DSR: Chandler's Infinite Hero team still hunting for season's first win, Beckman looks for nostalgic visit to New England Nationals

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (May 30, 2017) - Jack Beckman and Terry Chandler's Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Funny Car team travel to Epping, N.H., for this weekend's fifth annual NHRA New England Nationals.

"It's the newest race on tour, at one of the oldest facilities on tour," Beckman said of New England Dragway.

"I'm a historian and there's so much Funny Car history in that area. The fans are unbelievably grateful for us coming to their town to race. It's kind of a 'pinch me' moment. It's like a throwback to bring in the contemporary NHRA show into a facility that looks like it could have come out of a time machine from the mid-70s."

In 2016 at the New England Nationals, Beckman entered race day as the No. 6 qualifier with a time of 3.895 seconds at 329.99 mph. He advanced to the quarterfinals before losing to Don Schumacher Racing teammate Tommy Johnson Jr.

The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing series heads to New England Dragway for the ninth event of the season and the first of a four-race swing in June called the "Eastern Swing."

"The schedule is what it is. We don't have any say in it and I'm comfortable with however they want to do it. I would say I'm maybe more anxious than some to get back out there.

"I would say that the drivers who haven't won their first win of the year are chomping at the bit for the four in a row because it will maximize our chances of getting that first trophy."

And it's a trophy that the Infinite Hero Foundation team is hunting.

The team, led by crew chiefs Neal Strausbaugh, Dean Antonelli and John Medlen, has advanced to two semifinals rounds and one final round but has yet to earn their first win of the season.

JACK BECKMAN, Infinite Hero Foundation 2017 Dodge Charger R/T - former world champ seeks first in '17   

Best Time, Speed: 3.825 sec., (2016 Pomona 2); 334.15 mph (Seattle 2016)


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 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 306 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




ORIGINAL ARTICLE

DSR: Infinite Hero Dodge advances to semifinals at Heartland Nationals

TOPEKA, Kan. (May 21, 2017) - The Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger R/T team, sponsored by Terry Chandler and piloted by Jack Beckman, advanced to the semifinals Sunday at the 29th annual NHRA Heartland Nationals.

"I think the guys did a phenomenal job of running strong when the conditions were great, and then when the racetrack warmed up on Sunday, we still were able to lay down some impressive numbers," said Beckman who qualified fourth with a time of 3.844 seconds at 331.77 mph.

In the opening round of competition, Beckman lined up against Chad Head of Kalitta Motorsports. Both cars went into tire smoke but Beckman got the win with a coasting 4.218 (217.70) after he left earlier than Head at the starting line.

Beckman then faced former NHRA Funny Car world champion Del Worsham, and lap of 3.883 (328.54) earned lane choice over Don Schumacher Racing teammate Matt Hagan in the semifinals.

During qualifying on Saturday, Hagan and the Mopar Express Lane team earned the world records of 3.802 and 338.85, which is the fastest run ever in NHRA including dragsters.

In the semifinals, Beckman went into tire smoke and slowed to a 4.434 (195.65) as Hagan drove to a 3.918.

"It was frustrating to smoke the tires in the semis," Beckman said. "We knew we had to push hard because we were racing the world's quickest and fastest car.

"After the Vegas race (in April) we stayed and tested there and that has helped us quite a bit, just getting runs down the track and getting used to our combination. In Atlanta, we got bit by weather and missed a couple of qualifying sessions. Here we got bit by bad weather and missed one qualifying run.

"But I think if you look at the strides that we've made since Vegas, this is a team that's becoming one of the top two or three and we keep chipping away at the points. We'll be there pretty soon. Our short-term goal is we need to win a race and get in the Traxxas Shootout."

They'll get another shot at a win in two weeks when the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series travels to Epping N.H. for the New England Nationals.

"I think it's a chance for guys to look at data back at the shop and figure out what went right and what we can do better on the things that didn't go right.

"For me, I really would like to get right back in the race car. If they're going to let us stay, we'll stay and test here tomorrow. We don't know if that's an option or not. Again, to get where we need to get, we need runs to the finish line. And whether we do that in qualifying and going deep on Sundays or if we can stay and get a head start with testing, we're going to do whatever it takes to get the Infinite Hero car into the winner's circle."

