SONOMA, Calif. (July 31, 2016) - Jack Beckman and his Infinite Hero Foundation team came up short of defending their event title at Sonoma Raceway on Sunday when they were eliminated during the second round of competition.
"We did everything we needed to do for a team that didn't qualify in the top half of the ladder," Beckman said of the Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T funded by Terry Chandler.
Beckman qualified No. 9 with a pass of 3.920 seconds at 323.27 mph.
In the first round, Beckman's 3.921-second pass at 323.27 mph got past teammate Tommy Johnson Jr. and the Make-A-Wish team, also funded by Terry Chandler.
Then during the second round, Beckman's car went up in tire smoke and the win went to Del Worsham of Kalitta Motorsports.
"We came out and we pushed the track hard. We beat our teammate (Johnson) in a side-by-side 3-second run. We took lane choice into the second round. And it dropped a cylinder right at the step - that made it shake and smoke the tires."
"You're just not going to win without running low 3.90s, even in the heat of the day anymore. One of the tough parts about that is when the track heats up and you pull the tune-up back just a bit it's hard to trying to keep all eight holes (cylinders) lit.
"It's frustrating. We're hanging tight in the points. But man, we need to be moving up and we're running out of time to do that before we go into the Countdown (to the Championship) for the reset of points after Labor Day.
Despite his early exit Sunday, Beckman remains third in the Funny Car points standings.
"Right now, in the regular season, it's just trophies. All you're after is just trophies," Beckman said.
"Once you go into the Countdown, the reality is, round wins are what's most important. Yes, getting a trophy gets you the most round wins but, you could runner-up at every race of the Countdown and probably win the Championship.
"It's not that we need to be any more motivated or determined but I think when we roll into Seattle, we'll have burned up a lot of notepads and calculator keys trying to figure out exactly what this car wants," Beckman said.
Next weekend is the final race of the three-race Western Swing.
"You just want to be standing there at the end of the day Sunday and have the fans say, 'Wow! What a perfect day!' So that's our goal in Seattle - perfect Sunday."
FUNNY CAR
Winner: John Force (John Force Racing)
No. 1 qualifier: Del Worsham (Kalitta Motorsports), 3.868 sec.-track record, 327.43 mph
JACK BECKMAN, Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T
Qualified: No. 9
SUNDAY CHAMPIONSHIP ELIMINATIONS
First round: BECKMAN (3.921 sec., 323.27 mph) def. Tommy Johnson Jr. (3.988, 296.76)
Second round: Del Worsham (3.958, 322.04) def. BECKMAN (7.608, 86.88)
QUALIFYING
FRIDAY: 3.933 sec., 322.34 mph, (Session 1); 4.389, 195.17, (Session 2)
SATURDAY: 4.120, 242.71, (Session 3); 3.920, 323.27, (Session 4)
FULL ARTICLE
Sunday, July 31, 2016
Saturday, July 30, 2016
DSR: Beckman, Infinite Hero Dodge look to defend Sonoma title but have to face DSR teammate in Sunday’s opening round
SOMONA, Calif. (July 30, 2016) - Jack Beckman and his Infinite Hero Foundation team strive to repeat their victory in last year's Sonoma NHRA Nationals. But, his match-up will play out a little differently than it did last year.
In 2015, Beckman met his Don Schumacher Racing teammate Tommy Johnson Jr. in the final round. This year at the 29th annual Sonoma NHRA Nationals, the two are meeting in the opening round.
"I hate to race a teammate first round," Beckman said. "And I hate to race another Terry Chandler car first round."
Chandler funds the Infinite Hero Foundation and Make-A-Wish teams.
"I think we know the direction we need to go. And no holding back for tomorrow," Beckman said.
"We have to give it 100 percent against that Make-A-Wish car and they'll do the same against us and it'll definitely be interesting for the fans."
Not only is the match-up different than last year but the elapsed times of the Funny Car field is much different.
In 2015, Beckman qualified No. 1 when he ran a 3.921-second lap at 323.43 mph, which was a national record. This year, his best qualifying effort came in the final qualifying session when he ran a 3.920 and he finished in the No. 9 spot.
"Last year, we come here and ran a 3.92 (3.921), and we're the heroes of the universe. We come here this year and run a 3.92 with a zero and we won't even have lane choice going into tomorrow.
"My, what a difference a year has made in Funny Car."
Beckman, along with his crew chief Jimmy Prock with assistants John Medlen and Chris Cunningham, brought home seven event titles last year. This season their first title came a few weeks ago near Chicago but they are third in the standings.
Sonoma is the second stop of the annual the three-race Western Swing that concludes next weekend near Seattle.
Beckman and Johnson will faceoff tomorrow during round one of eliminations which will air live on FOX Network at 4 p.m. ET.
FUNNY CAR
No. 1 qualifier: Del Worsham (Kalitta Motorsports), 3.868 sec.-track record, 327.43 mph
JACK BECKMAN, Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T
Qualified: No. 9
SUNDAY CHAMPIONSHIP ELIMINATIONS
First round: Tommy Johnson Jr.
QUALIFYING
FRIDAY: 3.933 sec., 322.34 mph, (Session 1); 4.389, 195.17, (Session 2)
SATURDAY: 4.120, 242.71, (Session 3); 3.920, 323.27, (Session 4)
About Infinite Hero Foundation
A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Infinite Hero Foundation combats the most difficult front line issues - mental and physical - facing returning military heroes and their families. The Foundation funds programs that drive innovation and the accessibility of effective treatments for military heroes and their families dealing with service-related mental and physical injuries. For more information, visit: www.infinitehero.org.
About Don Schumacher Racing
Don Schumacher Racing, headquartered in Brownsburg, Ind., fields seven professional NHRA teams. In Top Fuel, the U.S. Army dragster driven by eight-time world champion Tony Schumacher, the Matco Tools dragster driven by two-time world champion Antron Brown and the Sandvik Coromant/Red Fuel Powered by Schumacher dragster driven by Shawn Langdon and in Funny Car, 2011 and 2014 world champion Matt Hagan in the Mopar Express Lane/Rocky Boots 2015 Dodge Charger R/T, 2012 NHRA world champion Jack Beckman in the Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge, the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge of Ron Capps and the Make-A-Wish Dodge driven by Tommy Johnson Jr.DSR has won 281 NHRA national event titles and 14 world championships.
Follow Don Schumacher Racing at ShoeRacing.com, on Twitter at @shoeracing and Facebook.com/shoeracing.
For additional information, please visit Don Schumacher Racing.
In 2015, Beckman met his Don Schumacher Racing teammate Tommy Johnson Jr. in the final round. This year at the 29th annual Sonoma NHRA Nationals, the two are meeting in the opening round.
"I hate to race a teammate first round," Beckman said. "And I hate to race another Terry Chandler car first round."
Chandler funds the Infinite Hero Foundation and Make-A-Wish teams.
"I think we know the direction we need to go. And no holding back for tomorrow," Beckman said.
"We have to give it 100 percent against that Make-A-Wish car and they'll do the same against us and it'll definitely be interesting for the fans."
