BROWNSBURG, Ind. (May 31, 2016) – Jack Beckman enjoyed a perfect afternoon Tuesday as he prepared to pack for his trip this week across the country to drive his Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car beginning Friday in the NHRA New England Nationals at Epping, N.H.
Beckman was watching his son Jason’s hockey practice. He found the sheet of ice especially enjoyable because it wasn’t in a bag on his elevated left ankle.
Beckman injured the ankle at the top-end of the track at Topeka, Kan., in a minor mishap that a couple decades ago likely would have kept him out of his racecar.
“My ankle hurt a little on the burnouts, but when I got to the line it never bothered me,” he said, adding focus and adrenaline likely killed the pain.
“This cars are so advanced and sophisticated that I didn’t have any problems operating the clutch. Several years it would have been a lot different.”
It was a nagging memory of a weekend that could have been perfect.
The Infinite Hero team produced Beckman’s career best elapsed time (3.866 seconds) and speed (332.59 mph) en route to qualifying second and advancing to the final round for the second straight race.
Unfortunately for his Infinite Hero team sponsored by Terry Chandler and led by crew chiefs Jimmy Prock with assistants John Medlen and Chris Cunningham, their teammate Matt Hagan was just a little bit quicker (3.862), faster (335.57) and for the second straight event beat Beckman to the NHRA Wally trophy.
Beckman lost his NHRA elapsed time record to Hagan.
“You just never know when you’re going to win again,” said Beckman, who has not won an event title through this year’s eight Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events but ranks second in points and only 12 out of first.
Beckman and the Infinite Hero team reached into the 3-second zone on each of its first seven Topeka runs and another in the final would have be a first in the NHRA Funny Car category.
But like the other three finalists in Top Fuel and Funny Car, Beckman lost traction soon after the track was prepared for the championship rounds.
“We have a car that made seven 3-second runs consecutively. Nobody has ever done that.
We had every reason to think going up there for the final that we’d get our eighth with a good shot to get the trophy.”
The race at Epping marks the first of four races in four weekends.
“We’ll pick up the pieces and be ready for four in a row. We really feel like we have something to prove when we get to Epping.”
FULL ARTICLE
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Sunday, May 22, 2016
DSR: Beckman closes in on Funny Car points lead after Infinite Hero Dodge advances to finals at Kansas for second straight weekend
TOPEKA, Kan. (May 22, 2016) – Jack Beckman was one of the four
finalists in Sunday’s championship round of nitro competition in the
Kansas Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka that lost traction en route to
the finish line on what had been the fastest track ever in NHRA
competition.
Beckman and the Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T sponsored by Terry Chandler and led by crew chief Jimmy Prock with assistants John Medlen and Chris Cunningham were on the cusp of NHRA Funny Car history by becoming the first to complete all eight runs in a Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event in the 3-second range and winning their first title of the year.
A win over Don Schumacher Racing teammate Matt Hagan with crew chief Dickie Venables also would have given the championship points lead to Beckman.
But after a record-setting weekend that saw three of four national records fall in the nitro categories, both cars lost traction but Hagan’s spinning came a little later in the run that allowed him to beat Beckman in a final round for the second straight weekend.
Hagan’s winning time was turtle-like 5.724 seconds at 179.04 mph to Beckman’s 6.560 at 146.75 mph. It was the second consecutive weekend when Hagan beat Beckman in a final round.
“We didn’t go four feet,” Beckman said. “And Dickie and Matt in the other lane didn’t go 50 feet.
And the dragsters (in the final) didn’t go either.
“At that point you have to look and say it’s probably the glue (traction compound) they spray before each round that didn’t get the same amount of drying time before the finals that it typically gets.
“I just wish we could have put on a better show for the fans. Many of them got treated to the show of a lifetime on Friday and Saturday, and the finals were kind of anticlimactic.
“We have a car that made seven 3-second runs consecutively. Nobody has ever done that.
We had every reason to think going up there for the final that we’d get our eighth with a good shot to get the trophy.”
Beckman, who is seeking his first NHRA Wally trophy of the year, would have taken over the Funny Car points lead with a win over Hagan but will only trail leader Courtney Force by 12 points when the series resumes in two weeks at Epping, N.H., to begin a stretch of four races in four weekends.
“We’ll pick up the pieces and be ready for four in a row,” said Beckman, who competed in his second final round at Topeka where he won in 2012.
“We really feel like we have something to prove when we get to Epping.”
FULL ARTICLE
Beckman and the Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T sponsored by Terry Chandler and led by crew chief Jimmy Prock with assistants John Medlen and Chris Cunningham were on the cusp of NHRA Funny Car history by becoming the first to complete all eight runs in a Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event in the 3-second range and winning their first title of the year.
A win over Don Schumacher Racing teammate Matt Hagan with crew chief Dickie Venables also would have given the championship points lead to Beckman.
But after a record-setting weekend that saw three of four national records fall in the nitro categories, both cars lost traction but Hagan’s spinning came a little later in the run that allowed him to beat Beckman in a final round for the second straight weekend.
Hagan’s winning time was turtle-like 5.724 seconds at 179.04 mph to Beckman’s 6.560 at 146.75 mph. It was the second consecutive weekend when Hagan beat Beckman in a final round.
