DSR: Beckman drops semifinals round to DSR teammate Hagan at Las Vegas after Chandlers' Infinite Hero Dodge dominates Mello Yello qualifying

LAS VEGAS (Oct. 29, 2017) - After a stellar qualifying effort, Funny Car driver Jack Beckman leaves The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway frustrated after he smoked the tires Sunday in the semifinals of the NHRA Nationals.

"The frustrating thing is you really have to strike when the iron's hot," Beckman said. "We had a phenomenal car. Except for the first qualifying run (Friday), we were near the quickest every time down the racetrack after that, and not even close to being in trouble."

Beckman and Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car team entered the event with not only the No. 1 qualifying position but they earned a total of nine out of 12 qualifying bonus by being the quickest in three of the four qualifying sessions.

But their day ended early on Sunday and likely ended hopes for a series championship when racing resumes in two weeks with the season-finale at Pomona, Calif.

"When you go out there and the car smokes the tires two feet into the run we're scratching our heads. We don't know why it even would've thought about doing that. But boy that's why in drag racing you don't count your chickens before they hatch."

Beckman will start fourth and only seven points out of third but a gargantuan 177 out of first. At 22 of the first 23 Mello Yello events including Las Vegas, the most a driver can earn is 130 points but points will be enhanced by 150 percent for Pomona with it possible for a driver to earn 191.

Beckman defeated Jim Campbell in round one with a 3.918-second pass at 330.15 mph. He then defeated his Don Schumacher Racing teammate Tommy Johnson Jr., also funded by the Chandlers, with a 3.947 (328.54).

In the semifinals, he met up with DSR teammate Matt Hagan. After the step of the throttle, Beckman went up in tire smoke and Hagan got the round win with his 3.967 and went on to win the event title.

"I really thought we had a final-round car and the best overall Funny Car here this weekend," Beckman said. "So, we're scratching our heads. We will stay and test tomorrow to get some more data. We will go to Pomona with our heads up ready to win that race."

JACK BECKMAN, Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T
Crew chiefs: Dean Antonelli, John Medlen, Neal Strausbaugh
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS
First round: BECKMAN (3.918 sec., 330.15 mph) def.  Jim Campbell (6.399, 104.15)
Second round: BECKMAN (3.947, 328.54) def. Tommy Johnson Jr. (8.344, 93.10)
Semifinals: Matt Hagan (3.967, 329.42) def. BECKMAN (7.223, 103.32)
QUALIFYING
Qualifying position: No. 1
FRIDAY: 8.006 sec., 77.86 mph, (Session 1); 3.867-ties track record, 329.50, (Session 2)
SATURDAY: 3.930, 330.31, (Session 3); 3.854, 335.57-track records, (Session 4)
                  Pts      Events       Wins      Rup      Semi      Qtr     1st rd    Poles   DNQ          W/L
2017          4th               23            2           2             6         9             3           1         0       34-20
CAREER                     275          26         27           51        82           81         22         7   366-241
Career best time, speed: 3.825 sec., (2016 Pomona 2); 334.15 mph (Seattle 2016)

BY THE NUMBERS
Last event, Oct. 15, Dallas: Qualified No. 3, lost in semifinals to Ron Capps
A year ago at Las Vegas 2: Qualified No. 1, lost in semifinals to John Force
This spring at Las Vegas 1: Qualified No.5, lost in second round to Jonnie Lindberg
Career at Las Vegas 2: Wins 1 (2006), Runner-ups 2 (2009, 2012), Poles 1 (2016)
Career at Las Vegas: Wins 1 (2006), Runner-ups 2 (2009, 2012), Poles 2 (2016-twice)


FUNNY CAR                                                                                                      
     1. Robert Hight (4)                    2548     ----
     2. RON CAPPS (8)                   2533       -15
     3. Courtney Force                     2423     -125
     4. JACK BECKMAN (2)           2396     -152
     5. MATT HAGAN (4)                2387     -161
  x-6. John Force (1)                      2306     -242
  x-7. TOMMY JOHNSON JR. (1) 2276     -272
  x-8. Tim Wilkerson                       2237     -311
  x-9. J.R. Todd (2)                         2233     -315
x-10. Cruz Pedregon                      2163     -345                             
x=eliminated from championship contention

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 three-time world champion Antron Brown and the Papa John's Pizza/Mopar Top Fuel dragster driven by Leah Pritchett; and in Funny Car, 2016 world champion Ron Capps in the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T; 2011 and 2014 world champion Matt Hagan in the 80th anniversary Mopar/ Express Lane Dodge Charger R/T, and 2012 NHRA world champion Jack Beckman in the Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge and the Make-A-Wish Dodge driven by Tommy Johnson Jr., both of which are funded by the late Terry Chandler.
DSR has won 317 NHRA national event titles and 16 world championships.
Follow Don Schumacher Racing at ShoeRacing.com, on Twitter at @shoeracing and Facebook.com/shoeracing.

NHRA: Beckman resets both ends of Funny Car track record; Schumacher, Anderson, Krawiec hold onto No. 1 spots

LAS VEGAS – Jack Beckman set both ends of the track record for the Funny Car class during the final qualifying session to secure the No. 1 position at the 17th annual NHRA Toyota Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also clenched No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories at the fifth of six events on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship.

Beckman’s pass of 3.854-seconds at 335.57 mph in his Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger R/T clenched his first No. 1 qualifier of the season and 22nd of his career. He is seeking his third season victory and 27th of his career tomorrow.

“I think we’ve got a great hot rod right now,” Beckman stated. “It’s always nice before eliminations to eat a little bit at the lead of the car ahead of you and to put a little bit of distance to the ones behind you. I told my team to go 3.85 would be fun and they were right.”

Beckman will race Jim Campbell to open eliminations on Sunday. Following in the No. 2 spot is Courtney Force in her Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro with a pass of 3.878 at 331.77. She will race Jeff Arend. Category points leader Robert Hight qualified third and will face Tim Wilkerson in the opening round.

FULL/ORIGINAL ARTICLE

DSR: Beckman, Schumacher sweep No. 1 qualifying spots at Las Vegas; Capps has chance to control championship destiny early in eliminations

LAS VEGAS (Oct. 28, 2017) - Tony Schumacher with the U.S. Army Top Fuel team and Don Schumacher Racing teammate Jack Beckman and the Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T Powered by Pennzoil swept the No. 1 qualifying spots for Sunday's eliminations in the 17th annual NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

And the former world champions did it in style by resetting the four track nitro records.

They moved DSR's pole-winning total through 23 events to 18 to mark the fifth time the 16-time world championship team has swept the nitro poles this season. But its first time since Matt Hagan was the No. 1 qualifier over Labor Day Weekend near Indianapolis that a DSR driver won a pole.