Not only is the match-up different than last year but the elapsed times of the Funny Car field is much different.
In 2015, Beckman qualified No. 1 when he ran a 3.921-second lap at 323.43 mph, which was a national record. This year, his best qualifying effort came in the final qualifying session when he ran a 3.920 and he finished in the No. 9 spot.
"Last year, we come here and ran a 3.92 (3.921), and we're the heroes of the universe. We come here this year and run a 3.92 with a zero and we won't even have lane choice going into tomorrow.
"My, what a difference a year has made in Funny Car."
Beckman, along with his crew chief Jimmy Prock with assistants John Medlen and Chris Cunningham, brought home seven event titles last year. This season their first title came a few weeks ago near Chicago but they are third in the standings.
Sonoma is the second stop of the annual the three-race Western Swing that concludes next weekend near Seattle.
Beckman and Johnson will faceoff tomorrow during round one of eliminations which will air live on FOX Network at 4 p.m. ET.
FUNNY CAR
No. 1 qualifier: Del Worsham (Kalitta Motorsports), 3.868 sec.-track record, 327.43 mph
JACK BECKMAN, Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T
Qualified: No. 9
SUNDAY CHAMPIONSHIP ELIMINATIONS
First round: Tommy Johnson Jr.
QUALIFYING
FRIDAY: 3.933 sec., 322.34 mph, (Session 1); 4.389, 195.17, (Session 2)
SATURDAY: 4.120, 242.71, (Session 3); 3.920, 323.27, (Session 4)
About Infinite Hero Foundation
A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Infinite Hero Foundation combats the most difficult front line issues - mental and physical - facing returning military heroes and their families. The Foundation funds programs that drive innovation and the accessibility of effective treatments for military heroes and their families dealing with service-related mental and physical injuries. For more information, visit: www.infinitehero.org.
About Don Schumacher Racing
Don Schumacher Racing, headquartered in Brownsburg, Ind., fields seven professional NHRA teams. In Top Fuel, the U.S. Army dragster driven by eight-time world champion Tony Schumacher, the Matco Tools dragster driven by two-time world champion Antron Brown and the Sandvik Coromant/Red Fuel Powered by Schumacher dragster driven by Shawn Langdon and in Funny Car, 2011 and 2014 world champion Matt Hagan in the Mopar Express Lane/Rocky Boots 2015 Dodge Charger R/T, 2012 NHRA world champion Jack Beckman in the Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge, the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge of Ron Capps and the Make-A-Wish Dodge driven by Tommy Johnson Jr.DSR has won 281 NHRA national event titles and 14 world championships.
Follow Don Schumacher Racing at ShoeRacing.com, on Twitter at @shoeracing and Facebook.com/shoeracing.
For additional information, please visit Don Schumacher Racing.
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
DSR: First-round loss costly for Beckman, Infinite Hero Dodge team but visit with American heroes provides longer lasting memories
Beckman was disappointed he was sidelined in the opening round of eliminations Sunday to Don Schumacher Racing teammate Ron Capps by a narrow margin. Beckman and the Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car team started the day ranked second to Capps in Mello Yello Drag Racing Series points and trailed by 126.
It was the scenario he and crew chief Jimmy Prock wanted, a chance to take a big chunk out of Capps' lead but Beckman came up short with a 4.078-second run to Capps' 4.047. Capps lost in the next round and extended the margin over Beckman to 144. Courtney Force advanced to the final round and moved around Beckman in the standings.
"That was a big one for us," said Beckman, who had won the previous event near Chicago. "We got our early round match-up with (Capps) and we lost. That's huge. It was a bitter disappointment; those are the ones that feel like a punch in the gut. You have a scenario line up for you, and we did. And you have to capitalize, and we didn't.
"In this sport, you have to be good enough. Sometimes you don't even have to be good, you have to be good enough. And we weren't good enough."
But that was in the mile-high altitude of Denver and this weekend Beckman gets back to sea level and a chance to defend the event title he won a year ago at Sonoma Raceway near San Francisco. He also won the pole for that race.
The Denver weekend, however, is one of Beckman's most memorable.
The Infinite Hero Fund, which provides grants to assist veterans who return from war with physical or psychological injuries, hosted three American heroes: J.R. Martinez and identical twins Morgan and Marcus Luttrell, each of whom are retired Navy SEALs. It was only a few days after Marcus, author of the book "Lone Survivor" that recounts his harrowing experience during a 2005 military operation in Afghanistan, shared an inspirational message to the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.
"I got to hang out with J.R. when we did the Mopar autograph signing together," said Beckman, whose Infinite Hero team is funded by Terry Chandler.
"It's interesting to see people and the way they deal with life-changing events. That guy is so inspirational.
"And then I'm strapped in to our racecar towing up to the starting line and the Luttrell brothers point into me and give the thumbs up.
"And I think, OK, this is as close to combat as we're going to get in the civilian sector - strapped into a nitro Funny Car going out there to do battle on the track. But those are guys who have REALLY gone into combat on a regular basis."
JACK BECKMAN: Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T
Last event Denver, July 22-24: Qualified No. 6, lost in first round to Ron Capps
A year ago at Sonoma: Qualified No. 1, won in championship round over Tommy Johnson Jr.
Career at Sonoma: Wins 1; Runner-ups 1 (2010); Poles 2 (2010)
Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L
2016 3rd 14 1 3 2 5 3 4 0 22-13
CAREER 242 23 25 43 68 76 19 7 319-212
Best Time, Speed: 3.866 sec. (2016, Topeka); 332.59 mph (2016, Topeka)
FULL ARTICLE
Sunday, July 24, 2016
DSR: Beckman loses big opportunity in first round to gain ground on DSR teammate in Mopar Mile-High Nationals, drops to third
DENVER (July 24, 2016) - Jack Beckman knows his Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T team lost a great opportunity Sunday in the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals in the first round.
Beckman was paired with Don Schumacher Racing teammate Ron Capps to open the event at Bandimere Speedway near Denver and it provided an opportunity for him to take a big chunk out of Capps' lead over him in the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series points standings.
Beckman has added incentive to be leading the points before the U.S. Nationals over Labor Day Weekend to qualify for the $100,000 Traxxas Nitro Shootout all-star event when the field will include eight drivers.
The first seven were for the first seven event winners this year. Beckman, who won two weeks ago, was not among the first seven. There are two other ways to qualify; one is by a fan vote and the other would be if the points leader after 17 races is not qualified.
"That was a big one for us," Beckman said. "In the big scope of the points, and trying to get in the (Shootout) without relying on the fan vote, we needed an early round match-up with the NAPA car, and we needed to win the race.
"And we got our early round match-up with the NAPA car and we lost the round. That's huge. Our car dropped a cylinder one second into the run, and sometimes that's all it takes. It was a close race. It was a bitter disappointment there - those are the ones that feel like a punch in the gut. You have scenarios to line up for you, and we did. And you have to capitalize, and we didn't.
"This sport, you have to be good enough. Sometimes you don't even have to be good, you have to be good enough. And we weren't good enough."
