yellow one you get for winning the race,” he said. “I’m not tired of winning those green hats because that’s worth (qualifying bonus) points, but I’d rather qualify 16th and end up winning the trophy.”
A year ago in the Four-Wide, the Infinite Hero team won the title that broke the longest non-winning streak of Beckman’s career at 54 races that dated to his 2012 championship season.
The race will be televised on FOX Sports 1 (FS1), with qualifying highlights on April 23 at 10 p.m. and finals coverage on April 24 at 4:30 p.m.
FULL ARTICLE
Sunday, April 3, 2016
DSR: Infinite Hero Dodge Funny Car, Beckman ready to end Sunday No. 1 after starting Las Vegas race with third pole in four events
LAS VEGAS (April 3, 2016) – Jack Beckman and the Infinite Hero Dodge
Charger R/T Funny Car team have made a habit of starting Sundays this
year on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series tour as the No. 1 team.
Beckman is more than ready for the team funded by Terry Chandler to finish a Sunday as No. 1.
"We've been great at getting green hats this year. That's what you get for being the No. 1 qualifier,” said Beckman, who has won three of four poles this season. “We want the yellow hat - that's the one you get for winning the final round."
Beckman led Don Schumacher Racing this weekend in the NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway by advancing into Sunday’s second round of eliminations after winning the pole with the eighth track record elapsed time for the team led by crew chief Jimmy Prock with assistants John Medlen and Chris Cunningham. But after winning a career-best seven titles and seven poles a year ago, Beckman’s team have only made it to one semifinal round.
"We have to keep picking away at it,” he said. “This car has been finicky on hot tracks. If we raced under cool conditions, I'm not sure anyone could beat us.”
FULL ARTICLE
Beckman is more than ready for the team funded by Terry Chandler to finish a Sunday as No. 1.
"We've been great at getting green hats this year. That's what you get for being the No. 1 qualifier,” said Beckman, who has won three of four poles this season. “We want the yellow hat - that's the one you get for winning the final round."
Beckman led Don Schumacher Racing this weekend in the NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway by advancing into Sunday’s second round of eliminations after winning the pole with the eighth track record elapsed time for the team led by crew chief Jimmy Prock with assistants John Medlen and Chris Cunningham. But after winning a career-best seven titles and seven poles a year ago, Beckman’s team have only made it to one semifinal round.
"We have to keep picking away at it,” he said. “This car has been finicky on hot tracks. If we raced under cool conditions, I'm not sure anyone could beat us.”
FULL ARTICLE
Saturday, April 2, 2016
DSR: Beckman, Infinite Hero Dodge collect eighth NHRA track ET record at Las Vegas en route to earning third pole in four Mello Yello races
LAS VEGAS (April 2, 2016) – Jack Beckman and the Infinite Hero Dodge
Charger R/T Funny Car team won their third No. 1 qualifying position of
the year Saturday at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and the 2012
NHRA Funny Car world champion is ready to win.
Beckman and the team led by crew chief Jimmy Prock with assistants John Medlen and Chris Cunningham set the Las Vegas record with a time of 3.916 seconds on Friday night and followed on Saturday with the second best run in third session and quickest of the last for the Infinite Hero team funded by Terry Chandler.
“We’re finally figuring out how to make this car run on a hot racetrack,” said Beckman, who is looking for his first NHRA Wally trophy of the year in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series after winning seven times last year.
“That’s been our Achilles heel and tomorrow might be the day we get over that hump.
“I’m more than satisfied,” he said of weekend’s performance. “This is last year’s car that our fab shop front-halved a few weeks ago. We have qualified No. 1 this year with two different cars and that’s a testament to all the guys in our fab shop and chassis shop at DSR, and to Jimmy, John, Chris and our Infinite Hero guys.”
Sunday’s championship eliminations begin at noon (ET). The final rounds of eliminations will air live on Fox Sports 1 (FS1) from 5 to 8 p.m. (ET).
FUNNY CAR
No. 1 qualifier: Jack Beckman (Don Schumacher Racing) 3.916 sec., 322.88 mph (track record)
FULL ARTICLE
Beckman and the team led by crew chief Jimmy Prock with assistants John Medlen and Chris Cunningham set the Las Vegas record with a time of 3.916 seconds on Friday night and followed on Saturday with the second best run in third session and quickest of the last for the Infinite Hero team funded by Terry Chandler.
“We’re finally figuring out how to make this car run on a hot racetrack,” said Beckman, who is looking for his first NHRA Wally trophy of the year in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series after winning seven times last year.
“That’s been our Achilles heel and tomorrow might be the day we get over that hump.
