BECKMAN EAGER TO GET BACK ON TRACK AT POMONA SEASON-OPENER

NORCO, Calif. (Feb. 8, 2010) - "Fast" Jack Beckman is eager to get back to racing in the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, which opens this weekend at the 50th annual Winternationals in Pomona, Calif.

"Local boy" Beckman is looking for his first win at this historic event, having amassed eight national-event victories in 17 final rounds in his short, four-year professional career as the driver of the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Funny Car for Don Schumacher Racing.

He ended the 2009 season fifth in the standings after winning two events in five final rounds, with a season round-win record of 29-22.

"Everybody on the Valvoline/MTS team is so excited," said Beckman, who still holds the national speed record of 333.66 mph, racing to the quarter-mile. "We had a great test in Florida in January, which meant that we could take everything back to the DSR shop in Indy, get it serviced, get it fresh, and get the crew guys a couple of three-day weekends off so they would be well rested coming into Pomona.

"We have new paint schemes for the year, a new fire suit, new crew outfits, and five of the same crew members from last year. We've added crew chief Rahn Tobler and three others, so the entire unit hadn't worked together before this year.

"But in preseason testing within two and a half days I could already see everybody was on the same page and working well together. And I've talked to Tobler, assistant crew chief John Collins and several of the crew guys many times at the test session, and everybody is so excited about getting the season started.

"The Winternationals has always been the kickoff of the season. It's the race where you get to see all of the new paint schemes, but for me it's always been the local race too. When you think about it, for a Southern California boy, it's triply exciting to be at my home race track, at the opening season of the year, and where there are so many new things to see.

"I think, right out of the box, we're going to be a contender. I think every pro team has a couple of races during every season where they stumble or lose the handle on the combination. And I'm not saying that we won't be in that position one or two times this year, but I feel, with the talent on our team, and on DSR's other five nitro teams, with whom we can sound ideas back and forth, we're going to be phenomenal this year."

Beckman's best results at Pomona is a Pomona 2 No. 1 qualifier and runner-up finish in 2006.

Mail Terminal Services continues its popular "Mail From Home" campaign in 2010, supporting the U.S. troops serving in the war zones. In the past three NHRA seasons the campaign has sent over 330,000 post cards overseas signed by fans and supporters at each NHRA national event with messages of support for the troops, along with numerous NHRA National Dragster issues and other automotive magazines. Photos of cars and drivers were also included.

BECKMAN SNAGS NO. 7 IN POMONA QUALIFYING

POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 13, 2010) - Local boy "Fast" Jack Beckman placed the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger Funny Car in No. 7 during qualifying for the 50th annual NHRA Winternationals.

His quickest lap of 4.101 seconds at 310.91 mph came in the opening session on Thursday. He then matched it with a 4.104/307.93 in the final session, which was delayed for several hours because of oil downs and 50th anniversary festivities. In between, he posted a 7.562/84.82 and a 4.453/208.78.

"It was nice," said Beckman, of Norco, Calif. "We book-ended our runs with 4.10s. We opened nice, picking up right where we left off from testing in Jupiter, Fla., in January. The Valvoline/MTS group, including new crew chief Rahn Tobler, is working perfectly together right now.

"We went out there and tried a couple of things in the second and third runs and they didn't work. We needed to make sure that the car was back where we thought it should be for the last run so we could take it into Sunday.

"That long wait gave us a race track that we probably won't see even in the final tomorrow. So, on one hand, you could say that may not be a relevant run, but we adapted to it well enough to run a 4.10, which was third quickest of the session.

"I think, more importantly, it gives us a lot of confidence going into race day knowing that the changes we made resulted with a good run. And we just have to make four winning runs tomorrow."

Beckman faces Tony Pedregon in the opening round of Sunday's eliminations.

 

BECKMAN FINISHES POMONA IN THE SEMIS

POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 14, 2010) - Jack Beckman opened up the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season with a semifinal finish at the 50th annual NHRA Winternationals, driving the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger Funny Car.

After qualifying seventh with a 4.101/310.91 pass, Beckman dismissed Tony Pedregon in the opening round of eliminations with a 4.164/306.12, then defeated Del Worsham using a 4.183/304.32. Having enjoyed lane choice up to that point, he lost it to his semifinal round antagonist, 14-time Funny Car champion John Force.

Beckman trailed Force by a tick at the launch but soon struck the tires, as Force cruised to the victory with a 4.125/305.56 run. Beckman crossed the finish line in 5.658 seconds at 132.02 mph.

"We've made 18 runs together as a team," he said of his revamped team for 2010, including new crew chief Rahn Tobler. "It's a major change for Rahn to adapt to the parts and pieces that we had, and then for assistant John Collins to fit in with Rahn's philosophy on this. It's hard to complain.

"We all wanted to win the 50th annual Winternationals. And losing is never easy in this sport, but we're leaving in fourth place and we look like we've been chipping away at this tune-up. We knew we had to step it up.

"Unfortunately, the old John Force looks like he's back. They had lane choice, they had a bad hot rod, and we couldn't take a weak tune-up up there.

"We had an ignition issue before the semis. That's the cool thing about this sport. When everything is going perfect it's easy to be good. It's when a wrench gets thrown into the works and you watch how the team adapts to that and then takes that poker face back up for the next round that tells a lot.

"We were the last car into the lane for the semis, and everybody still did their jobs perfectly up there. I just can't wait for the next five days to be over so we can go to Phoenix and try it again."

Next up is the 26th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals in Chandler, Ariz., Feb. 19-21.