It is Beckman's first since last year's season-finale at Pomona, Calif., and the fourth of the year for Schumacher and his first since May at Topeka, Kan., and 84th of his career including 10 at Las Vegas.

Schumacher started Saturday's qualifying in the No. 1 spot and was the quickest in the last two sessions with his best on the last run with a 3.694 seconds at 326.40 mph.

"What we were able to do in our first run today gives us a lot of confidence heading into Sunday, because those are the conditions that we'll be racing in. The second run shows that we are making great power which isn't easy to do here. My crew chief Mike (Green) and (assistant) Phil (Shuler) are making calls and the U.S. Army car is reacting the way it should. That's the biggest thing right now.

"It's fantastic to get the points and fantastic to get the No. 1 spot. Tomorrow is really important. We have to win that trophy. We aren't here for average. None of us showed up here from the Army team to just be decent. Winning everything is the only acceptable result."

Beckman also was best in the last three sessions with his best run to close Saturday at 3.854 seconds and 335.57 mph, his career fastest.

Although Schumacher and Beckman dominated qualifying they face an uphill battle to head to the season-final in two weeks at Pomona with a chance to win world championships, but they are not conceding anything.

Beckman, whose team funded by Terry and Doug Chandler and led by crew chiefs Dean Antonelli, John Medlen and Neal Strausbaugh, heads into Sunday 177 points behind leader and DSR teammate Ron Capps, whose NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge led by crew chief Rahn Tobler and assistant Eric Lane extended their lead by one point to 25 over Robert Hight of John Force Racing.

"Guido (Antonelli) always says have fun, and I got on the radio and said a 3.85 would be fun. Turned out we were right on that one. That's right what they were shooting for. We unloaded with an 8.00 (second run in the first session) and lolled everyone into a false sense of security, and then got three points each session after that for being the quickest.

"I don't know if that will decide a championship and I don't know if we can catch Hight or Capps but it sure as heck could decide third place. We're not very far behind Courtney (one point) and we don't want to look over our shoulders because there's three cars right behind us. It's always nice before eliminations to eat away at the car ahead of you and put a little distance between the ones behind you."

Every driver wants to control their racing destiny and Capps, who has won a series-best eight events this year, will get his chance after qualifying sixth to set up a first-round pairing against legendary rival John Force. If Capps wins that round, he will either race No. 3 qualifier Hight or Tim Wilkerson.

"These are scenarios you thrive for," said Capps, the reigning Funny Car world champion. "You never have to worry about getting up to race Force and if we can get past him the next race could be exactly what he hoped for."

COUNTDOWN BREAKDOWN
Antron Brown clinched his last two world championships for Don Schumacher Racing at Las Vegas and was able to celebrate two weeks later at the Pomona finale in Southern California.

That won't happen for Brown or any other driver in the nitro categories this year, largely because NHRA enhanced the points value for the season-ending NHRA Finals by about 150 percent.

At Las Vegas this weekend, like 22 of the previous 23 events in the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, the most a driver can earn with a perfect weekend is 130 points; at Pomona, 191 can be earned.

No Top Fuel or Funny Car driver can leave Las Vegas with a 192-point lead and clinch a championship, and any driver 192 or more points out of first after Sunday's final round at Las Vegas will be eliminated from contention.

The seven DSR drivers and 19 of the 20 in the Countdown remain alive in championship contention but most are likely to be mathematically eliminated after Las Vegas.

TOP FUEL                                                                                                             
No. 1 Qualifier: Tony Schumacher (Don Schumacher Racing), 3.673 sec., 332.67 mph-rack records

TONY SCHUMACHER, U.S. Army
Crew chief: Mike Green; Assistant: Phil Shuler
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS
First round: Troy Buff
QUALIFYING
Qualifying position: No. 1
FRIDAY: 3.798 sec., 325.61 mph, (Session 1); 3.673, 332.67, (Session 2)
SATURDAY: 3.743, 325.22, (Session 3); 3.694, 326.40, (Session 4)
                  Pts      Events       Wins      Rup      Semi      Qtr     1st rd    Poles   DNQ         W/L
2017           6th              23             1          3            4          9            6            4         0       29-21
CAREER                     479           83        64           75      134        115          84         8   805-387
Career best time, speed: 3.660 sec. (2017, Topeka); 332.51 mph (2016, Brainerd)
BY THE NUMBERS
Last event, Oct. 15, Dallas: Qualified No. 2, lost in first round to Terry Haddock
A year ago at Las Vegas 2: Qualified No. 5, lost in first round to Wayne Newby
This spring at Las Vegas 1: Qualified No. 2, lost in championship round to Antron Brown
Career at Las Vegas 2: Wins 4 (2005-06, 2008, 2010), Runner-ups 0, Poles 4
Career at Las Vegas: Wins 8 (2004, 2005-06, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013-14)
Runner-ups 3 (2002-03, 2012), Poles 9

LEAH PRITCHETT, Pennzoil/Dodge Demon
Crew chief: Todd Okuhara; Assistant: Joe Barlam
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS
First round: T.J. Zizzo
QUALIFYING
Qualifying position: No. 8
FRIDAY: 3.754 sec., 324.20 mph, (Session 1); 18.929, 41.57, (Session 2)
SATURDAY: 3.785, 323.04, (Session 3); 3.742, 313.95, (Session 4)
                  Pts      Events       Wins      Rup      Semi      Qtr     1st rd    Poles   DNQ         W/L
2017          5th              22             4           2             8         6             2           6          0      44-18
CAREER                      92             5           3           15       19           44            7          6      78-81
Career best time, speed: 3.640 sec. (2017 Brainerd); 331.53 (2017 Brainerd)
BY THE NUMBERS
Last event, Oct. 15, Dallas: Qualified No. 6, lost in second round to Antron Brown
A year ago at Las Vegas 2: Qualified No. 2, lost in semifinals to Steve Torrence
This spring at Las Vegas 1: Qualified No. 5, lost in semifinals to Antron Brown
Career at Las Vegas 2: Wins 0, Runner-ups 0, Poles 0
Career at Las Vegas: Wins 0, Runner-ups 0, Poles 0