Beckman shot up to No. 6 in qualifying on his last run Saturday night of 3.985 seconds at 312.78, and Capps was seeded 11th, his worst of the year, to set the match-up.
Beckman and crew chief Jimmy Prock produced a solid time of 4.078 seconds at 301.47 mph but it wasn't enough to get past Capps' 4.047 at 316.45.
Capps, however, lost in the next round but extended his lead over Beckman to 144 points and when Courtney Force advanced to the final round she was able to move up to second and Beckman dropped to third with his Infinite Hero team funded by Terry Chandler.
It was an overall bad day for DSR Funny Cars as all four were eliminated before the semifinals. It was in stark contrast to the past couple months. The DSR teams had combined to win the previous seven event titles including the one two weeks at Chicago where Beckman left with the NHRA Wally trophy.
The following are Beckman's for DSR at Bandimere:
FUNNY CAR
Winner: John Force (John Force Racing)
No. 1 qualifier: Courtney Force (John Force Racing), 3.917 sec.-track record, 318.39 mph
JACK BECKMAN, Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T
Qualified: No. 6
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS
First round: Ron Capps (4.047 sec., 316.45 mph) def. BECKMAN (4.078, 301.47)
QUALIFYING
FRIDAY: 4.175 sec., 236.05 mph, (Session 1); 4.234, 220.37, (Session 2)
SATURDAY: 4.046, 313.58, (Session 3); 3.985, 312.78, (Session 4)
FULL ARTICLE
Beckman was paired with Don Schumacher Racing teammate Ron Capps to open the event at Bandimere Speedway near Denver and it provided an opportunity for him to take a big chunk out of Capps' lead over him in the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series points standings.
Beckman has added incentive to be leading the points before the U.S. Nationals over Labor Day Weekend to qualify for the $100,000 Traxxas Nitro Shootout all-star event when the field will include eight drivers.
The first seven were for the first seven event winners this year. Beckman, who won two weeks ago, was not among the first seven. There are two other ways to qualify; one is by a fan vote and the other would be if the points leader after 17 races is not qualified.
"That was a big one for us," Beckman said. "In the big scope of the points, and trying to get in the (Shootout) without relying on the fan vote, we needed an early round match-up with the NAPA car, and we needed to win the race.
"And we got our early round match-up with the NAPA car and we lost the round. That's huge. Our car dropped a cylinder one second into the run, and sometimes that's all it takes. It was a close race. It was a bitter disappointment there - those are the ones that feel like a punch in the gut. You have scenarios to line up for you, and we did. And you have to capitalize, and we didn't.
"This sport, you have to be good enough. Sometimes you don't even have to be good, you have to be good enough. And we weren't good enough."
Beckman shot up to No. 6 in qualifying on his last run Saturday night of 3.985 seconds at 312.78, and Capps was seeded 11th, his worst of the year, to set the match-up.
Beckman and crew chief Jimmy Prock produced a solid time of 4.078 seconds at 301.47 mph but it wasn't enough to get past Capps' 4.047 at 316.45.
Capps, however, lost in the next round but extended his lead over Beckman to 144 points and when Courtney Force advanced to the final round she was able to move up to second and Beckman dropped to third with his Infinite Hero team funded by Terry Chandler.
It was an overall bad day for DSR Funny Cars as all four were eliminated before the semifinals. It was in stark contrast to the past couple months. The DSR teams had combined to win the previous seven event titles including the one two weeks at Chicago where Beckman left with the NHRA Wally trophy.
The following are Beckman's for DSR at Bandimere:
FUNNY CAR
Winner: John Force (John Force Racing)
No. 1 qualifier: Courtney Force (John Force Racing), 3.917 sec.-track record, 318.39 mph
JACK BECKMAN, Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T
Qualified: No. 6
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS
First round: Ron Capps (4.047 sec., 316.45 mph) def. BECKMAN (4.078, 301.47)
QUALIFYING
FRIDAY: 4.175 sec., 236.05 mph, (Session 1); 4.234, 220.37, (Session 2)
SATURDAY: 4.046, 313.58, (Session 3); 3.985, 312.78, (Session 4)
FULL ARTICLE
Saturday, July 23, 2016
DSR: Beckman, Infinite Hero Dodge jumps to sixth on last qualifying run, faces DSR teammate Capps in pivotal first round near Denver
DENVER (July 23, 2016) - The biggest race of Sunday's Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals could be in the first round when Jack Beckman and the Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T face Don Schumacher Racing teammate Ron Capps.
Points leader Capps is 124 ahead of Beckman, who is second. Two weeks ago near Chicago, Beckman beat Capps in the championship round for his first title of the season.
"There are still five races and a lot of points before the field is set for the Countdown (to the Championship playoff), but the first round Sunday is big."
Beckman has a good sense of humor and a joke he made Saturday at Bandimere was based more in fact than fiction.
"As drivers we love coming to the mountain because Bandimere is a great facility and the fans are some of the best we see all year. And the crew chiefs can't wait to see it in their rearview mirrors when they're leaving Sunday night."
The mile-high altitude chokes the 10,000-horsepower HEMI engines of power and qualifying added variables of heat and rain delays on Saturday and Sunday.
Beckman's Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T led by crew chief Jimmy Prock and funded by Terry Chandler weren't able to get to the finish line Friday under power on both runs but rallied early Saturday evening with a 4.046-second run at 313.58 in the third session and further improved on the last run with a time of 3.985 at 312.78 mph.
On his last run, he became the sixth Funny Car driver at Bandimere to crack into the 3-second zone. He joined with Del Worsham in the other lane who ran a 3.969 for the first side-by-side 3s at the track.
The Infinite Hero Dodge will start No. 6 in Sunday's championship eliminations beginning at 11 a.m. (MT) with the final rounds televised live on Fox to mark the first time in NHRA history that an event was televised live on a national network.
"Our first two runs on Friday the front tires came off the ground and I was thinking, 'Wow, so that's what happens when you're pushing hard.' It's the first time we've been back (to Bandimere) with this style of header and we don't want to hurt the racecar too badly. It knocked the alignment out and it probably isn't as perfect as it was when it rolled out of the DSR shop a couple of months ago. But it goes nice and fast.
"We emptied every piece of scrap metal out of the cabinets that we could and bolted it on the front of the car to keep it on the track. We're heavy. But the car is very drivable and we can tune around that.
"I don't know if you have to throw everything out that we learned at the night sessions once we go into race day in the heat of the sun but we figured it out last year OK."
Teams will face conditions unlike what they experienced in qualifying. Sunday begins with Top Fuel at 11 a.m. (MT) followed by Funny Car. The forecast is for cloudy skies and temperatures in the mid-80s.
The Mopar Mile-High Nationals is the 14th of 24 events in the Mello Yello Series and first stop on the three-race, three-week Western Swing that heads to Sonoma, Calif., near San Francisco, next weekend and concludes near Seattle.
FULL ARTICLE
Points leader Capps is 124 ahead of Beckman, who is second. Two weeks ago near Chicago, Beckman beat Capps in the championship round for his first title of the season.
"There are still five races and a lot of points before the field is set for the Countdown (to the Championship playoff), but the first round Sunday is big."