“We didn’t go four feet,” Beckman said. “And Dickie and Matt in the other lane didn’t go 50 feet.
And the dragsters (in the final) didn’t go either.
“At that point you have to look and say it’s probably the glue (traction compound) they spray before each round that didn’t get the same amount of drying time before the finals that it typically gets.
“I just wish we could have put on a better show for the fans. Many of them got treated to the show of a lifetime on Friday and Saturday, and the finals were kind of anticlimactic.
“We have a car that made seven 3-second runs consecutively. Nobody has ever done that.
We had every reason to think going up there for the final that we’d get our eighth with a good shot to get the trophy.”
Beckman, who is seeking his first NHRA Wally trophy of the year, would have taken over the Funny Car points lead with a win over Hagan but will only trail leader Courtney Force by 12 points when the series resumes in two weeks at Epping, N.H., to begin a stretch of four races in four weekends.
“We’ll pick up the pieces and be ready for four in a row,” said Beckman, who competed in his second final round at Topeka where he won in 2012.
“We really feel like we have something to prove when we get to Epping.”
FULL ARTICLE
Saturday, May 21, 2016
DSR: Loss of NHRA national record doesn’t deter Infinite Hero’s Beckman from main focus of defending Funny Car title in Kansas Nationals
TOPEKA, Kan. (May 21, 2016) – Jack Beckman is over losing his NHRA
national elapsed time record on opening day of the Kansas Nationals.
The blast by Don Schumacher Racing teammate Matt Hagan also cost Beckman and the Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T the team’s fifth No. 1 qualifier position in eight of 24 races on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series circuit.
But since NHRA eliminated 20 bonus points for a driver leaving an event with a new national record the value of an all-time best has been diminished.
“It’s a whole new deal now,” said Beckman, who is seeded second to Hagan when championship eliminations begin Sunday at 11 a.m. (CT). “Records now are just for bragging rights.”
Beckman and the Infinite Hero team sponsored by Terry Chandler and led by crew chief Jimmy Prock with assistants John Medlen and Chris Cunningham followed Hagan’s runs of 3.866 seconds at 335.57) on Friday night was quicker than Beckman’s old record.
“It was unbelievable. Mind blowing,” said Beckman, the 2012 Funny Car world champion.
In Saturday’s first qualifying session, Beckman didn’t set a record but his time of 3.913 was quickest of the third session. He was the quickest in the first, second best in the second, quickest in the third and his 3.885 was second best in the fourth and final session to collect 10 of a possible 12 qualifying bonus points. The three quickest in each outing earn from one to three points.
“The sun was out and we ran earlier today than Friday so I couldn’t imagine anyone running better than Friday night,” he said. “But we got a lot of (qualifying) points, and those add up.”
But the big points are earned on Sunday, and Beckman could make a big jump in points if he defends the title he won a year ago, something he’s only done once in his career.
“At this point, I don’t care about defending any title or getting points. Our goal now is to get the trophy and get the last spot you can earn to get into the Traxxas Shootout,” he said of the $100,000 all-star race he won last year during the U.S. Nationals near Indianapolis. The first seven event winners earn spots in the eight-car field with a fan vote determining the last berth.
Track and weather conditions will be major factors in Beckman’s quest for his first NHRA Wally trophy of the season.
“They probably won’t be as good as Friday but could be similar, especially for the first round and final round that tend to be the coolest track temperatures on race day.
“The advantage of qualifying high is it sets you up for having a successful day. First off, you get more points when you’re in the top-three in a session, you get lane choice in the first round and you get a better pick of when you’ll run in the first round.
“You can’t minimize the importance of qualifying but it doesn’t guarantee success with the unpredictability of nitro Funny Cars but it sets you up for a successful weekend.”
FULL ARTICLE
The blast by Don Schumacher Racing teammate Matt Hagan also cost Beckman and the Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T the team’s fifth No. 1 qualifier position in eight of 24 races on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series circuit.
But since NHRA eliminated 20 bonus points for a driver leaving an event with a new national record the value of an all-time best has been diminished.
“It’s a whole new deal now,” said Beckman, who is seeded second to Hagan when championship eliminations begin Sunday at 11 a.m. (CT). “Records now are just for bragging rights.”
Beckman and the Infinite Hero team sponsored by Terry Chandler and led by crew chief Jimmy Prock with assistants John Medlen and Chris Cunningham followed Hagan’s runs of 3.866 seconds at 335.57) on Friday night was quicker than Beckman’s old record.
“It was unbelievable. Mind blowing,” said Beckman, the 2012 Funny Car world champion.
In Saturday’s first qualifying session, Beckman didn’t set a record but his time of 3.913 was quickest of the third session. He was the quickest in the first, second best in the second, quickest in the third and his 3.885 was second best in the fourth and final session to collect 10 of a possible 12 qualifying bonus points. The three quickest in each outing earn from one to three points.
“The sun was out and we ran earlier today than Friday so I couldn’t imagine anyone running better than Friday night,” he said. “But we got a lot of (qualifying) points, and those add up.”