ANTRON BROWN, Matco Tools 'Tools for the Cause'
Crew chiefs: Brian Corradi, Mark Oswald; Assistant: Brad Mason
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS
First round: Shawn Langdon
QUALIFYING
Qualifying position: No. 10
FRIDAY: 3.760 sec., 325.61 mph, (Session 1); 16.130, 34.67, (Session 2)
SATURDAY: 3.810, 314.39, (Session 3); 8.729, 75.49, (Session 4)
                  Pts      Events       Wins      Rup      Semi      Qtr     1st rd    Poles   DNQ         W/L
2017           4th              22             4           6             5         7            0           2          0      51-18
CAREER                     380           65*        53           79     100          80         49          3   672-311
                                                          *49 TF/16 PSB   
Career best time, speed: 3.667 (2017, Phoenix); 333.16 mph (2017, Topeka)
BY THE NUMBERS
Last event, Oct. 15, Dallas: Qualified No. 3, lost in semifinals to Shawn Langdon
A year ago at Las Vegas 2: Qualified No. 4, lost in semifinals to J.R. Todd
This spring at Las Vegas 1: Qualified No. 8, won in championship round over Tony Schumacher
Career at Las Vegas 2: Wins 1 (2013), Runner-ups 1 (2001-PSM), Poles 1 (2015)
Career at Las Vegas: Wins 3 (2011, 2013, 2016), Runner-ups 4 (2001, 2008, 2012, 2013),
Poles 5 (2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)

FUNNY CAR                                                                                                
No. 1 Qualifier: Jack Beckman (Don Schumacher Racing), 3.854, 335.57-track records,

JACK BECKMAN, Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T
Crew chiefs: Dean Antonelli, John Medlen, Neal Strausbaugh
QUALIFYING
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS
First round: Jim Campbell
Qualifying position: No. 1
FRIDAY: 8.006 sec., 77.86 mph, (Session 1); 3.867-ties track record, 329.50, (Session 2)
SATURDAY: 3.930, 330.31, (Session 3); 3.854, 335.57-track records, (Session 4)
                  Pts      Events       Wins      Rup      Semi      Qtr     1st rd    Poles   DNQ          W/L
2017          4th               22            2           2             6         9             3           0         0       34-20
CAREER                     274          26         27           51        82           81         21         7   366-241         
Career best time, speed: 3.825 sec., (2016 Pomona 2); 334.15 mph (Seattle 2016)
BY THE NUMBERS
Last event, Oct. 15, Dallas: Qualified No. 3, lost in semifinals to Ron Capps
A year ago at Las Vegas 2: Qualified No. 1, lost in semifinals to John Force
This spring at Las Vegas 1: Qualified No.5, lost in second round to Jonnie Lindberg
Career at Las Vegas 2: Wins 1 (2006), Runner-ups 2 (2009, 2012), Poles 1 (2016)
Career at Las Vegas: Wins 1 (2006), Runner-ups 2 (2009, 2012), Poles 2 (2016-twice)

RON CAPPS, NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T
Crew chief: Rahn Tobler; Assistant: Eric Lane
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS
First round: John Force
QUALIFYING
Qualifying position: No. 6
FRIDAY: 3.916 sec., 325.06 mph, (Session 1); 6.597, 103.02, (Session 2)
SATURDAY: 3.937, 326.56, (Session 3); 3.896, 326.08, (Session 4)
                  Pts      Events       Wins      Rup      Semi     Qtr     1st rd    Poles   DNQ         W/L
2017          1st               22             8           4            2         5            3           0         0       52-14
CAREER                     505           58*        54          91     103         181         21       19    679-428
                                                         *57 FC/1 TF
Career best time, speed: 3.839 sec. (2017, Phoenix); 333.58 mph (2017, Phoenix)
BY THE NUMBERS
Last event, Oct. 15, Dallas: Qualified No. 2, lost in championship round to Robert Hight
A year ago at Las Vegas 2: Qualified No. 4, lost in semifinals to Courtney Force
This spring at Las Vegas 1: Qualified No. 4, lost in first round to Jonnie Lindberg
Career at Las Vegas 2: Wins 4 (2001, 2005, 2011-12), Runner-ups 0, Poles 1 (2011)
Career at Las Vegas: Wins 5 (2009, 2001, 2005, 2011-12, Runner-ups 2 (2006-07), Poles 1 (2011)

MATT HAGAN, Pennzoil Dodge Charger R/T
Crew chief: Dickie Venables; Assistant: Michael Knudsen
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS
First round: Gary Densham
QUALIFYING
Qualifying position: No. 4
FRIDAY: 4.000 sec., 321.19 mph, (Session 1); 3.929, 330.88, (Session 2)
SATURDAY: 3.930, 330.31, (Session 3); 3.882, 330.15, (Session 4)
                  Pts      Events       Wins      Rup      Semi      Qtr     1st rd    Poles   DNQ          W/L
2017          5th              22             3           1             7         5             6           4         0       34-19
CAREER                     214           25         23           35       67           62          30        4    299-185
Career best time, speed: 3.799 (2017, Indianapolis); 338.85 mph (2017, Topeka)
BY THE NUMBERS
Last event, Oct. 15, Dallas: Qualified No. 13, lost in first round to Jonnie Lindberg
A year ago at Las Vegas 2: Qualified No. 2, lost in semifinals to John Force
This spring at Las Vegas 1: Qualified No. 2, lost in second round to John Force
Career at Las Vegas 2: Wins 0, Runner-ups 1 (2010), Poles 2 (2009, 2014)
Career at Las Vegas: Wins 0, Runner-ups 2 (2009, 2010), Poles 3 (2009, 2014, 2015)

TOMMY JOHNSON JR., Terry and Doug Chandler's Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger R/T
Crew chief: John Collins; Assistant: Rip Reynolds
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS
First round: Jonnie Lindberg
QUALIFYING
Qualifying position: No. 9
FRIDAY: 4.308 sec., 212.63 mph, (Session 1); 4.021, 286.74, (Session 2)
SATURDAY: 9.626, 86.66, (Session 3); 3.922, 325.77, (Session 4)
                  Pts      Events       Wins      Rup      Semi      Qtr     1st rd    Poles   DNQ          W/L
2017           7th             22              1          4            5          5             7           1        0        31-21
CAREER                     420            16*       28          58      102         171         15      44    367-360
                                                          *14 FC/2 TF
Career best time, speed: 3.837 sec. (Phoenix 2017); 332.02 mph (Sonoma 2017)
BY THE NUMBERS
Last event, Oct. 15, Dallas: Qualified No. 7, lost in first round to John Force
A year ago at Las Vegas 2: Qualified No. 10, lost in first round to Del Worsham
This spring at Las Vegas 1: Qualified No. 6. won in championship round over Jonnie Lindberg
Career at Las Vegas 2: Wins 0, Runner-ups 2 (2015-16), Poles 1 (2015)
Career at Las Vegas: Wins 1 (2001), Runner-ups 3 (2002, 2015-16) , Poles 1 (2015)

COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS                                      
(Unofficial standings through Las Vegas 2 qualifying; 23rd of 24 events; DSR drivers in CAPS)
Top Fuel                                                                               
  1. Steve Torrence (8)                  2507      -----
  2. Brittany Force (3)                    2447       -60   
  3. Doug Kalitta (1)                       2423      -84
  4. ANTRON BROWN (4)             2392     -115
  5. LEAH PRITCHETT (4)            2321     -186
  6. TONY SCHUMACHER (1)      2320     -187
  7. Clay Millican (1)                      2306     -201
  8. Shawn Langdon                      2227     -280
  9. Terry McMillen                        2181     -326
10. Scott Palmer                           2169     -338
                                                                                                                    