Beckman has a good sense of humor and a joke he made Saturday at Bandimere was based more in fact than fiction.
"As drivers we love coming to the mountain because Bandimere is a great facility and the fans are some of the best we see all year. And the crew chiefs can't wait to see it in their rearview mirrors when they're leaving Sunday night."
The mile-high altitude chokes the 10,000-horsepower HEMI engines of power and qualifying added variables of heat and rain delays on Saturday and Sunday.
Beckman's Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T led by crew chief Jimmy Prock and funded by Terry Chandler weren't able to get to the finish line Friday under power on both runs but rallied early Saturday evening with a 4.046-second run at 313.58 in the third session and further improved on the last run with a time of 3.985 at 312.78 mph.
On his last run, he became the sixth Funny Car driver at Bandimere to crack into the 3-second zone. He joined with Del Worsham in the other lane who ran a 3.969 for the first side-by-side 3s at the track.
The Infinite Hero Dodge will start No. 6 in Sunday's championship eliminations beginning at 11 a.m. (MT) with the final rounds televised live on Fox to mark the first time in NHRA history that an event was televised live on a national network.
"Our first two runs on Friday the front tires came off the ground and I was thinking, 'Wow, so that's what happens when you're pushing hard.' It's the first time we've been back (to Bandimere) with this style of header and we don't want to hurt the racecar too badly. It knocked the alignment out and it probably isn't as perfect as it was when it rolled out of the DSR shop a couple of months ago. But it goes nice and fast.
"We emptied every piece of scrap metal out of the cabinets that we could and bolted it on the front of the car to keep it on the track. We're heavy. But the car is very drivable and we can tune around that.
"I don't know if you have to throw everything out that we learned at the night sessions once we go into race day in the heat of the sun but we figured it out last year OK."
Teams will face conditions unlike what they experienced in qualifying. Sunday begins with Top Fuel at 11 a.m. (MT) followed by Funny Car. The forecast is for cloudy skies and temperatures in the mid-80s.
The Mopar Mile-High Nationals is the 14th of 24 events in the Mello Yello Series and first stop on the three-race, three-week Western Swing that heads to Sonoma, Calif., near San Francisco, next weekend and concludes near Seattle.
FULL ARTICLE
Tuesday, July 19, 2016
DSR: Beckman set to defend Mopar Mile-High Funny Car title near Denver, win second straight Mello Yello title with Infinite Hero Dodge
BROWNSBURG, Ind. (July 19, 2016) – Jack Beckman and the Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car team powered by Mopar and led by crew chief Jimmy Prock gave notice at the last race that they have not lost their way to a winner’s circle.
After winning a series-best seven titles last year in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, Beckman hoisted his first NHRA Wally trophy since last October when he won on July 12 near Chicago.
”We didn’t know if we would win at Chicago, but we were confident we could,” said Beckman, who was stationed at Lowry Air Force Base in Aurora, Colo., while serving in the U.S. Air Force.
“We’d made it to three final rounds before Chicago and were frustrated we couldn’t close it out. We just weren’t able to get a handle on our racecar. Something would come up that threw us a curveball, and we couldn’t tune around those issues.”
The Infinite Hero team connected near Chicago.
In his fourth final round in 13 of 24 Mello Yello events, the win over Don Schumacher Racing teammate Ron Capps enabled Beckman and the Infinite Hero Dodge funded by Terry Chandler to move up one spot to second in points heading to this weekend’s 37th annual Mopar Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway near Denver where he has won twice including in his NHRA championship season in 2012.
“Denver is a race where we warm up 30 minutes earlier than any other race before the first qualifying session just to make sure it will idle. It’s that much more difficult to adjust to the altitude.
“Denver is completely unique. There’s one notebook for Denver and another one for the other 20 facilities where we race. When we get done with Denver, we put that notebook back on the shelf and don’t dust it off until we go back the next year.”
This is one year when he and his Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T powered by Mopar team with assistants John Medlen and Chris Cunningham are eager to get back to the mountain after a new exhaust header design was used for the first time in competition a year ago helped the team win the first of three titles in a five-race span.
“We bolted on the new headers for the second round of eliminations against (DSR teammate) Matt Hagan, and we never went back to the old style.”
He also believes Bandimere will see its first 3-second Funny Car. Through 13 races this season, elapsed time records have been reset at 12 of 13 tracks including three by Beckman that gives him ownership of eight track E.T. records.
BIG INFINITE HERO WEEKEND
The Infinite Hero Foundation will host special guests during the Mile-High Nationals and peripheral events.
Jose Rene “J.R.” Martinez, a U.S. Army veteran who served in Iraq when he received severe burns over one-third of his body, was selected by Mopar to be the Grand Marshall for the Mopar Mile-High Nationals. He also was the Season 13 champion on the “Dancing with the Stars” television program.
On Sunday evening, a new event – "Tailgate for the Troops" will include Martinez along with special military guests Morgan and Marcus Luttrell. The event will feature tailgate cuisine and entertainment with local band Phat Daddy.
The Luttrells are retired U.S. Navy SEALs. Morgan is currently working on his doctorate in mental health studies, which will allow him to work with victims of traumatic brain injuries, and Marcus authored the book “Lone Survivor.”
They will provide inspirational stories and details of their involvement with helping others to heal and overcome personal circumstances.
Tickets are available at the door for a minimum donation to Infinite Hero of $150.
On Monday, The Club at Ravenna will host the 3rd Annual Ravenna Invitational to benefit Infinite Hero with 18 holes of golf, a cocktail hour and dinner reception.
FULL ARTICLE
After winning a series-best seven titles last year in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, Beckman hoisted his first NHRA Wally trophy since last October when he won on July 12 near Chicago.
”We didn’t know if we would win at Chicago, but we were confident we could,” said Beckman, who was stationed at Lowry Air Force Base in Aurora, Colo., while serving in the U.S. Air Force.
“We’d made it to three final rounds before Chicago and were frustrated we couldn’t close it out. We just weren’t able to get a handle on our racecar. Something would come up that threw us a curveball, and we couldn’t tune around those issues.”
The Infinite Hero team connected near Chicago.
In his fourth final round in 13 of 24 Mello Yello events, the win over Don Schumacher Racing teammate Ron Capps enabled Beckman and the Infinite Hero Dodge funded by Terry Chandler to move up one spot to second in points heading to this weekend’s 37th annual Mopar Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway near Denver where he has won twice including in his NHRA championship season in 2012.
“Denver is a race where we warm up 30 minutes earlier than any other race before the first qualifying session just to make sure it will idle. It’s that much more difficult to adjust to the altitude.
“Denver is completely unique. There’s one notebook for Denver and another one for the other 20 facilities where we race. When we get done with Denver, we put that notebook back on the shelf and don’t dust it off until we go back the next year.”
This is one year when he and his Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T powered by Mopar team with assistants John Medlen and Chris Cunningham are eager to get back to the mountain after a new exhaust header design was used for the first time in competition a year ago helped the team win the first of three titles in a five-race span.
“We bolted on the new headers for the second round of eliminations against (DSR teammate) Matt Hagan, and we never went back to the old style.”