But the big points are earned on Sunday, and Beckman could make a big jump in points if he defends the title he won a year ago, something he’s only done once in his career.
“At this point, I don’t care about defending any title or getting points. Our goal now is to get the trophy and get the last spot you can earn to get into the Traxxas Shootout,” he said of the $100,000 all-star race he won last year during the U.S. Nationals near Indianapolis. The first seven event winners earn spots in the eight-car field with a fan vote determining the last berth.
Track and weather conditions will be major factors in Beckman’s quest for his first NHRA Wally trophy of the season.
“They probably won’t be as good as Friday but could be similar, especially for the first round and final round that tend to be the coolest track temperatures on race day.
“The advantage of qualifying high is it sets you up for having a successful day. First off, you get more points when you’re in the top-three in a session, you get lane choice in the first round and you get a better pick of when you’ll run in the first round.
“You can’t minimize the importance of qualifying but it doesn’t guarantee success with the unpredictability of nitro Funny Cars but it sets you up for a successful weekend.”
FULL ARTICLE
Wednesday, May 18, 2016
DSR: Beckman rides off with another green hat in Southern Nationals but wants to defend his Kansas title and leave with a yellow one
BROWNSBURG, Ind. (May 18, 2016) – You can bet Jack Beckman won’t be
buying a green John Deere hat this weekend when he’s around Heartland
Park Topeka for the NHRA Kansas Nationals.
He just might even ignore anyone wearing one.
It’s not because for decades green was an unlucky, forbidden color in pit areas. That changed when sponsors with green in their pockets and green in their logos began to support racing.
You’d think Beckman and his Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car team sponsored by Terry Chandler would love the color since they’ve collected four of the variety as the only bonus for winning four of the first seven No. 1 qualifying positions through seven of the first 24 events on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series tour.
That last group of green pole-winning hats was collected last weekend during the NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway.
“I want one of those yellow ones,” he’s said of the color hat that represents winning an NHRA national event.
A year ago he collected a career-best seven for winning an event title and another seven for earning the top seed. It was looking very good that he would win for the first time in 10 races when championship eliminations began Sunday in Commerce, Ga.
And he just might have had the coveted NHRA Wally trophy had it not been for teammate Matt Hagan, whose Don Schumacher Racing Dodge that in the first round took the track records Beckman and crew chief Jimmy Prock earned in qualifying and then beat the Infinite Hero team in the championship round.
It allowed Beckman to move up to second in Mello Yello standings.
Despite the plethora of John Deere hats and luscious green fields he’ll see this week around Heartland Park Topeka, he and his Infinite Hero team will see yellow when they and reflect on being the reigning event champions.
A year ago, the team snapped a 54-race losing streak winning the unique Four-Wide Nationals, but the victory four races later in Kansas was its first traditional two-lane race win in 29 months.
Last year’s trophy was the 250th for DSR, and that total has increased to 270 since.
All that adds why the Kansas track so appealing to Beckman.
“Topeka literally is the heartland,” he said. “NHRA’s very first national event was held in Grand Bend, Kan., and Topeka is about as close as we get to that piece of history and as close as you can get to the middle of the country.
“And I’m fortunate to be a little bit of that history.”
He’d like to add another winning chapter this weekend.
And he won’t mind getting another green hat as long as he leaves wearing a yellow one.
FULL RELEASE
He just might even ignore anyone wearing one.
It’s not because for decades green was an unlucky, forbidden color in pit areas. That changed when sponsors with green in their pockets and green in their logos began to support racing.
You’d think Beckman and his Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car team sponsored by Terry Chandler would love the color since they’ve collected four of the variety as the only bonus for winning four of the first seven No. 1 qualifying positions through seven of the first 24 events on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series tour.
That last group of green pole-winning hats was collected last weekend during the NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway.
“I want one of those yellow ones,” he’s said of the color hat that represents winning an NHRA national event.
A year ago he collected a career-best seven for winning an event title and another seven for earning the top seed. It was looking very good that he would win for the first time in 10 races when championship eliminations began Sunday in Commerce, Ga.
And he just might have had the coveted NHRA Wally trophy had it not been for teammate Matt Hagan, whose Don Schumacher Racing Dodge that in the first round took the track records Beckman and crew chief Jimmy Prock earned in qualifying and then beat the Infinite Hero team in the championship round.
It allowed Beckman to move up to second in Mello Yello standings.
Despite the plethora of John Deere hats and luscious green fields he’ll see this week around Heartland Park Topeka, he and his Infinite Hero team will see yellow when they and reflect on being the reigning event champions.
A year ago, the team snapped a 54-race losing streak winning the unique Four-Wide Nationals, but the victory four races later in Kansas was its first traditional two-lane race win in 29 months.
Last year’s trophy was the 250th for DSR, and that total has increased to 270 since.
All that adds why the Kansas track so appealing to Beckman.
“Topeka literally is the heartland,” he said. “NHRA’s very first national event was held in Grand Bend, Kan., and Topeka is about as close as we get to that piece of history and as close as you can get to the middle of the country.
“And I’m fortunate to be a little bit of that history.”
He’d like to add another winning chapter this weekend.