Funny Car                                                                 
  1. RON CAPPS (8)                     2533       -----
  2. Robert Hight (4)                      2508        -25
  3. Courtney Force                       2363      -170
  4. JACK BECKMAN (2)              2356      -177
  5. MATT HAGAN (3)                   2307      -226
  6. John Force (1)                        2286       -247
  7. TOMMY JOHNSON JR. (1)    2256       -277
  8. Tim Wilkerson                         2237       -296
  9. J.R. Todd (2)                           2233       -300
10. Cruz Pedregon                        2163      -370

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 three-time world champion Antron Brown and the  80th Anniversary Mopar/Pennzoil dragster driven by Leah Pritchett; and in Funny Car, 2016 world champion Ron Capps in the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T; 2011 and 2014 world champion Matt Hagan in the Pennzoil Dodge Charger R/T, and 2012 NHRA world champion Jack Beckman in Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge and the Chandlers' Make-A-Wish Dodge driven by Tommy Johnson Jr.

DSR has won 316 NHRA national event titles and 16 world championships.

Follow Don Schumacher Racing at ShoeRacing.com, on Twitter at @shoeracing and Facebook.com/shoeracing.

DSR: DSR's Beckman, Schumacher use track record runs at Las Vegas to hold provisional poles in longshot battles to stay in hunt

LAS VEGAS (Oct. 27, 2017) - Tony Schumacher and the U.S. Army arrived at Las Vegas knowing their backs were against the wall if they were to earn a ninth NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championship.

Despite being ranked sixth and a nearly insurmountable 192 points out of first, Schumacher with crew chief Mike Green and assistant Phil Shuler produced The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway records with an elapsed-time of 3.673 seconds and speed of 332.67 mph, which is his career best.

"I was pretty sure that 3.67 was going to hold for the top spot," said Schumacher, who has been a fixture in the media center at Las Vegas during his career where he has won nine poles and eight event titles. "That 3.67 was such a good run, it forces people to go out and try a little too hard a lot of times."

"Let's remember we have won this race a lot of times and we have more data than just about everyone else here. We have a good quality map of this place. Yes, it is a different racetrack under different situations. It's hard to run great here, but we are able to make those kind of runs with the U.S. Army car because of the outstanding notes and ability of the incredible people working together on this team that made it happen. They evaluated the situation and made good decisions and we made a great run tonight.

"Look, we qualify fine, but we race terrible right now (on Sunday). And we have to change that. I don't care where we qualify, we've got to win the race."

Joining Schumacher with provisional No. 1 positions heading to Saturday's last two qualifying sessions before Sunday's eliminations is Jack Beckman and Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T Powered by Pennzoil led by crew chiefs Dean Antonelli, John Medlen and Neal Strausbaugh who were best in the early evening session and quickest of the day with a track-record time of 3.867 seconds at 329.50 mph.

"I didn't think it would stand up," he said of registering the record time early in the session. "In night sessions the track is going to continue to cool off and when you run early like we did it shows the other teams what the track is capable of. To watch it stand as No. 1 surprised me."

Don Schumacher Racing's Dodge Charger R/T Funny Cars Powered by Pennzoil were the quickest in both of Friday's qualifying sessions of the 17th annual NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

DSR teammate and points leader Ron Capps with the NAPA AUTO PARTS team led by crew chief Rahn Tobler and assistant Eric Lane pushed their Dodge to a time of 3.916 (325.06) to earn three bonus points by leading the pack in the first session of the 17th annual Las Vegas Nationals.

Capps started the day leading Robert Hight by 24 points in the next-to-last race of the season and now leads by 26 after Hight earned one point in the last session.

COUNTDOWN BREAKDOWN
Antron Brown clinched his last two world championships for Don Schumacher Racing at Las Vegas and was able to celebrate two weeks later at the Pomona finale in Southern California.

That won't happen for Brown or any other driver in the nitro categories this year, largely because NHRA enhanced the points value for the season-ending NHRA Finals by about 150 percent.

At Las Vegas this weekend, like 22 of the previous 23 events in the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, the most a driver can earn with a perfect weekend is 130 points; at Pomona, 191 can be earned.

No Top Fuel or Funny Car driver can leave Las Vegas with a 192-point lead and clinch a championship, and any driver 192 or more points out of first after Sunday's final round at Las Vegas will be eliminated from contention.

The seven DSR drivers and 19 of the 20 in the Countdown remain alive in championship contention but most are likely to be mathematically eliminated after Las Vegas.

FUNNY CAR                                                                                                       
                       
Provisional No. 1: Tony Schumacher (Don Schumacher Racing), 3.673 sec., 332.67 mph

TONY SCHUMACHER, U.S. Army
Crew chief: Mike Green; Assistant: Phil Shuler
QUALIFYING
Provisional qualifying position: No. 1
FRIDAY: 3.798 sec., 325.61 mph, (Session 1); 3.673, 332.67, (Session 2)
                  Pts      Events       Wins      Rup      Semi      Qtr     1st rd    Poles   DNQ         W/L
2017           6th              22             1           3             4         9             6            3         0       29-21
CAREER                     478           83         64           75     134         115          83         8   805-387
Career best time, speed: 3.660 sec. (2017, Topeka); 332.51 mph (2016, Brainerd)
BY THE NUMBERS
Last event, Oct. 15, Dallas: Qualified No. 2, lost in first round to Terry Haddock
A year ago at Las Vegas 2: Qualified No. 5, lost in first round to Wayne Newby
This spring at Las Vegas 1: Qualified No. 2, lost in championship round to Antron Brown
Career at Las Vegas 2: Wins 4 (2005-06, 2008, 2010), Runner-ups 0, Poles 4
Career at Las Vegas: Wins 8 (2004, 2005-06, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013-14)
Runner-ups 3 (2002-03, 2012), Poles 9

LEAH PRITCHETT, Pennzoil/Dodge Demon
Crew chief: Todd Okuhara; Assistant: Joe Barlam
QUALIFYING
Provisional qualifying position: No. 4
FRIDAY: 3.754 sec., 324.20 mph, (Session 1); 18.929, 41.57, (Session 2)
                  Pts      Events       Wins      Rup      Semi      Qtr     1st rd    Poles   DNQ         W/L
2017          5th              22             4           2             8         6             2            6          0      44-18
CAREER                      92             5           3           15       19           44            7          6      78-81
Career best time, speed: 3.640 sec. (2017 Brainerd); 331.53 (2017 Brainerd)
BY THE NUMBERS
Last event, Oct. 15, Dallas: Qualified No. 6, lost in second round to Antron Brown
A year ago at Las Vegas 2: Qualified No. 2, lost in semifinals to Steve Torrence
This spring at Las Vegas 1: Qualified No. 5, lost in semifinals to Antron Brown
Career at Las Vegas 2: Wins 0, Runner-ups 0, Poles 0
Career at Las Vegas: Wins 0, Runner-ups 0, Poles 0