He also believes Bandimere will see its first 3-second Funny Car. Through 13 races this season, elapsed time records have been reset at 12 of 13 tracks including three by Beckman that gives him ownership of eight track E.T. records.
BIG INFINITE HERO WEEKEND
The Infinite Hero Foundation will host special guests during the Mile-High Nationals and peripheral events.
Jose Rene “J.R.” Martinez, a U.S. Army veteran who served in Iraq when he received severe burns over one-third of his body, was selected by Mopar to be the Grand Marshall for the Mopar Mile-High Nationals. He also was the Season 13 champion on the “Dancing with the Stars” television program.
On Sunday evening, a new event – "Tailgate for the Troops" will include Martinez along with special military guests Morgan and Marcus Luttrell. The event will feature tailgate cuisine and entertainment with local band Phat Daddy.
The Luttrells are retired U.S. Navy SEALs. Morgan is currently working on his doctorate in mental health studies, which will allow him to work with victims of traumatic brain injuries, and Marcus authored the book “Lone Survivor.”
They will provide inspirational stories and details of their involvement with helping others to heal and overcome personal circumstances.
Tickets are available at the door for a minimum donation to Infinite Hero of $150.
On Monday, The Club at Ravenna will host the 3rd Annual Ravenna Invitational to benefit Infinite Hero with 18 holes of golf, a cocktail hour and dinner reception.
FULL ARTICLE
Sunday, July 10, 2016
DSR: Beckman finds winner’s circle at Route 66 with Infinite Hero Dodge to start second half of Mello Yello season on high note
JOLIET, Ill. (July 10, 2016) – A GPS device might have helped Jack Beckman find the Route 66 Raceway winner’s circle and media center late Sunday afternoon.
It had been about 10 months since the 2012 NHRA Funny Car world champion visited any winner’s circle or media center for a post-race celebration and interview after winning a title in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.
And he’d never advanced to a final round at the track near Chicago until Sunday when his Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T team funded by Terry Chandler and led by crew chief Jimmy Prock with assistants John Medlen and Chris Cunningham defeated teammate Ron Capps to snap a 15-race winless streak.
He joined with teammate Antron Brown to give DSR both nitro titles for the fourth straight year at the track near the hometown of owner Don Schumacher.
“It’s a little bit frustrating to have been the only one of our DSR Funny Cars that hadn’t closed the deal when Capps seems to be winning every weekend, (Matt) Hagan had multiple wins and Tommy won.
“We knew we would find it.”
“Even though we had been to three final rounds this year, we really didn’t have our car,” he said referring to last year’s performance which produced seven titles. “This year we had never made it more than 200 feet in any of those final rounds, and we were struggling. We set the national record this year, qualified No. 1 four times this year, but we just couldn’t put it together.”
The Infinite Hero Dodge powered by Pennzoil performed at Route 66 including a No. 2 qualifying effort.
“I’ll tell you the great thing about DSR and my teammates, it was my birthday two weeks ago and Tommy Johnson said he’d drive the car (for a test session) Jimmy wanted to do. They took it out to Indy and made four hits on it, and the thing never went past 400 feet but it started pointing us in the right direction as to what needed fixed.
“The car was just darn near flawless out there today. This doesn’t mean we’re going to be dominant at the next race, but it means I’ll feel a lot more confident when we pull through the gates knowing we can make consistent runs. Once you start making the consistent runs, you can turn the wick up and make quick runs.”
FULL ARTICLE
It had been about 10 months since the 2012 NHRA Funny Car world champion visited any winner’s circle or media center for a post-race celebration and interview after winning a title in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.
And he’d never advanced to a final round at the track near Chicago until Sunday when his Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T team funded by Terry Chandler and led by crew chief Jimmy Prock with assistants John Medlen and Chris Cunningham defeated teammate Ron Capps to snap a 15-race winless streak.
He joined with teammate Antron Brown to give DSR both nitro titles for the fourth straight year at the track near the hometown of owner Don Schumacher.
“It’s a little bit frustrating to have been the only one of our DSR Funny Cars that hadn’t closed the deal when Capps seems to be winning every weekend, (Matt) Hagan had multiple wins and Tommy won.
“We knew we would find it.”
“Even though we had been to three final rounds this year, we really didn’t have our car,” he said referring to last year’s performance which produced seven titles. “This year we had never made it more than 200 feet in any of those final rounds, and we were struggling. We set the national record this year, qualified No. 1 four times this year, but we just couldn’t put it together.”
The Infinite Hero Dodge powered by Pennzoil performed at Route 66 including a No. 2 qualifying effort.
“I’ll tell you the great thing about DSR and my teammates, it was my birthday two weeks ago and Tommy Johnson said he’d drive the car (for a test session) Jimmy wanted to do. They took it out to Indy and made four hits on it, and the thing never went past 400 feet but it started pointing us in the right direction as to what needed fixed.
“The car was just darn near flawless out there today. This doesn’t mean we’re going to be dominant at the next race, but it means I’ll feel a lot more confident when we pull through the gates knowing we can make consistent runs. Once you start making the consistent runs, you can turn the wick up and make quick runs.”
FULL ARTICLE
Chicago Tribune: Broom time once again for Schumacher Racing in the Route 66 Nationals
When will it end, this Don Schumacher Racing dominance at the Route 66 Nationals?
Not this year.
Antron Brown was the king of Top Fuel and Jack Beckman ruled in the Funny Car class in Sunday's event at Route 66 Raceway.
The Schumacher sweep in the NHRA Nitro divisions was the team's fourth in a row at the Joliet track.
The broom closet is getting pretty full.
"Hey, we can never run out of room in the closet," Brown joked. "Trust me, if we do Don just adds on.
"We have a boss who is very, very competitive and who hates to lose. He gives you all of the necessary pieces and tools so there are never excuses. And he gives you the push you need when you need that push.
"Sometimes you don't like that push, but he's only saying what the truth is."
Brown edged out J.R. Todd in the Top Fuel final with a run of 3.777 seconds (321.19 miles per hour). Todd finished at 3.798 seconds.
It completed a day for Brown in which the Pittsboro, Ind., resident beat Clay Millican, Terry McMillen and Leah Pritchett. The defending division champion came into the weekend trailing first-place Doug Kalitta, and left two points ahead. Kalitta lost in the quarterfinals to Tony Schumacher.
Beckman cruised in the Funny Car final when Ron Capps spun his tires a short way down the strip.
"We can see out the sides on the new Charger bodies," Beckman said. "I saw a whole lot of NAPA front fender (Capps' car) out there and I went, 'Oh.' About the time I got to 'no,' it disappeared. And when a car disappears from your peripheral vision that fast, you know they've smoked the tires. At that point it was, 'Keep it in the middle of the lane, don't hit anything, get the chutes out. Great feeling watching that win light come on."
It was Beckman's first career win at Route 66 and his first event title in 2016.
"We've run well, but we just couldn't put it together," Beckman said. "It was a little bit frustrating to be one of our four (team) Funny Cars that hadn't closed the deal, but we knew we would find it."