And he won’t mind getting another green hat as long as he leaves wearing a yellow one.
FULL RELEASE
Sunday, May 15, 2016
DSR: Beckman’s wild ride in Infinite Hero Dodge starts day at beach, nearly finishes in winner’s circle in Southern Nationals near Atlanta
COMMERCE, Ga. (May 15, 2016) – Right behind Jack Beckman’s love for his family and drag racing is his passion for surfing.
It’s not just catching the big waves but the process of getting his board wet requires the solace of walking on sand.
Sand is a nice part of surfing, but it is never good to walk on it
after completing a 328-mph run down a dragstrip. When he got out of his
Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T Sunday after winning in the opening
round of the NHRA Southern Nationals near Atlanta, his beach experience
resulted after his parachutes failed and he drove his Dodge into the
sand trap passed the asphalt surface.
“I haven’t played in the sand for years, and I don’t recommend it,” he said. “It was certainly not what we wanted to do. But you know what, that’s why we have these run-off areas. I still had a lot of speed going into the sand, and I was just hoping it wasn’t going to go into the (safety) net.
“We got some great tune-up data from that run, and thanks to my wonderful crew our day wasn’t over. I just prefer win lights without sand.
“Putting the car in the sand took a huge team effort from our Infinite Hero crew and other DSR crew members came over to help us.”
After replacing the Dodge Charger R/T body and thoroughly cleaning out the sand, he turned on two win lights before racing teammate Matt Hagan in the final round.
Beckman’s first round sojourn after a run of 3.911 seconds at 328.86, which was faster that what it took for him to earn his fourth No. 1 qualifying position in seven Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events, was second best of the round to teammate Matt Hagan, whose Rocky Boots/Mopar Dodge went on to beat Beckman in the final round.
Before the last run, Beckman and crew chief Jimmy Prock with assistants John Medlen and Chris Cunningham escaped close races against DSR teammates. In the second round, Beckman’s 3.989 (323.81) edged out Capps’ 3.992 (320.81). In the semifinals, Beckman beat teammate Tommy Johnson Jr., who like Beckman is sponsored by Terry Chandler.
But Beckman wasn’t able to get past Hagan in the final round. Hagan took the track’s time and speed records away from Beckman in the first round and continued to be the quickest in each of the last three rounds.
“That’s going to be a great car and you saw some of that this weekend,” Beckman said of Hagan.
“We had a great day and a rewarding weekend. We made a lot of strides in our tune-up and went from fifth to second in the standings so we made up some points. It’s still frustrating to get to a final and lose.
“Now we go into Topeka before we have a week off and start four in-a-row. But we’ll go into that with a mean car.”
FULL ARTICLE
It’s not just catching the big waves but the process of getting his board wet requires the solace of walking on sand.
“I haven’t played in the sand for years, and I don’t recommend it,” he said. “It was certainly not what we wanted to do. But you know what, that’s why we have these run-off areas. I still had a lot of speed going into the sand, and I was just hoping it wasn’t going to go into the (safety) net.
“We got some great tune-up data from that run, and thanks to my wonderful crew our day wasn’t over. I just prefer win lights without sand.
“Putting the car in the sand took a huge team effort from our Infinite Hero crew and other DSR crew members came over to help us.”
After replacing the Dodge Charger R/T body and thoroughly cleaning out the sand, he turned on two win lights before racing teammate Matt Hagan in the final round.
Beckman’s first round sojourn after a run of 3.911 seconds at 328.86, which was faster that what it took for him to earn his fourth No. 1 qualifying position in seven Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events, was second best of the round to teammate Matt Hagan, whose Rocky Boots/Mopar Dodge went on to beat Beckman in the final round.
Before the last run, Beckman and crew chief Jimmy Prock with assistants John Medlen and Chris Cunningham escaped close races against DSR teammates. In the second round, Beckman’s 3.989 (323.81) edged out Capps’ 3.992 (320.81). In the semifinals, Beckman beat teammate Tommy Johnson Jr., who like Beckman is sponsored by Terry Chandler.
But Beckman wasn’t able to get past Hagan in the final round. Hagan took the track’s time and speed records away from Beckman in the first round and continued to be the quickest in each of the last three rounds.
“That’s going to be a great car and you saw some of that this weekend,” Beckman said of Hagan.
“We had a great day and a rewarding weekend. We made a lot of strides in our tune-up and went from fifth to second in the standings so we made up some points. It’s still frustrating to get to a final and lose.
“Now we go into Topeka before we have a week off and start four in-a-row. But we’ll go into that with a mean car.”
Saturday, May 14, 2016
Motorsport.com: Jack Beckman clinches the No. 1 position in Atlanta
Jack Beckman runs the best of qualifying to clinch the No. 1 position at
the 2016 Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Atlanta. Beckman
cements his spot at the front of the field with a 3.975, the quickest
run of the session. Beckman is the No. 1 qualifier for the 19th time in
his career and the fourth time this season. He will race Jim Campbell in
round one.
Watch tonight on FOX Sports 1 10p ET.
ARTICLE
Watch tonight on FOX Sports 1 10p ET.