JACK BECKMAN, Terry Chandler's Infinite Hero  Dodge Charger R/T
Crew chiefs: John Medlen, Dean Antonelli, Neal Strausbaugh
Qualified: No. 4
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS
First round: BECKMAN (4.218 sec., 217.70 mph) def. Chad Head (4.172, 247.97)
Second round: BECKMAN (3.883, 328.54) def. Del Worsham (4.012, 324.36)
Semifinals: Matt Hagan (3.918, 330.55) def. BACKMAN (4.434, 195.65)
QUALIFYING RESULTS
FRIDAY: 3.899 sec., 324.59 mph, (Session 1); rained out, (Session 2)
SATURDAY: 8.595, 74.38, (Session 3); 3.844, 331.77, (Session 4)
Best Time, Speed: 3.825 sec., (2016 Pomona 2); 334.15 mph (2016 Seattle)
Career at Topeka: Wins 1 (2012); Runner-ups 1 (2016); Poles (2011)

Funny Car                                                                                                      
  1. RON CAPPS (4)                       748      -----
  2. MATT HAGAN (2)                    629      -119
  3. John Force (1)                          524      -224
  4. Robert Hight                             518      -230
  5. JACK BECKMAN                   502      -246
  6. Courtney Force                        464       -284
  7. TOMMY JOHNSON JR. (1)   461      -287
  8. J.R. Todd                                   378       -370
  9. Tim Wilkerson                          360       -388
10. Jonnie Lindberg                       318       -430



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 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 306 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

DSR: Chandler's Infinite Hero Dodge with Beckman makes best qualifying effort of the season to earn No. 4 in Heartland Nationals at Topeka

 

TOPEKA, Kan. (May 20, 2017) - Jack Beckman drove Terry Chandler's Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car to the No. 4 qualifying position for this weekend's 29th annual NHRA Heartland Nationals and his best starting spot for Sunday's championship eliminations. 

"I'm really, really excited," said Beckman who was runner-up at the event last year.

"This car keeps showing us light at the end of the tunnel and then it moves the tunnel a little farther away from us. We're still not quite speaking its language but we still have a car that can win on race day."

Rain on Friday night forced NHRA to cancel the second qualifying session but not before Beckman clocked a lap of 3.899 seconds at 324.59 mph during the first session.

Teams returned on Saturday to a dry track. During the final qualifying session, Beckman ran a 3.844 (331.77) to move up to No. 4. The Infinite Hero Foundation team, led by crew chiefs Neal Strausbaugh, Dean Antonelli and John Medlen, will face Chad Head of Kalitta Motorsports in the opening round.

"To go back there in what has been far and above the best conditions of the year and to be able to throw down some big numbers with the hitter cars out there, we know what our capabilities are right now.

"Tomorrow probably won't have the fairy tale conditions of today. That being said, it's still going to be what would have been national record times prior to this weekend. Topeka is a difficult track - not because of the racetrack - it may be the smoothest on tour but because the weather seems to change every 10 minutes.

"It's a crew chief's nightmare and a driver's dream and hopefully we're all smiling at the end of the day."

JACK BECKMAN, Terry Chandler's Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T
Qualified: No. 4
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS
First round: Chad Head
QUALIFYING RESULTS
FRIDAY: 3.899 sec., 324.59 mph, (Session 1); rained out, (Session 2)
SATURDAY: 8.595, 74.38, (Session 3); 3.844, 331.77, (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 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 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 304 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

DSR: Beckman intends to repeat previous success at Topeka track this weekend where win in 2012 led to NHRA world title

 

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (May 16, 2017) - Jack Beckman arrived at Heartland Park Topeka, Kan., without having posted a win that year.

But he left the NHRA Mello Yello Series event at the track north of Kansas City with the event title and went on to win the professional NHRA Funny Car championship that year.

"Topeka has been very pivotal for me," Beckman said. "In 2012, it was the first race I won (that year) and it put us on the path to eventually win the championship," said Beckman, who had won the Super Comp world title in 2003 as an amateur.

History may be able to repeat itself this weekend at the 29th annual NHRA Heartland Nationals as Beckman and Terry Chandler's Infinite Hero Foundation 2017 Dodge Funny Car team has yet to win an event this season.

"This year our results haven't quite met our expectations," he said. "I do think we've been doing all the things I think we need to do. In other words, we've been making changes to the car, we've been listening to the car and we've been making it a more consistent car. We're still dealing with new parts in the bellhousing.

"We got good data on it in Atlanta two weeks ago and made it to the second round. We're still not where we need to be but we're getting a lot closer.