Southland legends Luigi Novelli of Crete and Chris Karamesines of Chicago saw their Top Fuel day end in the first round.
Novelli, 73, stayed with Steve Torrence for about 800 feet before his 2011 McKinney seized up, flamed out and coasted to the finish.
"We dropped a (cylinder) hole and burned the head off," Novelli said. "It's hot and humid. We tried our best, but burned the No. 8. We got beat in the first round, but we'll try again.
"We're getting closer, lots closer. We'll get it ironed out."
The 84-year-old Karamesines hesitated at the start of his race against Brittany Force. By the time he got up to speed she was long gone.
"We had a little trouble with the computer stuff and it made a difference on the starting line," Karamesines said. "We're trying some new things, so it's going to take time to get everything back in order. It was good for us to make a couple, three runs this weekend."
Palos Hills native Kevin Lawrence lost in the first round of the Pro Stock competition to Bo Butner. Lawrence completed his run in 6.811 seconds (202.24 miles per hour).
"There was something wrong," Lawrence said. "We changed six points of gear ratio, had the motor totally rich, totally lean and it's like it has the choke stuck.
"Last night Adam (crew chief Adam Drzayich) worked on it until 2:30 in the morning on his computer and it didn't respond. So somewhere we have a glitch. But it was our first time out, so we're satisfied."
FULL ARTICLE by Tony Baranek
Not this year.
Antron Brown was the king of Top Fuel and Jack Beckman ruled in the Funny Car class in Sunday's event at Route 66 Raceway.
The Schumacher sweep in the NHRA Nitro divisions was the team's fourth in a row at the Joliet track.
The broom closet is getting pretty full.
"Hey, we can never run out of room in the closet," Brown joked. "Trust me, if we do Don just adds on.
"We have a boss who is very, very competitive and who hates to lose. He gives you all of the necessary pieces and tools so there are never excuses. And he gives you the push you need when you need that push.
"Sometimes you don't like that push, but he's only saying what the truth is."
Brown edged out J.R. Todd in the Top Fuel final with a run of 3.777 seconds (321.19 miles per hour). Todd finished at 3.798 seconds.
It completed a day for Brown in which the Pittsboro, Ind., resident beat Clay Millican, Terry McMillen and Leah Pritchett. The defending division champion came into the weekend trailing first-place Doug Kalitta, and left two points ahead. Kalitta lost in the quarterfinals to Tony Schumacher.
Beckman cruised in the Funny Car final when Ron Capps spun his tires a short way down the strip.
"We can see out the sides on the new Charger bodies," Beckman said. "I saw a whole lot of NAPA front fender (Capps' car) out there and I went, 'Oh.' About the time I got to 'no,' it disappeared. And when a car disappears from your peripheral vision that fast, you know they've smoked the tires. At that point it was, 'Keep it in the middle of the lane, don't hit anything, get the chutes out. Great feeling watching that win light come on."
It was Beckman's first career win at Route 66 and his first event title in 2016.
"We've run well, but we just couldn't put it together," Beckman said. "It was a little bit frustrating to be one of our four (team) Funny Cars that hadn't closed the deal, but we knew we would find it."
Southland legends Luigi Novelli of Crete and Chris Karamesines of Chicago saw their Top Fuel day end in the first round.
Novelli, 73, stayed with Steve Torrence for about 800 feet before his 2011 McKinney seized up, flamed out and coasted to the finish.
"We dropped a (cylinder) hole and burned the head off," Novelli said. "It's hot and humid. We tried our best, but burned the No. 8. We got beat in the first round, but we'll try again.
"We're getting closer, lots closer. We'll get it ironed out."
The 84-year-old Karamesines hesitated at the start of his race against Brittany Force. By the time he got up to speed she was long gone.
"We had a little trouble with the computer stuff and it made a difference on the starting line," Karamesines said. "We're trying some new things, so it's going to take time to get everything back in order. It was good for us to make a couple, three runs this weekend."
Palos Hills native Kevin Lawrence lost in the first round of the Pro Stock competition to Bo Butner. Lawrence completed his run in 6.811 seconds (202.24 miles per hour).
"There was something wrong," Lawrence said. "We changed six points of gear ratio, had the motor totally rich, totally lean and it's like it has the choke stuck.
"Last night Adam (crew chief Adam Drzayich) worked on it until 2:30 in the morning on his computer and it didn't respond. So somewhere we have a glitch. But it was our first time out, so we're satisfied."
FULL ARTICLE by Tony Baranek
NBC Sports: ‘Fast Jack’ is back: Beckman wins first race of 2016 and 800th in NHRA Funny Car history
By Jerry BonkowskiJul 10, 2016, 6:57 PM EDT
JOLIET, Illinois – When it comes to special occasions, NHRA Funny Car driver “Fast Jack” Beckman likes to rise to the occasion.
Beckman (3.955 seconds at 324.05 mph) won his first race of 2016 Sunday, defeating Don Schumacher Racing teammate Ron Capps (4.522 seconds at 194.74 mph) in the K&N Filters Route 66 NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway.
But it was more than just Beckman’s 23rd career Funny Car win. It was the 800th Funny Car win in NHRA history – not coincidentally in the 50th season of Funny Car competition, too.
MORE: Results and standings from K&N Filters Route 66 NHRA Nationals
Beckman also captured the 700th win in NHRA Funny Car annals, as well. In addition, crew chief Jimmy Prock tuned Gary Densham to the 500th Funny Car win, turned the wrenches for Robert Hight to the 600th win and now tuned Beckman to the 800th win.
“Those are some pretty cool stats,” Beckman said.
What hasn’t been cool, though, is that prior to Sunday, Beckman has struggled to reach victory lane this year.
“I haven’t seen the winner’s circle since (last fall),” Beckman said. “Even though we had been to three final rounds this year, we really didn’t have our car.
“We never made it more than 200 feet in any of those prior rounds and we were struggling. We set the national record earlier this year, qualified No. 1 four times, but we just couldn’t put it together.”
Even though it was Beckman’s first Funny Car win of 2016, it only adds to the bigger picture of Don Schumacher Racing in 2016. It’s the seventh Funny Car win of the season for DSR in the first 13 races, including four by Capps.
Speaking of Capps, even though his red-hot ways of late were cooled off, he still made a noteworthy achievement, scoring his 600th round win in career NHRA competition.
“With the new Charger bodies, the windshield is much further back and we can see out the sides a lot more, which isn’t always a good thing,” Beckman said. “I saw a whole lot of NAPA front fender out there (Capps’ car) and I went ‘Oh’, and when I got to ‘no,’ it disappeared.
“When a car disappears out of your peripheral vision that fast, it usually means they’ve smoked the tires and you know that unless you have a huge problem, there’s no way they’re getting around you. It was a great feeling watching that win light come on.”
Now that he’s broken his winless streak, Beckman is feeling more confident – but he’s also still a bit cautious not to get overconfident.
“This doesn’t mean we’re going to be dominant come next race,” Beckman said. “But what it means is I feel a lot more confident when we tow into the gates that we can make more consistent runs.
“And once you make more consistent runs, you can turn the wick up and make quick runs.”