“I’m more than satisfied,” he said of weekend’s performance. “This is last year’s car that our fab shop front-halved a few weeks ago. We have qualified No. 1 this year with two different cars and that’s a testament to all the guys in our fab shop and chassis shop at DSR, and to Jimmy, John, Chris and our Infinite Hero guys.”
Sunday’s championship eliminations begin at noon (ET). The final rounds of eliminations will air live on Fox Sports 1 (FS1) from 5 to 8 p.m. (ET).
FUNNY CAR
No. 1 qualifier: Jack Beckman (Don Schumacher Racing) 3.916 sec., 322.88 mph (track record)
FULL ARTICLE
Racin'Today.com: Beckman’s Qualifying Rampage Rolls On
Jack Beckman and crew chief Jimmy
Prock are on the cusp of earning their third pole position in four NHRA
Mello Yello Drag Racing events after Friday’s opening two rounds of time
trials for the Denso Spark Plugs NHRA Nationals.
“Fast Jack” and his Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T set a record elapsed time of 3.916-seconds at 322.88 mph over 1,000-feet at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. If the time holds after Saturday’s last two qualifying sessions, it will be the eighth track at which Don Schumacher Racing’s Infinite Hero team funded by Terry Chandler holds a track E.T. record with Prock and assistants John Medlen and Chris Cunningham.
ARTICLE LINK
“Fast Jack” and his Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T set a record elapsed time of 3.916-seconds at 322.88 mph over 1,000-feet at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. If the time holds after Saturday’s last two qualifying sessions, it will be the eighth track at which Don Schumacher Racing’s Infinite Hero team funded by Terry Chandler holds a track E.T. record with Prock and assistants John Medlen and Chris Cunningham.
ARTICLE LINK
Friday, April 1, 2016
ESPN: Jack Beckman breaks track record at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
LAS VEGAS -- Jack Beckman raced to a track record performance to
lead Funny Car qualifying Friday at the DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA
Nationals.
Beckman, who is in position to earn his third No. 1 qualifying position of the season, powered his Dodge Charger to a track record time of 3.916 seconds at 322.88 mph in the day's final qualifying session at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
ARTICLE LINK
Beckman, who is in position to earn his third No. 1 qualifying position of the season, powered his Dodge Charger to a track record time of 3.916 seconds at 322.88 mph in the day's final qualifying session at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
ARTICLE LINK
DSR: Beckman holds Las Vegas provisional pole with 8th track record while DSR teammate Langdon sits 5th in Top Fuel for best start
LAS VEGAS (April 1, 2016) – Jack Beckman and the Infinite Hero Dodge
Charger R/T Funny Car team led by crew chief Jimmy Prock are on the cusp
of earning their third No. 1 qualifying position in four NHRA Mello
Yello Drag Racing events this year with a Las Vegas track record elapsed
time of 3.916 seconds set on Friday to open the NHRA Denso Nationals.
If the time holds after Saturday’s last two qualifying sessions, it will be the eighth track at which Don Schumacher Racing’s Infinite Hero team funded by Terry Chandler holds a track E.T. record with Prock and assistants John Medlen and Chris Cunningham.
DSR holds 40 of the possible 84 track records in both nitro categories at the 21 tracks on the Mello Yello tour.
“That record just means I didn’t screw up what Jimmy, John and Chris set the car up to do,” said Beckman, who currently holds the national-record ET of 3.879.
Beckman, who won a personal best seven event titles and seven poles a year ago, advanced to the semifinals two weeks ago at Gainesville, Fla., where he recorded his 3.879.
“It’s going to be a late day tomorrow with the (Top Fuel) dragsters running first, and if there’s cloud cover then that time definitely will be in jeopardy. Boy, have I learned the difference between a provisional pole and the final pole.
“We struggled on the first run (9.434) and were really aggressive at the starting line and the track wouldn't hold it and that meant we didn’t have data from the run. When the car doesn’t go 40 feet, you don’t know how much you missed it.
“It’s very gratifying that our crew can look at an aborted run and come right back and set the track record.”
FULL ARTICLE
If the time holds after Saturday’s last two qualifying sessions, it will be the eighth track at which Don Schumacher Racing’s Infinite Hero team funded by Terry Chandler holds a track E.T. record with Prock and assistants John Medlen and Chris Cunningham.
DSR holds 40 of the possible 84 track records in both nitro categories at the 21 tracks on the Mello Yello tour.
“That record just means I didn’t screw up what Jimmy, John and Chris set the car up to do,” said Beckman, who currently holds the national-record ET of 3.879.