The Infinite Hero Foundation team, led by crew chiefs Neal Strausbaugh, Dean Antonelli and John Medlen, travel this weekend to Topeka with the NHRA circuit for the eighth event of the 2017 Mello Yello season. Beckman, who advanced to the final round a year ago at Topeka, ranks sixth in championship points.

"Weather is a factor in Topeka and that's what makes winning there so special," said Beckman who was runner-up last year to his Don Schumacher Racing teammate Matt Hagan.

"It's a very tough track to tame because the weather changes continually there. We don't know what it has in store for us this weekend."

JACK BECKMAN, Infinite Hero Foundation 2017 Dodge Charger R/T - former world champ seeks first in '17

Best Time, Speed: 3.825 sec.-second quickest ever, (2016 Pomona 2); 334.15 mph (Seattle 2016)
Last event (May 5-7, Atlanta): Qualified No. 14, lost in quarterfinals to Tim Wilkerson
A year ago at Topeka: Qualified No. 2, lost in championship round to DSR teammate Matt Hagan
Career at Topeka: Wins 1 (2012); Runner-ups 1 (2016); Poles (2011)

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 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 304 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

DSR: Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge continues to gather information on race day at Southern Nationals

 

COMMERCE, Ga. (May 7, 2017) - Jack Beckman and Terry Chandler's Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car continue to hunt for consistency after a second-round loss Sunday in the NHRA Southern Nationals near Atlanta.

"Well, it's frustrating," Beckman said of the loss to eventual finalist Tim Wilkerson. "Our short-term goal is to hold a trophy up at the end of race day."

The Infinite Hero team will have to wait at least two weeks for that to happen after the NHRA Mello Yello Series takes next weekend off the series resumes May 19-21 in Topeka, Kan., for the eighth of 24 stops on the tour.

"It was tough in qualifying, where we only had two runs and never made it past 200 feet to come back first round and not only run well but take out our teammate Tommy Johnson and the Make-A-Wish car. I thought we were on the right track."

Due to rain on Friday, qualifying was cancelled and left teams only two passes down the track at Atlanta Dragway.

The Infinite Hero Foundation 2017 Dodge Charger R/T didn't make a full pull down the track and entered race day as the No. 14 qualifier, Beckman's worst in more than a year.

In round one, Johnson went immediately into tire smoke and Beckman wheeled his hot rod to a 3.958-second pass at 312.93 mph.

The team moved onto round two where Beckman lined up against Wilkerson. Beckman got off the starting line first but went into tire smoke while Wilkerson ran a 3.991 (313.22).

"We went out there and didn't have lane choice second round. It was a little warmer track and it that was a bummer. It's really hard to get the car over that bump without slowing so much you're not going to outrun the other car. We were playing a little bit of Russian Roulette and it just caught up with us that run.

"So, we'll probably stay here and test tomorrow. We'll take a week off and the guys will have some time to look at the data. We'll get everything fresh and serviced. We'll go to Topeka with some great attitudes and a great outlook."

RESULTS FROM NEAR HOUSTON

FUNNY CAR
Event winner: Ron Capps (Don Schumacher Racing)
No. 1 qualifier: Courtney Force (John Force Racing), 3.893 sec.-track record, 322.65 mph

JACK BECKMAN, Terry Chandler's Infinite Hero 2017 Dodge Charger R/T
Crew chiefs: John Medlen, Dean Antonelli, Neal Strausbaugh
Qualified: No. 14
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS
First round: BECKMAN (3.958 sec., 312.93) def. Tommy Johnson Jr. (4.928, 159.61)
Second round: Tim Wilkerson (3.991, 313.22) def. BECKMAN (4.665, 184.02)
QUALIFYING
FRIDAY: rained out                                                                                                          
SATURDAY: 5.584 sec., 124.27 mph, (Session 3);v 5.738, 120.08, (Session 4)
Best Time, Speed: 3.825 sec.-second quickest ever, (2016 Pomona 2); 334.15 mph (Seattle 2016)
Last event (April 28-30, Charlotte Four-Wide): Qualified No. 10, runner-up to event winner and DSR teammate Ron Capps
Career at Atlanta: Wins 2 (2011, 2009); Runner-ups 1 (2016); Poles 1 (2016)

2017 NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES FUNNY CAR STANDINGS                     
(Official after Atlanta; 7th of 24 events; wins in parenthesis; DSR drivers in CAPS)
  1. RON CAPPS (3)                     633     -----
  2. MATT HAGAN (2)                539       -94
  3. John Force (1)                       490     -143
  4. Robert Hight                          437    -196
  5. TOMMY JOHNSON JR. (1)    427     -206
  6. JACK BECKMAN                 426     -207
  7. Courtney Force                     405      -228
  8. Tim Wilkerson                       329      -304
  9. J.R. Todd                             326       -307
 10. Jonnie Lindberg                     318      -315