When NBCSports.com asked Beckman if “Fast Jack” is back, he said with a smile, “Remains to be seen – but I think so.”
FULL ARTICLE
JOLIET, Illinois – When it comes to special occasions, NHRA Funny Car driver “Fast Jack” Beckman likes to rise to the occasion.
Beckman (3.955 seconds at 324.05 mph) won his first race of 2016 Sunday, defeating Don Schumacher Racing teammate Ron Capps (4.522 seconds at 194.74 mph) in the K&N Filters Route 66 NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway.
But it was more than just Beckman’s 23rd career Funny Car win. It was the 800th Funny Car win in NHRA history – not coincidentally in the 50th season of Funny Car competition, too.
MORE: Results and standings from K&N Filters Route 66 NHRA Nationals
Beckman also captured the 700th win in NHRA Funny Car annals, as well. In addition, crew chief Jimmy Prock tuned Gary Densham to the 500th Funny Car win, turned the wrenches for Robert Hight to the 600th win and now tuned Beckman to the 800th win.
“Those are some pretty cool stats,” Beckman said.
What hasn’t been cool, though, is that prior to Sunday, Beckman has struggled to reach victory lane this year.
“I haven’t seen the winner’s circle since (last fall),” Beckman said. “Even though we had been to three final rounds this year, we really didn’t have our car.
“We never made it more than 200 feet in any of those prior rounds and we were struggling. We set the national record earlier this year, qualified No. 1 four times, but we just couldn’t put it together.”
Even though it was Beckman’s first Funny Car win of 2016, it only adds to the bigger picture of Don Schumacher Racing in 2016. It’s the seventh Funny Car win of the season for DSR in the first 13 races, including four by Capps.
Speaking of Capps, even though his red-hot ways of late were cooled off, he still made a noteworthy achievement, scoring his 600th round win in career NHRA competition.
“With the new Charger bodies, the windshield is much further back and we can see out the sides a lot more, which isn’t always a good thing,” Beckman said. “I saw a whole lot of NAPA front fender out there (Capps’ car) and I went ‘Oh’, and when I got to ‘no,’ it disappeared.
“When a car disappears out of your peripheral vision that fast, it usually means they’ve smoked the tires and you know that unless you have a huge problem, there’s no way they’re getting around you. It was a great feeling watching that win light come on.”
Now that he’s broken his winless streak, Beckman is feeling more confident – but he’s also still a bit cautious not to get overconfident.
“This doesn’t mean we’re going to be dominant come next race,” Beckman said. “But what it means is I feel a lot more confident when we tow into the gates that we can make more consistent runs.
“And once you make more consistent runs, you can turn the wick up and make quick runs.”
When NBCSports.com asked Beckman if “Fast Jack” is back, he said with a smile, “Remains to be seen – but I think so.”
FULL ARTICLE
FOXSports: Jack Beckman gets first NHRA win of 2016
Antron Brown, Jack Beckman, Greg Anderson and Andrew Hines took their respective class wins on Sunday at the NHRA Route 66 Nationals.
By Bobby Bennett Jul 10, 2016 at 4:55p ET
There's no place like home and, for team owner Don Schumacher, a native Chicagoan, Route 66 Raceway is where he was able to hang his latest double-up.
Thanks to winning efforts from Don Schumacher Racing drivers Antron Brown [Top Fuel] and Jack Beckman [Funny Car], Schumacher earned his third consecutive double-up weekend and 56th overall at the NHRA K&N Filters Route 66 Nationals outside of Chicago.
Also scoring wins were Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle).
DSR's dominance has come from five different drivers since the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tenn.
"To double up here at Chicago, my home track and my home for many, many years is just a phenomenal feeling," said Schumacher. "It has been awesome to have the family, friends and company people here. I cannot express just how wonderful this makes me feel."
Funny Car racer Beckman joined the list of winners by ending a dry spell dating back to last season by beating Ron Capps in the final with a 3.95 ET. Capps lost traction early in the run and lifted.
Beckman has had the car to beat since Sonoma last season but failed to turn the momentum into victories. He had four No. 1 qualifiers entering this weekend, and three final rounds but no wins.
"I thought we had so much momentum last year, and then we go to the Countdown and watch Del win the first two," Beckman explained. "We come back at Maple Grove and win that one and set the national record – and then we haven’t seen a winner’s circle since then. Even though we had been to three final rounds this year, we really didn’t have our car. We never made it more than 200 feet in any of those final rounds, and we were struggling. We set the national record this year, qualified No. 1 four times this year, but we just couldn’t put it together.
"We’d either run good in the heat and not in the cool track conditions or great on the hero conditions and couldn’t get it down the track in the heat. We just found some things with the car."
Top Fuel racer Brown vaulted to his fourth win of the season by outrunning J.R. Todd in the final round with a 3.77 ET to a 3.79. The victory marked Brown’s 41st win in Top Fuel.
“We found new things that are making it better. We are on to something, and we are just going to keep improving upon that. Our deal is we try to win every race we go to. We compete at a high level, and our main goal is to come into a race and go out there and be efficient, and that means getting every drop out of this lemon every time.
FULL ARTICLE
By Bobby Bennett Jul 10, 2016 at 4:55p ET
There's no place like home and, for team owner Don Schumacher, a native Chicagoan, Route 66 Raceway is where he was able to hang his latest double-up.
Thanks to winning efforts from Don Schumacher Racing drivers Antron Brown [Top Fuel] and Jack Beckman [Funny Car], Schumacher earned his third consecutive double-up weekend and 56th overall at the NHRA K&N Filters Route 66 Nationals outside of Chicago.
Also scoring wins were Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle).
DSR's dominance has come from five different drivers since the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tenn.
"To double up here at Chicago, my home track and my home for many, many years is just a phenomenal feeling," said Schumacher. "It has been awesome to have the family, friends and company people here. I cannot express just how wonderful this makes me feel."
Funny Car racer Beckman joined the list of winners by ending a dry spell dating back to last season by beating Ron Capps in the final with a 3.95 ET. Capps lost traction early in the run and lifted.
Beckman has had the car to beat since Sonoma last season but failed to turn the momentum into victories. He had four No. 1 qualifiers entering this weekend, and three final rounds but no wins.
"I thought we had so much momentum last year, and then we go to the Countdown and watch Del win the first two," Beckman explained. "We come back at Maple Grove and win that one and set the national record – and then we haven’t seen a winner’s circle since then. Even though we had been to three final rounds this year, we really didn’t have our car. We never made it more than 200 feet in any of those final rounds, and we were struggling. We set the national record this year, qualified No. 1 four times this year, but we just couldn’t put it together.
"We’d either run good in the heat and not in the cool track conditions or great on the hero conditions and couldn’t get it down the track in the heat. We just found some things with the car."
Top Fuel racer Brown vaulted to his fourth win of the season by outrunning J.R. Todd in the final round with a 3.77 ET to a 3.79. The victory marked Brown’s 41st win in Top Fuel.
