JACK BECKMAN'S CHAMPIONSHIP QUEST
TO CONTINUE AT AUTO-PLUS(r) NHRA NATIONALS

MOHNTON, September 27, 2011 - Aboard his Aaron's Dream Machine/Valvoline NextGen Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car, Jack Beckman roars onto the track at Maple Grove Raceway here for this weekend's 27th annual Auto-Plus(r) NHRA Nationals looking to make a significant move in the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship.

Coming off a second-round defeat last week in the Dallas event, second of six in the Countdown, the 45-year-old Don Schumacher Racing driver believes time is of the essence for a title run.

The flopper driver holds third place in the Countdown standings, 32 - less than two rounds - behind leader Mike Neff. Between him and Neff are Cruz Pedregon and DSR teammate Matt Hagan, with his other DSR teammate, Ron Capps, 35 behind him in fifth.

"There are 16 rounds of racing left in the season," explained the California native. "I think we need nine (round wins) for the championship and we need to get four of them -which would mean a trophy - here at Reading.

"We've had some good weekends recently, but we need a great one - with a win - now."

Beckman has already collected two "Wallys" in four final-round appearances this season. Since the Countdown began two races ago in Charlotte (with four remaining including this weekend), he has reached the semifinals and quarterfinals.

"We've got some good history at Maple Grove, which we would love to repeat this weekend," said the winner of the 2008 race. "We would love to see four win lights on Sunday."

 

 

JACK BECKMAN EARNS FIFTH-STARTING SPOT
FOR 27TH-ANNUAL AUTO-PLUS(r) NHRA NATIONALS

MOHNTON, Pa., October 1, 2011 -  Under cool but threatening skies during two days of qualifying, Jack Beckman, at the wheel of the Aaron's Dream Machine/Valvoline NextGen Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car produced three solid runs en route to a number-five starting spot for Sunday's 27th annual Auto-Plus(r) NHRA Nationals here at Maple Grove Raceway.

The Aaron's/Valvoline flopper opened Friday's qualifying with a 4.210 lap at 303.30 miles per hour, followed with a 4.103 at 313.22 mph that evening before posting a qualifying run of 4.039 at 317.96 mph in today's first round.

"When we came out for today's final session, we had the luxury of being able to push the Aaron's/Valvoline car to see what we could do," said the 45-year-old Don Schumacher Racing driver about the fourth-qualifying pass of 4.634. "The conditions were great here, and a lot of cars flexed their muscles.

"This will go down, with Charlotte (two weeks ago) as a one-in-five-year event with huge numbers put up in all classes (including DSR teammate Johnny Gray's pole-taking, track-record 4.010)."

While Beckman enjoyed the qualifying moments, he acknowledged the really important work begins at 11 a.m. EDT Sunday with the start of final eliminations.

"We have a great first-round match (with 12th-qualifier Bob Tasca III) and I don't care what kind of numbers we put as long as we win," he said. "And as long as we keep winning, it doesn't matter, because there are only four races, 16 rounds, left in the Countdown.

"We are less than two rounds out of first (holding fourth in the title chase), so Sunday isn't 'do or die,' but it is to some of the racers and it is important for us to get as many round wins as we can. We want to move up in the standings; positioning ourselves closer to the championship."

 

 

EARLY EXIT FOR JACK BECKMAN
FROM AUTO-PLUS NHRA(r) NATIONALS

MOHNTON, Pa., October 2, 2011 - Aboard his Aaron's Dream Machine/Valvoline NextGen Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car, Jack Beckman lost a first-round race in Sunday's 27th annual Auto-Plus(r) NHRA Nationals when he spun his tires on the cold track here at Maple Grove Raceway.

Starting from the fifth position on the strength of a .4.039-second qualifying lap at 317.94 miles per hour, Beckman lost traction almost immediately in his opening-session match with 12th-qualifier Bob Tasca III.

"We were in trouble three feet into the run, which is very unlike us," explained the 45-year-old Don Schumacher Racing driver. "We didn't think we were overly aggressive, based on our qualifying runs - but this was by far the coldest track (track temperatures in the low 60s) we faced all year. We almost never run when it is this cold (air temperatures also in the 60s); it just doesn't happen.

"We went to the starting line with every reason to believe we would have a good Sunday; then something happened. We haven't found a 'smoking gun,' something to pinpoint for what went wrong. We're still looking and frustrated."

Persistent rain and cold Sunday brought about postponement of the race following the second Funny Car round; resumption of the event is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Monday.

Regardless of the eventual winner and even though he might drop one spot, Beckman will remain 55 points - less than three race rounds - behind DSR teammate Matt Hagan who leads in the Countdown to the Championship standings.

"We have already lost ground to the guys in front of us," the native Californian said about Hagan, Mike Neff and Cruz Pedregon, who all reached the second round today (should Robert Hight win the race, he will slide by Beckman into fourth place). "We have a lot of rounds to make up and limited opportunities (12 race rounds or three races remain in the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season).

"Phoenix, the next race in the Countdown just under two weeks away, Las Vegas and Pomona means we'll wrap up the season in my backyard. We'll take a look at everything from a fresh perspective, take a deep breath and look to win races."