ARTICLE
Fox News: Jack Beckman tops Funny Car qualifying at Atlanta Dragway
Jack Beckman topped Funny Car qualifying Saturday in the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway.
The two-time Atlanta winner used his track-record 3.939-second run at 326.32 mph from Friday night in his Dodge Charger R/T night to earn his fourth No. 1 of the season and 19th of his career.
"I'm happy where we are, qualifying No. 1," said Beckman, the 2012 Funny Car season champion.
"It's nice for a little bit of prestige, you get some bonus points that go with it, and it's maybe even nicer because you get a more favorable matchup first round. The whole idea behind that is to play it smart and strategic and win four rounds on Sunday. I think I'll sleep well tonight and come in tomorrow embracing the fact that we'll be the favorite."
Doug Kalitta led the Top Fuel field, Greg Anderson was fastest in Pro Stock, and Angelle Sampey topped the Pro Stock Motorcycle lineup.
Kalitta, the winner two weeks ago outside Houston, powered his dragster to a 3.731 at 328.70 on Friday night to take the No. 1 qualifier in Top Fuel. Kalitta reset Atlanta Dragway's elapsed time track record and earned his second No. 1 qualifier of the season and 45th of his career.
Anderson also used his Friday night performance, a leading performance of 6.610 at 210.14 in his Chevy Camaro. The four-time Atlanta winner has four No. 1 qualifiers this season and has raced to three victories in the first six races of the year. This is his seventh top qualifier at Atlanta Dragway and the 84th of his career.
Sampey rode her Buell to her first No. 1 qualifier since 2008 with a 6.865 at 193.32 from Friday night. She has four victories at Atlanta Dragway.
ARTICLE
The two-time Atlanta winner used his track-record 3.939-second run at 326.32 mph from Friday night in his Dodge Charger R/T night to earn his fourth No. 1 of the season and 19th of his career.
"I'm happy where we are, qualifying No. 1," said Beckman, the 2012 Funny Car season champion.
"It's nice for a little bit of prestige, you get some bonus points that go with it, and it's maybe even nicer because you get a more favorable matchup first round. The whole idea behind that is to play it smart and strategic and win four rounds on Sunday. I think I'll sleep well tonight and come in tomorrow embracing the fact that we'll be the favorite."
Doug Kalitta led the Top Fuel field, Greg Anderson was fastest in Pro Stock, and Angelle Sampey topped the Pro Stock Motorcycle lineup.
Kalitta, the winner two weeks ago outside Houston, powered his dragster to a 3.731 at 328.70 on Friday night to take the No. 1 qualifier in Top Fuel. Kalitta reset Atlanta Dragway's elapsed time track record and earned his second No. 1 qualifier of the season and 45th of his career.
Anderson also used his Friday night performance, a leading performance of 6.610 at 210.14 in his Chevy Camaro. The four-time Atlanta winner has four No. 1 qualifiers this season and has raced to three victories in the first six races of the year. This is his seventh top qualifier at Atlanta Dragway and the 84th of his career.
Sampey rode her Buell to her first No. 1 qualifier since 2008 with a 6.865 at 193.32 from Friday night. She has four victories at Atlanta Dragway.
ARTICLE
DSR: Qualifying success continues for Beckman, Infinite Hero team with year’s fourth pole, first in Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway
COMMERCE, Ga. (May 14, 2016) – Jack Beckman and the Infinite Hero
Foundation team have made qualifying look easy so far in the 2016 NHRA
Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.
Beckman and the Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T team sponsored by Terry Chandler earned their fourth No. 1 qualifying position of the season with their third NHRA track time record of the year to lead Don Schumacher Racing’s four Funny Cars into the top-half of the 16-car field for Sunday’s championship eliminations in the NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway.
“I’m happy with where we are now,” Beckman said. “Qualifying No. 1 is nice for a bit of prestige you get, and you also get some qualifying bonus points with that run. It’s also nice because you can get a more favorable match-up in the first round tomorrow, but the whole part of that is to play it smart strategically and win four rounds on Sunday.”
That part has been the challenge for 2012 world champion Beckman and the Infinite Hero team led by crew chief Jimmy Prock with assistants John Medlen and Chris Cunningham who have yet to reach a final round this season.
“In Gainesville, we definitely had a car where we could win,” Beckman said. “Other than that this year, we have stubbed our toe a lot of times. When the track got warm, if it didn’t wear the clutch just right, we didn’t make it very far. I think that the changes that we’ve made have now given us as good of a hot weather package as anyone else out there.”
The Infinite Hero team started to see success with their hot weather tune-up during Saturday qualifying at Atlanta Dragway with elapsed times of 4.033-seconds and 3.975-seconds.
But if weather forecasters are correct for Sunday in Commerce, Ga., it could be ideal for Prock and company with a high of 76 degrees and cloudy skies.
“I’ll sleep well tonight and come in tomorrow embracing the fact that we’re going to be the favorites. There are so many great cars out here that you have to go back to the cliché ‘race them one at a time.’ I’m looking forward to it.”
FULL ARTICLE
Beckman and the Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T team sponsored by Terry Chandler earned their fourth No. 1 qualifying position of the season with their third NHRA track time record of the year to lead Don Schumacher Racing’s four Funny Cars into the top-half of the 16-car field for Sunday’s championship eliminations in the NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway.