“We found new things that are making it better. We are on to something, and we are just going to keep improving upon that. Our deal is we try to win every race we go to. We compete at a high level, and our main goal is to come into a race and go out there and be efficient, and that means getting every drop out of this lemon every time.
FULL ARTICLE
Saturday, July 9, 2016
DSR: Prock tunes Beckman to track-record 333-mph run near Chicago, as Infinite Hero Dodge jumps to No. 2 for Sunday eliminations
JOLIET, Ill. (July 9, 2016) – Jack Beckman and the Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car team led by crew chief Jimmy Prock went into the last qualifying session Saturday just wanting to move up to qualifying in the top-eight so the team could pick its lane when eliminations in the NHRA Route 66 Nationals begin Sunday near Chicago.
The team funded by Terry Chandler got more than that.
Beckman, who will seek his first win of the year when racing begins at 11 a.m. (CT), uncorked a time of 3.885 seconds at a track record speed of 333.25 mph – the third fastest ever by a Funny Car – and briefly held the number one position, until getting knocked off by Don Schumacher Racing teammate Matt Hagan.
Nonetheless, Beckman will be the No. 2 seed in the 13th of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.
“Going into that session we were more concerned with getting lane choice than being at the top of the heap,” said Beckman, the 2012 Funny Car world champion who will seek his first win at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill.
“That felt good. We’ve fixed some issues in the bellhousing but really what that meant is that a lot of the data that we’ve had recently, we haven’t been able to use. We had to go back quite a bit. We still need five or six more runs to get zeroed in on this thing and figure out exactly what it wants.
“It’s just a great feeling to know that you can go out there and not make a perfect run and run a 3.88 at 333.”
DSR will go for its seventh straight and eighth overall Funny Car title of the year on Sunday where eliminations will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1 beginning at 2 p.m. (ET).
FULL ARTICLE
The team funded by Terry Chandler got more than that.
Beckman, who will seek his first win of the year when racing begins at 11 a.m. (CT), uncorked a time of 3.885 seconds at a track record speed of 333.25 mph – the third fastest ever by a Funny Car – and briefly held the number one position, until getting knocked off by Don Schumacher Racing teammate Matt Hagan.
Nonetheless, Beckman will be the No. 2 seed in the 13th of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.
“Going into that session we were more concerned with getting lane choice than being at the top of the heap,” said Beckman, the 2012 Funny Car world champion who will seek his first win at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill.
“That felt good. We’ve fixed some issues in the bellhousing but really what that meant is that a lot of the data that we’ve had recently, we haven’t been able to use. We had to go back quite a bit. We still need five or six more runs to get zeroed in on this thing and figure out exactly what it wants.
“It’s just a great feeling to know that you can go out there and not make a perfect run and run a 3.88 at 333.”
DSR will go for its seventh straight and eighth overall Funny Car title of the year on Sunday where eliminations will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1 beginning at 2 p.m. (ET).
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| Photo Credit: Auto Imagery |
FULL ARTICLE
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
DSR: Beckman, Infinite Hero team face double challenge of ending non-winning streak in Mello Yello Series and at Route 66
BROWNSBURG, Ind. (July 6, 2016) – Jack Beckman and the Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T team have had an impressive season in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series as it heads this weekend to the Route 66 Nationals near Chicago.
But the only way it can be described as being remarkable is that the team led by crew chief Jimmy Prock and funded by Terry Chandler is ranked third in points at the midway point of the 24-race season despite not having won a Mello Yello trophy.
“We’re starting to feel a sense of urgency because we’re at the halfway point of the season and we haven’t won a race,” Beckman said. “We realize a lot of things don’t happen overnight and we will stay the course but we want to hold our first trophy of the year sooner rather than later.”
That’s about the only goal the Don Schumacher Racing team hasn’t checked off its to-do list.
Beckman has four No. 1 qualifying honors, been runner-up three times and set several track records.
His team not only hasn’t won this year but their last visit to a winner’s circle was last September near St. Louis – a span of 18 races. Before that, the Infinite Hero Dodge had won seven of the first 18 races along with five poles in 2015 when it finished second in points.
“I hope this is the weekend we get to hold the trophy. And then I want to follow that with another winning weekend and another one after that.
“I don’t know if we’re out of the woods yet. Our team tested at Indy a couple days after the last race at Norwalk (Ohio) with (DSR teammate Tommy Johnson Jr. driving). It wasn’t a real conclusive test, but we’re getting it closer to making it like the car we had last year.
“We don’t have the car like we want yet, but we haven’t lost a lot of ground to the points leader so it’s still within sight. Hopefully we can get the tune-up back to our standards and reel everybody in.”
The Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car would seem to be in good position to be among the 10 teams to qualify to compete for an NHRA Funny Car world championship in the six-race Countdown to the Championship playoff that closes the Mello Yello season.
Beckman also has had a drought at Route 66.
“It’s a track where we’ve never won a trophy in a Funny Car or my Super Comp dragster,” said the 2012 Funny Car and 2003 Super Comp Sportsman world champion. “I got as far as the final round of the Jeg’s All-Stars (in Super Comp) at Route 66, but I’ve never been able to close the deal there.”
Nothing would be more pleasing to Beckman than to able to slam the door closed on the chapter.
FULL ARTICLE
But the only way it can be described as being remarkable is that the team led by crew chief Jimmy Prock and funded by Terry Chandler is ranked third in points at the midway point of the 24-race season despite not having won a Mello Yello trophy.
“We’re starting to feel a sense of urgency because we’re at the halfway point of the season and we haven’t won a race,” Beckman said. “We realize a lot of things don’t happen overnight and we will stay the course but we want to hold our first trophy of the year sooner rather than later.”
That’s about the only goal the Don Schumacher Racing team hasn’t checked off its to-do list.
Beckman has four No. 1 qualifying honors, been runner-up three times and set several track records.
His team not only hasn’t won this year but their last visit to a winner’s circle was last September near St. Louis – a span of 18 races. Before that, the Infinite Hero Dodge had won seven of the first 18 races along with five poles in 2015 when it finished second in points.
“I hope this is the weekend we get to hold the trophy. And then I want to follow that with another winning weekend and another one after that.
“I don’t know if we’re out of the woods yet. Our team tested at Indy a couple days after the last race at Norwalk (Ohio) with (DSR teammate Tommy Johnson Jr. driving). It wasn’t a real conclusive test, but we’re getting it closer to making it like the car we had last year.
“We don’t have the car like we want yet, but we haven’t lost a lot of ground to the points leader so it’s still within sight. Hopefully we can get the tune-up back to our standards and reel everybody in.”
The Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car would seem to be in good position to be among the 10 teams to qualify to compete for an NHRA Funny Car world championship in the six-race Countdown to the Championship playoff that closes the Mello Yello season.
Beckman also has had a drought at Route 66.
“It’s a track where we’ve never won a trophy in a Funny Car or my Super Comp dragster,” said the 2012 Funny Car and 2003 Super Comp Sportsman world champion. “I got as far as the final round of the Jeg’s All-Stars (in Super Comp) at Route 66, but I’ve never been able to close the deal there.”
Nothing would be more pleasing to Beckman than to able to slam the door closed on the chapter.
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