REPORTS FROM PHOENIX
BECKMAN COLLECTS NO. 7 IN PHOENIX QUALIFYING
CHANDLER, Ariz. (Feb. 20, 2010) - Racing the newly-themed "To Afghanistan With Love" Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Funny Car, Jack Beckman earned the no. 7 spot in qualifying for the 26th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals today, the second round of the 23-event NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.
Only three qualifying sessions were completed this weekend, as rain cancelled one today and delayed the second. Beckman made the best of that one run, posting his quickest pass of the weekend, a 4.133-second elapsed time at 307.30 mph, to move him up from 15th to seventh. His other passes included a 5.790/118.50, and a 4.747/284.51.
"It was an interesting final session, because we had an enormous delay, with us in the water box, ready to go," said Beckman. "Forty-minute cleanup. And then, two pairs after we ran, it started raining again. We could have lost that session.
"We found out where we needed to be. We asked the Valvoline/MTS Dodge a question on that run and it told us, so now we'll play off of that.
"It would have been tough, if we ended up 15th or 16th, to step up to take a swing at the top two cars tomorrow. But, we're in the middle of the pack and we have lane choice and I think we're very comfortable going into tomorrow.
"If we can get by first round and second round, by the time we get paired against the higher-qualified cars, the car should have told us a little bit more about what it wants.
"A huge sigh of relief at the end of the run and it will be an awesome debut for the ‘To Afghanistan With Love’ car. It would be way cool to win in its first race out."
Beckman will meet up with Bob Tasca III in the opening round of Sunday's eliminations.
BECKMAN TO FACE JOHN FORCE IN PHOENIX FINAL
CHANDLER, Ariz. (Feb. 21, 2010) - Driving the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger Funny Car with the theme "To Afghanistan With Love," Jack Beckman will face John Force in the final round on Monday at the 26th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals.
The Funny Car and Top Fuel finals were postponed because of lateness caused by rain delays and on-track incidents today in the second race of the 23-event NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.
En route to the final round, Beckman dismissed Bob Tasca III with a 4.132/307.37, then ousted his teammate Matt Hagan in the second round with a 4.136/303.78. And, despite posting a less-than-stellar 5.023/262.64, he eliminated Tony Pedregon in the semifinal stanza.
Entering the final round,
Beckman holds a round-win record against Force of 9-6.
BECKMAN WINS HIS FIRST OF YEAR IN PHOENIX
CHANDLER, Ariz. (Feb. 21, 2010) - In a rain-delayed Monday race at the 26th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals, “Fast” Jack Beckman collected his ninth NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series national-event win in his 18th career final round, by outpacing 14-time John Force in the final round.
Driving the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger Funny Car, honoring the U.S. Troops overseas with its “To Afghanistan With Love” theme, Beckman produced a stellar run of 4.121 seconds at 301.13 mph to defeat Force’s tire-smoking 6.316/106.24, earning his first win of the 2010 season and his second at this venue (2008).
“I always wondered what it was like for the pro drivers who won a delayed race and nobody was in the stands,” said Beckman, who is now second in the point standings. “You like to get that fan fare of everybody cheering when you’re coming back down the return road. That is an irreplaceable feeling. We didn’t have that today.
“This victory was special for a couple of reasons. We overcame a lot of adversity this weekend, we weathered the storm and beat John Force in the final.
“It was a very tragic weekend and our hearts go out to the family who lost their loved one on Sunday. It’s very difficult for all the racers when something like that happens. To overcome the heavy emotions that go with that and have all the guys go out and do their jobs perfectly is amazingly rewarding.
“And then to be able to keep our focus during all these delays, and there were lots and lots of delays. It was not just yesterday, but today as well. And to be able to beat John Force when John is back in his prime, was also rewarding.
“Some have argued that he has spread himself too thin the last few years and perhaps he wasn’t the same as that John Force that dominated for so long. I think car-wise and driver-wise he’s back at the top of his game. So, for us to go out there and beat him when that team has been running so well, I think we’re making a statement and making it early.”
Next up is the 41st annual NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla., March 13-15, 2010.
UNOFFICIAL FUNNY CAR POINT STANDINGS, AFTER TWO EVENTS, as of 2/22/10:
1. John Force, 224 (runner-up
today)
2. Jack Beckman, 187 (winner today)
3. Ron Capps, 148
4. Robert Hight, 121
5. Matt Hagan, 120
6. Ashley Force Hood, 111
7. Bob Tasca III, 111
8. Tony Pedregon, 104
9. Del Worsham, 97
10. Jim Head, 86