“I’m happy with where we are now,” Beckman said. “Qualifying No. 1 is nice for a bit of prestige you get, and you also get some qualifying bonus points with that run. It’s also nice because you can get a more favorable match-up in the first round tomorrow, but the whole part of that is to play it smart strategically and win four rounds on Sunday.”
That part has been the challenge for 2012 world champion Beckman and the Infinite Hero team led by crew chief Jimmy Prock with assistants John Medlen and Chris Cunningham who have yet to reach a final round this season.
“In Gainesville, we definitely had a car where we could win,” Beckman said. “Other than that this year, we have stubbed our toe a lot of times. When the track got warm, if it didn’t wear the clutch just right, we didn’t make it very far. I think that the changes that we’ve made have now given us as good of a hot weather package as anyone else out there.”
The Infinite Hero team started to see success with their hot weather tune-up during Saturday qualifying at Atlanta Dragway with elapsed times of 4.033-seconds and 3.975-seconds.
But if weather forecasters are correct for Sunday in Commerce, Ga., it could be ideal for Prock and company with a high of 76 degrees and cloudy skies.
“I’ll sleep well tonight and come in tomorrow embracing the fact that we’re going to be the favorites. There are so many great cars out here that you have to go back to the cliché ‘race them one at a time.’ I’m looking forward to it.”
FULL ARTICLE
Motorsport.com: Jack Beckman takes qualifying lead in Atlanta
Two-time Atlanta winner Jack Beckman took the qualifying lead in Funny
Car with a track record performance of 3.939 at 326.32 in his Dodge
Charger R/T. Beckman has three No. 1 qualifiers already this season but
is still chasing his first victory of the year. He has 18 No. 1
qualifiers in his career but none in Atlanta at the Summit Racing
Equipment NHRA Nationals.
LINK: VIDEO and ARTICLE
LINK: VIDEO and ARTICLE
Fox Sports: NHRA's Jack Beckman breaks track record during Friday qualifying
Jack Beckman is known for grabbing all the gusto a track can hold
but on Friday night qualifying at the NHRA Summit Southern Nationals,
he left a little on the table for Saturday.
Beckman, a two-time Southern Nationals champion, thundered to the top spot with an Atlanta Dragway track record 3.939 elapsed time at 326.32 miles per hour. Joining the past NHRA champion provisionally atop their respective categories were Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Angelle Sampey (Pro Stock Motorcycle).
Beckman has three No. 1 qualifiers to his credit this season and 18 in career, but none from the track located outside of Atlanta, Ga.
“This year we have not had the same performances as we did last year,” Beckman admitted. “We are fine when the track conditions are cool, but we’re struggling when it’s warm. There’s still some more performance in this car. At the end of the day, end of the weekend, end of the race, really the only thing that matters is holding up that trophy with your group in the winner’s circle. We haven’t even been to a final yet, and I’m hoping this Sunday is our first one.”
Beckman edged out teammate Matt Hagan, who was second. Courtney Force was third and earlier in the day recorded the track's first three-second Funny Car run and picked up four points to pull ahead of Tim Wilkerson in the point standings.
FULL ARTICLE
***
Bobby Bennett is the Publisher/Editor of CompetitionPlus.com, a leading independent online drag racing magazine, since 1999. For the latest in dragster news worldwide, visit www.competitionplus.com or follow on Twitter @competitionplus
Beckman, a two-time Southern Nationals champion, thundered to the top spot with an Atlanta Dragway track record 3.939 elapsed time at 326.32 miles per hour. Joining the past NHRA champion provisionally atop their respective categories were Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Angelle Sampey (Pro Stock Motorcycle).
Beckman has three No. 1 qualifiers to his credit this season and 18 in career, but none from the track located outside of Atlanta, Ga.
“This year we have not had the same performances as we did last year,” Beckman admitted. “We are fine when the track conditions are cool, but we’re struggling when it’s warm. There’s still some more performance in this car. At the end of the day, end of the weekend, end of the race, really the only thing that matters is holding up that trophy with your group in the winner’s circle. We haven’t even been to a final yet, and I’m hoping this Sunday is our first one.”
Beckman edged out teammate Matt Hagan, who was second. Courtney Force was third and earlier in the day recorded the track's first three-second Funny Car run and picked up four points to pull ahead of Tim Wilkerson in the point standings.
FULL ARTICLE
***
Bobby Bennett is the Publisher/Editor of CompetitionPlus.com, a leading independent online drag racing magazine, since 1999. For the latest in dragster news worldwide, visit www.competitionplus.com or follow on Twitter @competitionplus
Friday, May 13, 2016
NHRA: Kalitta, Beckman, Anderson, Sampey lead after opening day in Atlanta
Two-time Atlanta winner Beckman took the qualifying lead in Funny Car
with a track record performance of 3.939 at 326.32 in his Infinite Hero
Foundation Dodge Charger R/T. Beckman has three No. 1 qualifiers
already this season but is still chasing his first victory of the year.
He has 18 No. 1 qualifiers in his career but none in Atlanta.
