HOUSTON (April 22, 2017) - Jack Beckman believes the Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charge R/T Funny Car is on its way to predictability.
"The whole thing is that we have to get our car predictable," Beckman said. "Once it becomes predictable it becomes consistent, once it becomes consistent you step on it and it becomes a quick car.
"We don't want to be a Russian-roulette car that goes up there and makes one hero run and then smokes the tires on the next. I love what we've done so far this weekend."
Beckman and the team funded by Terry Chandler with crew chiefs Neal Strausbaugh, Dean Antonelli and John Medlen were consistent in qualifying with its last three runs ranging between 3.907 and 3.931 seconds with speeds at 327 mph on each. The 3.907 earned Beckman the No. 6 qualifying spot that will pair him in the first round with Don Schumacher Racing teammate and NHRA Mello Yello Series points leader Matt Hagan.
"We were a little aggressive on Q1 and sensible on Q2 and we got quicker," Beckman said. "We went 3.93, 3.92 and 3.90, so right now we feel like we have a good tune-up for a warmer track.
"(Sunday) will be a different story. We'll be racing in cooler conditions, almost like Maple Grove (in Pennsylvania) when we race there in the fall. If it's like that, we'll lock up our notes from this weekend at Houston and turn everything up tomorrow."
Beckman and the team have extra incentive. They want to bring home a win for Chandler, who is currently at home recovering from surgery.
"We love Terry and want to do well for her."
FUNNY CAR
No. 1 qualifier: Courtney Force (John Force Racing), 3.851 sec., 330.23 mph - track records
JACK BECKMAN, Infinite Hero 2017 Dodge Charger R/T
Crew chiefs: John Medlen, Dean Antonelli, Neal Strausbaugh
QUALIFIED: No. 6
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS
First round: Matt Hagan
QUALIFYING
FRIDAY: 4.871 sec., 161.07 mph, (Session 1); 3.931, 327.11, (Session 2)
SATURDAY: 3.921, 327.03, (Session 3); 3.907, 327.90 (Session 4)
Last event at Las Vegas (March 31-April 2): Qualified No. 5, lost in quarterfinals to event finalist Jonnie Lindberg
A year ago at Houston: Qualified No. 12, lost in semifinals Tim Wilkerson
Career at Houston: Wins 0; Runner-ups 3 (2015, 2014, 2009); Poles 1 (2015)
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 eight professional NHRA teams. In Top Fuel, the U.S. Army dragster driven by eight-time world champion Tony Schumacher, the Matco Tools dragster driven by three-time world champion Antron Brown; the Papa John's Top Fuel dragster driven by Leah Pritchett and 2013 Top Fuel world champion Shawn Langdon and in Funny Car, 2011 and 2014 world champion Matt Hagan in the Mopar Express Lane 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 300 NHRA national event titles and 16 world championships.
Follow Don Schumacher Racing at ShoeRacing.com, on Twitter at @shoeracing and Facebook.com/shoeracing.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Jeff Wolf (wolfj@shoeracing.com), 702.524.1368
Leah Vaughn (vaughnl@shoeracing.com), 618.516.1988