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 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 303 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

DSR: Chandler's Infinite Hero Dodge, Beckman seek first win of year in NHRA Southern Nationals near Atlanta after qualifying No. 14

 

COMMERCE, Ga. (May 6, 2017) - Terry Chandler's Infinite Hero Foundation Funny Car team and driver Jack Beckman have an uphill battle ahead of them Sunday during eliminations in the 37th annual NHRA Southern Nationals.

The team qualified 14th, its lowest of the NHRA Mello Yello Series season and worst in more than a year.

It didn't help the new team that Friday's two sessions were wiped out by rain.

"We are qualified," Beckman said. "This is one of those crazy deals where with one day washed out, you lose half your qualifying runs.

"We are acquiring data more so than probably every other Funny Car team out here because of our changes in our clutch program and it stinks to lose half our runs for accumulating data.

"We made some big changes between Q1 and Q2 and yet the car smoked the tires at virtually the identical place in two different lanes. Right now, we're scratching our heads and this makes for a long night for the crew chiefs and for me as a driver."

Chandler's teams will face off in the Sunday's opening round when Beckman meets teammate Tommy Johnson Jr., who qualified third.

"If you think about it, from a team concept, from a competition standpoint and a team standpoint, that exactly why we're here - to dig ourselves out of a hole. We're trying to find a way to get it done. Right now, we're in dire straits with our with our tune-up but we're one run away from looking brilliant. We did it in Charlotte when we were runner-up, and I confident we can do it again tomorrow."

JACK BECKMAN, Terry Chandler's Infinite Hero 2017 Dodge Charger R/T
Crew chiefs: John Medlen, Dean Antonelli, Neal Strausbaugh
Qualified: No. 14
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS
First round: Tommy Johnson Jr.
QUALIFYING
FRIDAY: rained out
SATURDAY: 5.584 sec., 124.27 mph, (Session 3);v 5.738, 120.08, (Session 4)
Best Time, Speed: 3.825 sec.-second quickest ever, (2016 Pomona 2); 334.15 mph (Seattle 2016)
Last event (April 28-30, Charlotte Four-Wide): Qualified No. 10, runner-up to event winner and DSR teammate Ron Capps
A year ago at Atlanta: Qualified No. 1, lost to event winner and DSR teammate Matt Hagan
Career at Atlanta: Wins 2 (2011, 2009); Runner-ups 1 (2016); Poles 1 (2016)

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 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 303 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

DSR: Four-Wide runner-up Beckman moves up to fifth in points with new Infinite Hero team, heads to Atlanta for year's first win

 

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (May 3, 2017) -  Jack Beckman has said consistently throughout the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series that the key to success this season is patience.

That mindsight is coming to fruition.

With three new crew chiefs and a nearly all new crew, Beckman and Terry Chandler's Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car progressed to another level Sunday when he was runner-up for the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals title. That was a week after advancing to the team's first semifinals round.

Beckman will compete this weekend near Atlanta in the NHRA Southern Nationals at Commerce, Ga.

"I've said since testing (in February) that with new chiefs and new crew that it would take about 30 runs on this car understood the language this car is talking so we could make good decisions as to what it wants," said Beckman, who won at Atlanta in 2009 and 2011. He advanced to the final round a year ago after starting as the No. 1 qualifier.

The Infinite Hero Dodge with crew chiefs John Medlen, Dean Antonelli and Neal Strausbaugh qualified 10th last weekend in Charlotte, their lowest in six races this year, but improved on each of three runs on Sunday that culminate with its best pass of the weekend at 3.959 seconds.

"We missed getting the trophy by 26-thousandths of a second with a run that was not in the best conditions of the weekend," Beckman said.

"We've seen that the more runs we make the more consistent we become and the more competitive we are. We're ultra-confident going to Atlanta this weekend. We've made it into the top-five for the first time this year and our short-term goal is to win our first trophy this year this weekend."

A year ago at Atlanta: Qualified No. 1, lost to event winner and DSR teammate Matt Hagan
Career at Atlanta: Wins 2 (2011, 2009); Runner-ups 1 (2016); Poles 1 (2016)


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 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 303 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

FULL ARTICLE