ANTRON BROWN, Matco Tools 'Tools for the Cause'
Crew chiefs: Brian Corradi, Mark Oswald; Assistant: Brad Mason
QUALIFYING
Provisional qualifying position: No. 7
FRIDAY: 3.760 sec., 325.61 mph, (Session 1); 16.130, 34.67, (Session 2)
                  Pts      Events       Wins      Rup      Semi      Qtr     1st rd    Poles   DNQ         W/L
2017           4th              22             4           6             5          7            0           2          0      51-18
CAREER                     380           65*        53           79      100          80         49          3  672-311
                                                          *49 TF/16 PSB   
Career best time, speed: 3.667 (2017, Phoenix); 333.16 mph (2017, Topeka)
BY THE NUMBERS
Last event, Oct. 15, Dallas: Qualified No. 3, lost in semifinals to Shawn Langdon
A year ago at Las Vegas 2: Qualified No. 4, lost in semifinals to J.R. Todd
This spring at Las Vegas 1: Qualified No. 8, won in championship round over Tony Schumacher
Career at Las Vegas 2: Wins 1 (2013), Runner-ups 1 (2001-PSM), Poles 1 (2015)
Career at Las Vegas: Wins 3 (2011, 2013, 2016), Runner-ups 4 (2001, 2008, 2012, 2013),
Poles 5 (2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)

FUNNY CAR                                                                                                       
                       
Provisional No. 1: Jack Beckman (Don Schumacher Racing), 3.867 sec.-ties track record, 329.50 mph

JACK BECKMAN, Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T
Crew chiefs: Dean Antonelli, John Medlen, Neal Strausbaugh
QUALIFYING
Provisional qualifying position: No. 1
FRIDAY: 8.006 sec., 77.86 mph, (Session 1); 3.867-track record, 329.50, (Session 2)
                   Pts      Events       Wins      Rup      Semi      Qtr     1st rd    Poles   DNQ         W/L
2017          4th               22            2           2              6         9             3            0         0      34-20
CAREER                     274          26         27            51       82           81          21         7  366-241         
Career best time, speed: 3.825 sec., (2016 Pomona 2); 334.15 mph (Seattle 2016)
BY THE NUMBERS
Last event, Oct. 15, Dallas: Qualified No. 3, lost in semifinals to Ron Capps
A year ago at Las Vegas 2: Qualified No. 1, lost in semifinals to John Force
This spring at Las Vegas 1: Qualified No.5, lost in second round to Jonnie Lindberg
Career at Las Vegas 2: Wins 1 (2006), Runner-ups 2 (2009, 2012), Poles 1 (2016)
Career at Las Vegas: Wins 1 (2006), Runner-ups 2 (2009, 2012), Poles 2 (2016-twice)

RON CAPPS, NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T
Crew chief: Rahn Tobler; Assistant: Eric Lane
QUALIFYING
Provisional qualifying position: No. 6
FRIDAY: 3.916 sec., 325.06 mph, (Session 1); 6.597, 103.02, (Session 2)
                  Pts      Events       Wins      Rup      Semi      Qtr     1st rd    Poles   DNQ         W/L
2017          1st               22             8           4            2          5             3            0         0      52-14
CAREER                     505           58*        54          91     103          181         21        19  679-428
                                                         *57 FC/1 TF
Career best time, speed: 3.839 sec. (2017, Phoenix); 333.58 mph (2017, Phoenix)
BY THE NUMBERS
Last event, Oct. 15, Dallas: Qualified No. 2, lost in championship round to Robert Hight
A year ago at Las Vegas 2: Qualified No. 4, lost in semifinals to Courtney Force
This spring at Las Vegas 1: Qualified No. 4, lost in first round to Jonnie Lindberg
Career at Las Vegas 2: Wins 4 (2001, 2005, 2011-12), Runner-ups 0, Poles 1 (2011)
Career at Las Vegas: Wins 5 (2009, 2001, 2005, 2011-12, Runner-ups 2 (2006-07), Poles 1 (2011)

MATT HAGAN, Pennzoil Dodge Charger R/T
Crew chief: Dick Venables; Assistant: Michael Knudsen
QUALIFYING
Provisional qualifying position: No. 8
FRIDAY: 4.000 sec., 321.19 mph, (Session 1); 3.929, 330.88, (Session 2)
                  Pts      Events       Wins      Rup      Semi      Qtr     1st rd    Poles   DNQ         W/L
2017          5th              22             3           1             7         5             6            4         0       34-19
CAREER                     214           25         23           35       67           62          30         4   299-185
Career best time, speed: 3.799 (2017, Indianapolis); 338.85 mph (2017, Topeka)
BY THE NUMBERS
Last event, Oct. 15, Dallas: Qualified No. 13, lost in first round to Jonnie Lindberg
A year ago at Las Vegas 2: Qualified No. 2, lost in semifinals to John Force
This spring at Las Vegas 1: Qualified No. 2, lost in second round to John Force
Career at Las Vegas 2: Wins 0, Runner-ups 1 (2010), Poles 2 (2009, 2014)
Career at Las Vegas: Wins 0, Runner-ups 2 (2009, 2010), Poles 3 (2009, 2014, 2015)

TOMMY JOHNSON JR., Terry and Doug Chandler's Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger R/T
Crew chief: John Collins; Assistant: Rip Reynolds
QUALIFYING
Provisional qualifying position: No. 13
FRIDAY: 4.308 sec., 212.63 mph, (Session 1); 4.021, 286.74, (Session 2)
                  Pts      Events       Wins      Rup      Semi      Qtr     1st rd    Poles   DNQ         W/L
2017           7th             22              1           4            5          5             7            1        0       31-21
CAREER                     420            16*        28          58      102         171         15      44   367-360
                                                          *14 FC/2 TF
Career best time, speed: 3.837 sec. (Phoenix 2017); 332.02 mph (Sonoma 2017)
BY THE NUMBERS
Last event, Oct. 15, Dallas: Qualified No. 7, lost in first round to John Force
A year ago at Las Vegas 2: Qualified No. 10, lost in first round to Del Worsham
This spring at Las Vegas 1: Qualified No. 6. won in championship round over Jonnie Lindberg
Career at Las Vegas 2: Wins 0, Runner-ups 2 (2015-16), Poles 1 (2015)
Career at Las Vegas: Wins 1 (2001), Runner-ups 3 (2002, 2015-16) , Poles 1 (2015)

COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS                                     
(Official standings through Dallas; 22nd of 24 events; DSR drivers in CAPS)
Top Fuel                                                                               
  1. Steve Torrence (8)                  2465     -----
  2. Brittany Force (3)                    2408       -57   
  3. Doug Kalitta (1)                       2389      -76
  4. ANTRON BROWN (4)            2360     -105
  5. LEAH PRITCHETT (4)           2285     -180
  6. TONY SCHUMACHER (1)     2273     -192
  7. Clay Millican (1)                      2268     -197
  8. Shawn Langdon (0/1)             2193     -272
  9. Terry McMillen                        2147     -318
10. Scott Palmer                           2137     -328
                                                                                                                    
Funny Car                                                                 
  1. RON CAPPS (8)                     2495      -----
  2. Robert Hight (4)                      2471        -24
  3. Courtney Force                       2324      -171
  4. JACK BECKMAN (2)             2309      -186
  5. MATT HAGAN (3)                  2269      -226
  6. John Force (1)                        2252      -243
  7. TOMMY JOHNSON JR. (1)   2224      -271
  8. Tim Wilkerson                         2206     -289
  9. J.R. Todd (2)                           2199     -296
10. Cruz Pedregon                        2128     -307



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 three-time world champion Antron Brown and the  80th Anniversary Mopar/Pennzoil dragster driven by Leah Pritchett; and in Funny Car, 2016 world champion Ron Capps in the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T; 2011 and 2014 world champion Matt Hagan in the Pennzoil Dodge Charger R/T, and 2012 NHRA world champion Jack Beckman in Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge and the Chandlers' Make-A-Wish Dodge driven by Tommy Johnson Jr.

DSR has won 316 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, DSR PR
wolfj@shoeracing.com; 702.524.1368

Leah Vaughn, DSR PR and Social Media
vaughnl@shoeracing.com

Allie Bland, DSR PR and Social Media
blanda@shoeracing.com

DSR: No. 4 Beckman sets sight on moving up in Mello Yello points, winning last two titles of the year with Infinite Hero Dodge

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Oct. 25, 2017) - Jack Beckman isn't ready to throw in the towel on winning his second world championship in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.

But some thought he could have done that before the 2017 season began.

The 2012 Funny Car world champion for Don Schumacher Racing started this season with only one remaining crewmember and started the campaign with a new crew chief combination of Dean Antonelli, John Medlen and Neal Strausbaugh leading Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T team.

Although it is a longshot that Beckman can rally from being ranked fourth and 186 points out of first place heading to Las Vegas for this weekend's NHRA Nationals and the next-to-last event of the season, it is impressive that the Infinite Hero team is No. 4 with two event titles this year.

"Coming down the stretch I don't know if the handicappers at the being of the year would have had us going to Vegas less than one round (15 points) out of third place," said Beckman, who won at Las Vegas in 2006. "We've been a contender at every Mello Yello race this year."

The Infinite Hero Dodge and Beckman were the No. 1 qualifiers at both Las Vegas events last year but lost in the second round each time.

With only two events remaining in the six-race Countdown to the Championship playoff, Beckman, who also won the 2003 NHRA Super Comp world championship as an amateur, knows has a monumental hill to climb.

"We all know anything is possible when you pour nitro into the fuel tanks of these cars. We'll be aggressive with our approach to Vegas and then at the Finals at Pomona."

For Beckman to have any chance at the world title, he knows that he can't control the fate of those he's chasing unless he faces them during Sunday eliminations. And he knows he has to win the last two titles of the year.

"For our Infinite Hero team, it's all about the trophies right now. I just want to go win the last two Wallys of the year. If than happens we will have done everything we could.

"Our goal is getting our picture taken with those two Wally trophies at the end of the day."

COUNTDOWN BREAKDOWN
Antron Brown clinched his last two world championships for Don Schumacher Racing at Las Vegas and was able to celebrate two weeks later at the Pomona finale in Southern California.

That won't happen for Brown or any other driver in the nitro categories this year, largely because NHRA enhanced the points value for the season-ending NHRA Finals by about 150 percent.

At Las Vegas this weekend, like 22 of the previous 23 events in the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, the most a driver can earn with a perfect weekend is 130 points; at Pomona, 191 can be earned.

No Top Fuel or Funny Car driver can leave Las Vegas with a 192-point lead and clinch a championship, and any driver 192 or more points out of first after Sunday's final round at Las Vegas will be eliminated from contention.

The seven DSR drivers and 19 of the 20 in the Countdown remain alive in championship contention but most are likely to be mathematically eliminated after Las Vegas.

In Funny Car, DSR's Ron Capps (NAPA AUTO PARTS) is atop the standings but just 24 points ahead of hard-charging Robert Hight of John Force Racing. The drivers each have won twice through the first four Countdown playoff races. Jack Beckman (Infinite Hero) is fourth, 186 back while Matt Hagan (Pennzoil/Mopar) is fifth (-226) and Tommy Johnson Jr. (Make-A-Wish) is seventh (-271).

In Top Fuel, Steve Torrence leads Brittany Force and Doug Kalitta by 57 and 76 points, with DSR's three-time world champion Antron Brown, winner of the last two championships for Matco Tools, ranked fourth and 105 behind Torrence. Leah Pritchett (Pennzoil) is fifth (-180) and eight-time world champ Tony Schumacher is sixth (-192).

JACK BECKMAN, Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T
Crew chiefs: Dean Antonelli, John Medlen, Neal Strausbaugh
                    Pts      Events       Wins      Rup      Semi      Qtr     1st rd    Poles   DNQ         W/L
2017          4th               22            2           2              6         9             3            0         0      34-20
CAREER                     274          26         27            51       82           81          21         7  366-241      
Career best time, speed: 3.825 sec., (2016 Pomona 2); 334.15 mph (Seattle 2016)

BY THE NUMBERS
Last event, Oct. 15, Dallas: Qualified No. 3, lost in semifinals to Ron Capps
A year ago at Las Vegas 2: Qualified No. 1, lost in semifinals to John Force
This spring at Las Vegas 1: Qualified No.5, lost in second round to Jonnie Lindberg
Career at Las Vegas 2: Wins 1 (2006), Runner-ups 2 (2009, 2012), Poles 1 (2016)
Career at Las Vegas: Wins 1 (2006), Runner-ups 2 (2009, 2012), Poles 2 (2016-2)

COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS                                       
(Official standings through Dallas; 22 of 24 events; DSR drivers in CAPS)                                                       
Funny Car                                                                   
  1. RON CAPPS (8)                     2495      -----
  2. Robert Hight (4)                      2471        -24
  3. Courtney Force                       2324      -171
  4. JACK BECKMAN (2)             2309      -186
  5. MATT HAGAN (3)                  2269      -226
  6. John Force (1)                        2252      -243
  7. TOMMY JOHNSON JR. (1)   2224      -271
  8. Tim Wilkerson                         2206     -289
  9. J.R. Todd (2)                           2199     -296
10. Cruz Pedregon                        2128     -307


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 three-time world champion Antron Brown and the Papa John's Pizza/Mopar Top Fuel dragster driven by Leah Pritchett; and in Funny Car, 2016 world champion Ron Capps in the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T; 2011 and 2014 world champion Matt Hagan in the 80th anniversary Mopar/ Express Lane Dodge Charger R/T, and 2012 NHRA world champion Jack Beckman in the Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge and the Make-A-Wish Dodge driven by Tommy Johnson Jr., both of which are funded by the late Terry Chandler.
DSR has won 316 NHRA national event titles and 16 world championships.
Follow Don Schumacher Racing at ShoeRacing.com, on Twitter at @shoeracing and Facebook.com/shoeracing.

DSR: Beckman, Infinite Hero team move up to fifth in Mello Yello points after semifinals finish at the Texas Motorplex near Dallas; Vegas next

ENNIS, Texas (Oct. 15, 2017) - Jack Beckman and Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car team had a few lucky runs at the 32nd annual NHRA FallNationals near Dallas but their luck ran out when they ran into Don Schumacher Racing teammate and points leader Ron Capps in the semifinals.

During an odd first round when several cars lost traction and smoked the tires, Beckman won a pedalfest over Kalitta Motorsports' J.R. Todd with 4.590-second pass at only 229.70 mph. In the next round, he had a solo run when part-time racer Daniel Wilkerson broke on his burnout past the starting line. Beckman went into tire smoke but got the win light with his 5.082 (145.89).

Beckman then lined up against Capps. With another smoking lap by Beckman, Capps got the win with a 3.905 (329.10).

"We went up there and smoked the tires in what was of the oddest first rounds I've seen in a long time," Beckman said. "And then we could've been beaten in the second round too."

Despite their semifinal finish, the Infinite Hero team led by crew chiefs Dean Antonelli, John Medlen and Neal Strausbaugh moved from sixth to fifth in the NHRA points standings and are 186 behind Capps.

"I'm going to take the silver-lining approach to this," Beckman said. "Yeah, it's crushing to not leave here with the trophy, especially but we picked up a position in the standing. We could've left here having closed the gap on first and second quite a bit. We let those (Capps and event winner Robert Hight) pull away from us. But our day could've ended in the first round.

"The fact of the matter is we're going to leave here with 40 points, we're going to leave here fourth in points, within one round of third. So, we checked a bunch of things off our list except getting that darn trophy at Texas. We'll just have to settle for one at Vegas and one at Pomona."

In two weeks, Beckman and the Infinite Hero team will compete at the NHRA Nationals at Las Vegas for the penultimate race of the season.

JACK BECKMAN, Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T
Crew chiefs: Dean Antonelli, John Medlen, Neal Strausbaugh
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS
First round: BECKMAN (4.590 sec., 229.70 mph) def. J.R. Todd (5.140, 190.78)
Second round: BECKMAN (5.082, 145.09) def. Daniel Wilkerson (broke)
Semifinals: Ron Capps (3.905, 329.10) BECKMAN (4.468, 196.13)
QUALIFYING
Qualified: No. 3
FRIDAY: 3.914 sec., 329.50 mph, (Session 1); 3.873, 332.34, (Session 2)
SATURDAY: 6.907, 89.47, (Session 3); 3.971, 317.19, (Session 4)

                  Pts      Events       Wins      Rup      Semi      Qtr     1st rd      Poles      DNQ         W/L
2017          4th               22            2           2              6         9             3              0            0       34-20
CAREER                     274          26         27            51       82           81            21            7   366-241
Career best time, speed: 3.825 sec., (2016 Pomona 2); 334.15 mph (Seattle 2016)
BY THE NUMBERS
A year ago at Dallas: Qualified No. 2, lost in second round to Ron Capps,
Career at Dallas: Wins 0, Runner-ups 2 (2009, 2015), Poles 0

Funny Car                                                                 
  1. RON CAPPS (8)                     2495     -----
  2. Robert Hight (4)                      2471       -24
  3. Courtney Force                       2324      -171
  4. JACK BECKMAN (2)             2309      -186
  5. MATT HAGAN (3)                   2269      -226
  6. John Force (1)                         2252      -243
  7. TOMMY JOHNSON JR. (1)   2224       -271
  8. Tim Wilkerson                         2206       -289
  9. J.R. Todd (2)                           2199       -296
10. Cruz Pedregon                        2128      -307

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 three-time world champion Antron Brown and the Papa John's Pizza/Mopar Top Fuel dragster driven by Leah Pritchett; and in Funny Car, 2016 world champion Ron Capps in the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T; 2011 and 2014 world champion Matt Hagan in the 80th anniversary Mopar/ Express Lane Dodge Charger R/T, and 2012 NHRA world champion Jack Beckman in the Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge and the Make-A-Wish Dodge driven by Tommy Johnson Jr., both of which are funded by the late Terry Chandler.
DSR has won 316 NHRA national event titles and 16 world championships.
Follow Don Schumacher Racing at ShoeRacing.com, on Twitter at @shoeracing and Facebook.com/shoeracing.

DSR: Beckman hopes to win at Motorplex for dad, Infinite Hero team at critical juncture of NHRA Countdown to Championship playoff

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Oct. 11, 2017) - As a former Funny Car world champion, Jack Beckman knows championships are not easily won.

With only three events left in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season, Beckman and Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car need a big weekend at the Texas Motorplex near Dallas for a chance at a second Funny Car world title.

But when Beckman strapes into the Chandler's 11,000-horsepower Funny Car, his main goal is to win this weekend's 32rd annual NHRA FallNationals a reason bigger that the championship.

"I went to the first national event there in 1986 and at the 21 venues we race at, there is no location that I want an NHRA Wally trophy from more than Dallas," Beckman said. "I've won in Super Comp at Pomona. I've won at Indy. Dallas is 100 percent at the top of my list. That's the one that I want the most. I don't care about points. I want to win Dallas."

Beckman's father, known to many as "Slow Bob" Beckman in contrast with his son's "Fast Jack" handle, has been a Texas resident for nearly 30 years. The younger Beckman would like nothing more than to present his dad with the Wally and the coveted black cowboy hat for winning the FallNationals.

"Obviously there's a componet to move up in the standings, but I won't care about points when we pull into the Motorplex. I want to win Dallas more than any other race."