Beckman, who won a personal best seven event titles and seven poles a year ago, advanced to the semifinals two weeks ago at Gainesville, Fla., where he recorded his 3.879.
“It’s going to be a late day tomorrow with the (Top Fuel) dragsters running first, and if there’s cloud cover then that time definitely will be in jeopardy. Boy, have I learned the difference between a provisional pole and the final pole.
“We struggled on the first run (9.434) and were really aggressive at the starting line and the track wouldn't hold it and that meant we didn’t have data from the run. When the car doesn’t go 40 feet, you don’t know how much you missed it.
“It’s very gratifying that our crew can look at an aborted run and come right back and set the track record.”
FULL ARTICLE
Racer: Beckman leads Vegas Friday qualifiers
Jack Beckman raced to a track record performance to lead Funny Car
qualifying Friday at the DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA Nationals. Steve
Torrence (Top Fuel) and Jason Line (Pro Stock) also were qualifying
leaders in their categories at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series
event.
Beckman, who is in position to earn his third No. 1 qualifying position of the season, powered his Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger to a track record time of 3.916 seconds at 322.88 mph in the day's final qualifying session at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Beckman opened qualifying here in 11th after his car lost traction early in the run. Qualifying continues Saturday with sessions at 1 and 4 p.m. to set the starting lineups for Sunday's noon eliminations.
"If there's cloud cover tomorrow that run is definitely in jeopardy," Beckman said. "Whether it stands or not, when we struggled on the first run we were really aggressive. That makes it more difficult because we don't have any data from that run. It's gratifying as a driver to know the crew can come back after a run like that and still go to the No. 1 position."
ARTICLE LINK
Beckman, who is in position to earn his third No. 1 qualifying position of the season, powered his Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger to a track record time of 3.916 seconds at 322.88 mph in the day's final qualifying session at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Beckman opened qualifying here in 11th after his car lost traction early in the run. Qualifying continues Saturday with sessions at 1 and 4 p.m. to set the starting lineups for Sunday's noon eliminations.
"If there's cloud cover tomorrow that run is definitely in jeopardy," Beckman said. "Whether it stands or not, when we struggled on the first run we were really aggressive. That makes it more difficult because we don't have any data from that run. It's gratifying as a driver to know the crew can come back after a run like that and still go to the No. 1 position."
ARTICLE LINK
Motorsport.com: Beckman and C. Force score track track records in Las Vegas #NHRA
How about side-by-side track-record runs in Las Vegas! Jack Beckman
grabs the E.T. mark for The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway while
Courtney Force resets the speed record with her 326.08-mph pass in the
other lane. Force's E.T. is 3.928, and that puts her second in the order
behind Beckman at the Denso Spark Plugs NHRA Nationals.
"It's nice to come back from a struggling run. First run, I think we were trying to rotate Las Vegas over to the Pacific Ocean, and the track didn't hold it," said Beckman, who smoked the tires in Q1. "I don't know if that will hold. We have all day tomorrow, but now we know we have a hot rod with this Mopar."
ARTICLE LINK
"It's nice to come back from a struggling run. First run, I think we were trying to rotate Las Vegas over to the Pacific Ocean, and the track didn't hold it," said Beckman, who smoked the tires in Q1. "I don't know if that will hold. We have all day tomorrow, but now we know we have a hot rod with this Mopar."
ARTICLE LINK
Daily Bulletin: Beckman, Torrence, Line top NHRA qualifiers on mournful day in Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS - There was a subdued atmosphere at The Strip at Las
Vegas Motor Speedway on Friday as the participants of the NHRA Mello
Yello Drag Racing Series competed for the first time since the recent
death of chief starter Mark Lyle.
Lyle died Sunday while vacationing in Mexico when he drowned trying to save a swimmer. He was only the third starter in NHRA’s storied 65-year history, taking over for Rick Stewart in 2012. The late Buster Couch was the original starter.
“He was a true gentleman,” said Jack Beckman, who finished as the top qualifier in Funny Car with a run of 3.916 seconds at 322.88 mph. “He made a big impact in a short amount of time. He held a lot of power but he never flexed it.”
ARTICLE LINK
Lyle died Sunday while vacationing in Mexico when he drowned trying to save a swimmer. He was only the third starter in NHRA’s storied 65-year history, taking over for Rick Stewart in 2012. The late Buster Couch was the original starter.
“He was a true gentleman,” said Jack Beckman, who finished as the top qualifier in Funny Car with a run of 3.916 seconds at 322.88 mph. “He made a big impact in a short amount of time. He held a lot of power but he never flexed it.”
ARTICLE LINK
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