“This year we have not had the same performances as we did last
year,” said Beckman, who raced to a career-high seven victories in 2015.
“We are fine when the track conditions are cool, but we’re struggling
when it’s warm. There’s still some more performance in this car. At the
end of the day, end of the weekend, end of the race, really the only
thing that matters is holding up that trophy with your group in the
winner’s circle. We haven’t even been to a final yet, and I’m hoping
this Sunday is our first one.”
FULL ARTICLE
FULL ARTICLE
DSR: Beckman edges DSR teammate Hagan for Atlanta provisional pole while Langdon leads team’s four dragsters after first day of qualifying
COMMERCE, Ga. (May 13, 2016) – Now that’s more like it.
After winning 27 NHRA national event titles last year, including 15 in Funny Car, DSR has only mustered one title each thus far this season in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.
Friday could be a hint the DSR juggernaut is getting close to returning to full power.
Jack Beckman and the Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T led Don Schumacher Racing the top of the Funny Car field after the first day of qualifying in the NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway with a track-record-setting performance.
And close behind in the No. 2 position, with two more sessions scheduled for Saturday, is DSR teammate Matt Hagan in the Rocky Boots/Mopar Dodge whose Dodge Charger R/T also blasted the previous records.
Beckman with crew chief Jimmy Prock with assistants John Medlen and Chris Cunningham led the Terry Chandler-sponsored Dodge to a time of 3.939 seconds at 326.32 mph. The team is on the cusp of earning its fourth No. 1 qualifying position through the first seven races of the 24-event Mello Yello season but has yet to win this season after winning a series-best event times last year.
“We are fine when track conditions are cool like they were tonight, but we’ve been struggling when it’s warm,” said the 2012 Funny Car world champion.
“The first session we ran a 4.07 that put us in the middle of the pack. It’s tough to make a big change when you’re middle of the pack, but because there are only 16 cars here everyone will run on Sunday. That meant Jimmy was able to take a hard shot at it.”
FULL ARTICLE
After winning 27 NHRA national event titles last year, including 15 in Funny Car, DSR has only mustered one title each thus far this season in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.
Friday could be a hint the DSR juggernaut is getting close to returning to full power.
Jack Beckman and the Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T led Don Schumacher Racing the top of the Funny Car field after the first day of qualifying in the NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway with a track-record-setting performance.
And close behind in the No. 2 position, with two more sessions scheduled for Saturday, is DSR teammate Matt Hagan in the Rocky Boots/Mopar Dodge whose Dodge Charger R/T also blasted the previous records.
Beckman with crew chief Jimmy Prock with assistants John Medlen and Chris Cunningham led the Terry Chandler-sponsored Dodge to a time of 3.939 seconds at 326.32 mph. The team is on the cusp of earning its fourth No. 1 qualifying position through the first seven races of the 24-event Mello Yello season but has yet to win this season after winning a series-best event times last year.
“We are fine when track conditions are cool like they were tonight, but we’ve been struggling when it’s warm,” said the 2012 Funny Car world champion.
“The first session we ran a 4.07 that put us in the middle of the pack. It’s tough to make a big change when you’re middle of the pack, but because there are only 16 cars here everyone will run on Sunday. That meant Jimmy was able to take a hard shot at it.”
FULL ARTICLE
Tuesday, May 10, 2016
DSR: Infinite Hero Dodge recovers for semifinals finish at Houston, Beckman confident gains will pay off this weekend near Atlanta
BROWNSBURG, Ind. (May 10, 2016) – None of Don Schumacher Racing’s
four Funny Car teams have won as many times at Atlanta Dragway than Jack
Beckman and the Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T team led by crew chief
Jimmy Prock.
Beckman won at the track 70 miles northeast of Atlanta in Commerce, Ga., in 2009 and 2011.
More important than ending that drought for the 2012 Funny Car world champion is to post his first win of this Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season after six events and his team’s first since the 21st of 24 events in 2015.
The team assistant crew chiefs John Medlen and Chris Cunningham have devoted several races to putting the team in position to win the championship, but it’s time to win as the Mello Yello series faces two consecutive weekends of racing then after a weekend off faces a run of four in a row.
“We’ve been having a consistency issue this year specifically when the racetrack gets warmer,” said Beckman, whose team sponsored by Terry Chandler dominated the Funny Car category last year with seven event titles, seven No. 1 qualifying awards and numerous performance records.
The Infinite Hero Dodge has qualified strong this year with three poles in the first six events, but continues trying to blend qualifying performance with results in Sunday eliminations.
At Houston, the team struggled in qualifying and rallied on Sunday.
“We made a major change Saturday night in Houston after struggling in all four qualifying sessions,” Beckman said. “The results on Sunday were very promising. I can see light at the end of the tunnel.
“Our car is running good enough to win a race, but we want to get it back to where we dominate.”
After not getting to the finish line under power in four qualifying runs that left the team qualified 12th, Beckman rebounded with three runs in eliminations between 3.941 and 3.958 seconds that led to the semifinals where he was sidelined by Tim Wilkerson’s 3.906, the quickest of the day.