In 2016, Beckman entered the event qualified second with a time of 3.843 seconds at 333.66 mph. He advanced to the quarterfinals before losing to Don Schumacher Racing teammate Ron Capps.

"We can't control what Capps and (Robert) Hight are going to do these next three races. Those two are in the catbird seat," he said of points leader Capps and No. 2 Hight. "They've done the best at getting qualifiying bonus points and round wins after the Countdown reset after Indy."

Beckman and the Infinite Hero team, led by crew chiefs Dean Antonelli, John Medlen and Neal Strausbaugh, are fifth but 167 out of first.

"They were at the top going into the Countdown and they've maintaned that adventage over the rest of us. If we have any shot at Championship, those two really have to lose first round. Since we can't control that, I don't think there's any point to dwell on that. We just need to win the race. We need to win Dallas."

JACK BECKMAN, Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T
Crew chiefs: Dean Antonelli, John Medlen, Neal Strausbaugh
                 Pts      Events       Wins      Rup      Semi      Qtr     1st rd      Poles      DNQ         W/L
2017          5th            21            2           2              5         9           3              0            0          32-19
CAREER                 273           26         27           50       82           81            21           7       364-240   

Career best time, speed: 3.825 sec., (2016 Pomona 2); 334.15 mph (Seattle 2016)
BY THE NUMBERS
Last event: Sept. 29-Oct. 1: Qualified No. 6, lost in second round to Ron Capps
A year ago at Dallas: Qualified No. 2, lost in second round to Ron Capps,
Career at Dallas: Wins 0, Runner-ups 2 (2009, 2015), Poles 0

FUNNY CAR                                                    
  1. RON CAPPS (8)                    2395     -----
  2. Robert Hight (3)                      2349     -46          
  3. Courtney Force                       2287   -108
  4. MATT HAGAN (3)                  2238   -157
  5. JACK BECKMAN (2)             2228   -167    
  6. John Force (1)                        2197   -198
  7. TOMMY JOHNSON JR. (1)   2191    -204     
  8. J.R. Todd (2)                          2168    -227
  9. Tim Wilkerson                        2130    -265
10 Cruz Pedregon                        2096   -299

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 three-time world champion Antron Brown and the Papa John's Pizza/Mopar Top Fuel dragster driven by Leah Pritchett; and in Funny Car, 2016 world champion Ron Capps in the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T; 2011 and 2014 world champion Matt Hagan in the 80th anniversary Mopar/ Express Lane Dodge Charger R/T, and 2012 NHRA world champion Jack Beckman in the Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge and the Make-A-Wish Dodge driven by Tommy Johnson Jr., both of which are funded by the late Terry Chandler.
DSR has won 316 NHRA national event titles and 16 world championships.
Follow Don Schumacher Racing at ShoeRacing.com, on Twitter at @shoeracing and Facebook.com/shoeracing.

DSR: Valiant effort by Beckman, Chandlers' Infinite Hero Dodge team not enough to beat points leader Sunday at Gateway near St. Louis

MADISON, Ill. (Oct. 1, 2017) - Last year at Gateway Motorsports Park, Jack Beckman in Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car took home the NHRA Wally trophy.

Unfortunately, Beckman's day ended much earlier at this year's sixth annual NHRA Midwest Nationals.

"I'm just going to be a realist, let's just look at facts and separate the emotion," Beckman said.

"That round was our championship round. If we won that round, we stay in the race, keep earning points, and move closer to the top cars. We lost against the No. 1 car and it increased the spread. That was the biggest round of the year for us."

That loss was to Beckman's Don Schumacher Racing teammate and NHRA points leader Ron Capps, who went on to win the event title and move 167 points ahead of Beckman who remains seventh.

It was a great drag race as Beckman clocked a 3.895-second pass at 332.34 mph but he couldn't outrun Capps' 3.885.

"We did everything very well, they did it a little better. There's nothing to do but go over and shake their hands.

"But that's what we do at DSR. You give the fans those sort of incredible side-by-side runs with two drivers performing well under pressure and two crews doing everything right, and two groups of crew chiefs making all good calls.

"Unfortunately, somebody had to come out on the losing end and that was us. So that one stings bitterly. We can't control what the cars ahead of us do in the points from here on out. We can still win 12 rounds and that's absolutely our goal."

The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing series will take a weekend off before traveling to Dallas for the NHRA FallNationals.

JACK BECKMAN, Terry and Doug Chandler's Infinite Hero Dodge Charger R/T
Crew chiefs: Dean Antonelli, John Medlen, Neal Strausbaugh
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS
First round: BECKMAN (3.850 sec., 333.49 mph) def. Del Worsham (5.167, 153.11)
Second round: Ron Capps (3.885, 328.86) def. BECKMAN (3.895, 332.34)
QUALIFYING
Qualified: No. 6
FRIDAY: 3.873 sec., 331.77 mph, (Session 1); 3.877, 331.12, (Session 2)
SATURDAY: 4.107, 239.10, (Session 3); 10.074, 69.65, (Session 4)
              Pts      Events       Wins      Rup      Semi      Qtr     1st rd      Poles      DNQ        W/L
2017          5th          21            2           2              5         9             3              0           0          32-19
CAREER                273           26         27           50       82           81            21           7       364-240
Career best time, speed: 3.825 sec., (2016 Pomona 2); 334.15 mph (Seattle 2016) 
BY THE NUMBERS
A year ago at Gateway: Qualified No. 2, won in championship round over Tommy Johnson Jr.
Career at Gateway: Wins 2 (2012, 2016), Runner-ups 2 (2010, 2013), Poles 1 (2012)

FUNNY CAR                                                     
  1. RON CAPPS (8)                    2395     -----
  2. Robert Hight (3)                      2349    -46 
  3. Courtney Force                       2287  -108
  4. MATT HAGAN (3)                  2238   -157
  5. JACK BECKMAN (2)             2228   -167
  6. John Force (1)                        2197   -198
  7. TOMMY JOHNSON JR. (1)   2191   -204
  8. J.R. Todd (2)                          2168    -227
  9. Tim Wilkerson                        2130    -265
10 Cruz Pedregon                        2096    -299


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 three-time world champion Antron Brown and the Papa John's Pizza/Mopar Top Fuel dragster driven by Leah Pritchett; and in Funny Car, 2016 world champion Ron Capps in the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T; 2011 and 2014 world champion Matt Hagan in the 80th anniversary Mopar/ Express Lane Dodge Charger R/T, and 2012 NHRA world champion Jack Beckman in the Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge and the Make-A-Wish Dodge driven by Tommy Johnson Jr., both of which are funded by the late Terry Chandler.
DSR has won 316 NHRA national event titles and 16 world championships.
Follow Don Schumacher Racing at ShoeRacing.com, on Twitter at @shoeracing and Facebook.com/shoeracing.