Unfortunately, it wasn't for a killer run. It was for a big boomer during the third qualifying session that destroyed the carbon fiber 2017 Dodge Charger R/T today.
"It was the most interesting Saturday I've had in quite some time," said driver Jack Beckman, the 2012 Funny Car World Champion.
"There's no such thing as a small explosion in a Nitro Funny Car. They do a lot of damage and they tear up a lot of parts and pieces."
During the third session, Beckman's car had an engine explosion but the team led by crew chiefs Dean Antonelli, John Medlen and Neal Strausbaugh hustled between sessions to get the back-up car to the starting line for the final session.
"Because of the live TV, we had a very quick turnaround time before Q4. I was so thoroughly impressed with our crew, getting everything back together.
"They put a new body on the Infinite Hero car, got the warm-up done without any issues, got up to the lanes and actually had time to wait. We weren't even rushed because everybody did such a great job and worked together. That's really what the whole program is about with Infinite Hero.
"Our last run, we knew if anything didn't sound right, we'd click it (off) early and it dropped a cylinder but it was actually on a pretty good run. I'm very confident going into Sunday. We qualified well at No. 4. That should, in theory, give us a favorable first-round matchup and hopefully this is the time when we stack the deck in our favor."
Beckman will enter race day on Sunday as the No. 4 qualifier with a time of 3.907 seconds at 328.30 mph and will race Jim Campbell of Jim Dunn Racing in the opening round of competition.
JACK BECKMAN, Terry Chandler's Infinite Hero Foundation 2017 Dodge Charger R/T
Crew chiefs: Dean Antonelli, John Medlen, Neal Strausbaugh
Qualified: No. 4
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS
First round: Jim Campbell
QUALIFYING RESULTS
FRIDAY: 3.895 sec., 323.04 mph, (Session 1); 3.907, 328.30, (Session 2)
SATURDAY: 4.442, 174.82, (Session 3); 4.589, 184.37, (Session 4)
Best Time, Speed: 3.825 sec., (2016 Pomona 2); 334.15 mph (Seattle 2016)
Last event (June 2-4, Epping, NH): Qualified No. 5, lost in first round to Del Worsham
A year ago at Englishtown: Qualified No. 10, lost in championship round to Ron Capps
Career at Englishtown: Wins 0, Runner-ups 2 (2013, 2016), Poles 0
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 307 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
