BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Mar. 29, 2017) - Jack Beckman scored his first win in the nitro category 10 years ago at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and he is thirsty for another NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series title from the track.
He hopes to start a winning streak this weekend in the 18th annual NHRA Las Vegas Nationals with the 2017 Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger R/T team funded by Terry Chandler.
"It's the track where I got my first nitro win in Funny Car," said Beckman, the 2012 Funny Car world champion. "It's the track on the NHRA tour where I have the most seat time because of all the Sportsmen racing I did there.
"I have a lot of history with that facility and it's one of the three tracks on tour when we have two shots a year to get a win. Frankly, I'm frustrated that I bagged a win there in 2006 and haven't been able to close the deal since then."
However, he's qualified well at Las Vegas. Last year, he was the No. 1 qualifier the spring with a time of 3.916 seconds at 322.88 mph. Later in October, the Infinite Hero team was No. 1 again with a much quicker 3.871 (327.43).
But he was eliminated in the second round of each event.
"It's not that you need extra motivation but with us having assembled a group of guys from several different teams, our first win together as a group, and for Infinite Hero and Terry Chandler, it really is going to be extra special."
This weekend is the fourth event of the season and also only the fourth race for the newly assembled Infinite Hero team. Beckman says a win in Las Vegas would mean a lot to his new group of teammates.
"Vegas was my first win, but I've kind of been locked out there since then and it's been a source of frustration. I have a chance to have another first and that's with the 2017 Infinite Hero team since we have not won together yet.
"As a driver, you're only ever going to have one first win, but as a team, we're going to have a first win. I think Vegas will be a great time to get it."
JACK BECKMAN: Infinite Hero 2017 Dodge Charger R/T
Best Time, Speed: 3.825 sec.-second quickest ever, (2016 Pomona 2); 334.15 mph (Seattle 2016)
Last event (March 17-19) Gainesville, Fla.): Qualified No. 8, lost in second round to event winner John Force
2016 Las Vegas 1: Qualified No.1, lost in second round to Chad Head
2016 Las Vegas 2: Qualified No. 1, lost second round to Courtney Force
Career at Las Vegas 1: Wins 0; Runner-ups 0, Poles 1 (2016)
Career at Las Vegas: Wins 1 (2006); Runner-ups 2 (2012, 2009); Poles 2 (both in 2016)
Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L
2017 8th 3 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 2-3
2016 5th 24 2 3 4 10 5 6 0 35-22
CAREER 255 24 25 45 75 79 21 7 334-224
2017 NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES FUNNY CAR STANDINGS
(Official after Gainesville, Fla.; 3 of 24 events; wins in parenthesis; DSR drivers in CAPS)
Funny Car
1. MATT HAGAN (2) 308 -----
2. John Force (1) 238 -70
3. RON CAPPS 235 -73
4. TOMMY JOHNSON JR. 209 -99
5. Courtney Force 177 -131
6. Robert Hight 150 -158
7. Jim Campbell 148 -160
8. JACK BECKMAN 144 -164
9. J.R. Todd 138 -170
10. Tim Wilkerson 117 -191