“Big changes were made to the car overnight, and it showed how well our team works together,” said Beckman, who is seventh in Mello Yello championship points. “Our crew chiefs are able to put their heads together, make some educated guesses.
“It was disappointing to not win but the silver lining is that we found some things about this car that will help us at Atlanta.”
FULL ARTICLE
For more information, please visit Don Schumacher Racing.
Beckman won at the track 70 miles northeast of Atlanta in Commerce, Ga., in 2009 and 2011.
More important than ending that drought for the 2012 Funny Car world champion is to post his first win of this Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season after six events and his team’s first since the 21st of 24 events in 2015.
The team assistant crew chiefs John Medlen and Chris Cunningham have devoted several races to putting the team in position to win the championship, but it’s time to win as the Mello Yello series faces two consecutive weekends of racing then after a weekend off faces a run of four in a row.
“We’ve been having a consistency issue this year specifically when the racetrack gets warmer,” said Beckman, whose team sponsored by Terry Chandler dominated the Funny Car category last year with seven event titles, seven No. 1 qualifying awards and numerous performance records.
The Infinite Hero Dodge has qualified strong this year with three poles in the first six events, but continues trying to blend qualifying performance with results in Sunday eliminations.
At Houston, the team struggled in qualifying and rallied on Sunday.
“We made a major change Saturday night in Houston after struggling in all four qualifying sessions,” Beckman said. “The results on Sunday were very promising. I can see light at the end of the tunnel.
“Our car is running good enough to win a race, but we want to get it back to where we dominate.”
After not getting to the finish line under power in four qualifying runs that left the team qualified 12th, Beckman rebounded with three runs in eliminations between 3.941 and 3.958 seconds that led to the semifinals where he was sidelined by Tim Wilkerson’s 3.906, the quickest of the day.
“Big changes were made to the car overnight, and it showed how well our team works together,” said Beckman, who is seventh in Mello Yello championship points. “Our crew chiefs are able to put their heads together, make some educated guesses.
“It was disappointing to not win but the silver lining is that we found some things about this car that will help us at Atlanta.”
FULL ARTICLE
For more information, please visit Don Schumacher Racing.
Sunday, May 1, 2016
DSR: Beckman reaches semifinal round with impressive turnaround performance for Infinite Hero team at NHRA SpringNationals
BAYTOWN, Texas (May 1, 2016) – Jack Beckman was unable to leave
Houston with his first NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event title
from the track, but he likes how his team responded from subpar
qualifying runs to enable him to advance to the final round of the NHRA
SpringNationals.
Beckman and the Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T led by crew chief Jimmy Prock with assistants John Medlen and Chris Cunningham came within a whisker of advancing to the final round Sunday.
In the opening round, the Infinite Hero Dodge upset previous points leader Robert Hight with a time of 3.958 seconds at 319.67 mph. In the second round, Beckman’s quicker reaction time at the starting line allowed his slower 3.949 (325.22) to post the holeshot win.
“Yesterday I said we had painted ourselves into a corner and we faced a big uphill battle,” Beckman said. “I knew we would be the underdog coming into today. We were racing a team who had made a lot better runs that we had. We hadn’t even made it to the finish line in qualifying on any of our four runs.”
The Infinite Hero team funded by Terry Chandler posted its second semifinals finish after six of 24 events in the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.
The turnaround from qualifying on Friday and Saturday to Sunday was impressive.
“Big changes were made to the car overnight and this shows how well our team works together,” said Beckman, who is seventh in Mello Yello championship points. “Our crew chiefs are able to put their heads together, make some educated guesses and there’s the proof. We ended up 10-thousanths of a second from winning in the semifinals and getting to another final round.
“It’s disappointing to not win but the silver lining is that we found some things about this car that will help us down the line. We came out of here with semifinals points and we’re headed in a direction that makes me very excited to get to the next race in two weeks in Atlanta.”
FULL ARTICLE
Beckman and the Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T led by crew chief Jimmy Prock with assistants John Medlen and Chris Cunningham came within a whisker of advancing to the final round Sunday.
In the opening round, the Infinite Hero Dodge upset previous points leader Robert Hight with a time of 3.958 seconds at 319.67 mph. In the second round, Beckman’s quicker reaction time at the starting line allowed his slower 3.949 (325.22) to post the holeshot win.
“Yesterday I said we had painted ourselves into a corner and we faced a big uphill battle,” Beckman said. “I knew we would be the underdog coming into today. We were racing a team who had made a lot better runs that we had. We hadn’t even made it to the finish line in qualifying on any of our four runs.”
The Infinite Hero team funded by Terry Chandler posted its second semifinals finish after six of 24 events in the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.
The turnaround from qualifying on Friday and Saturday to Sunday was impressive.
“Big changes were made to the car overnight and this shows how well our team works together,” said Beckman, who is seventh in Mello Yello championship points. “Our crew chiefs are able to put their heads together, make some educated guesses and there’s the proof. We ended up 10-thousanths of a second from winning in the semifinals and getting to another final round.
“It’s disappointing to not win but the silver lining is that we found some things about this car that will help us down the line. We came out of here with semifinals points and we’re headed in a direction that makes me very excited to get to the next race in two weeks in Atlanta.”
FULL ARTICLE
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