Beckman to tap into his Sportsman success in Sonoma
DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2009 NHRA FULL THROTTLE DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 15 of 24
FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals
Infineon Raceway
Sonoma, Calif.
July 24-26, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Judy Stropus, 203-438-0501; cell 203-243-2438;
jstropus@earthlink.net
BECKMAN TO TAP INTO HIS SPORTSMAN SUCCESS IN SONOMA
SONOMA, Calif. (July 23, 2009) - Jack Beckman, the two-time season Funny Car
winner in the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, will be tapping
into what he's learned from his Sportsman racing success here at Infineon
Raceway at this weekend's FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals.
In only his third full season competing in the Funny Car category driving
the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge for Don Schumacher Racing,
Beckman's eight national-event wins in 15 final rounds do not include a
victory here. He has, however, won here in the Sportsman category, in which
he claimed the 2003 Super Comp world championship.
"As a Sportsman I raced a lot in Sonoma," said Beckman, who stands fourth in
the Funny Car class points rankings. "It's got a lot of meaning for me, not
just for that but we're going to take part in the Eric Medlen Tribute dinner
tonight and meet all his friends and family form Oakdale, his hometown.
That's always sad, but it will be a warm evening as a tribute to a lost
friend.
"I've won at Sonoma in my Sportsman car several times. My last divisional
win there was in 2004 over ŒHot Rodą Fuller in the final round in Super
Comp. That was while I was going through my chemotherapy," added Beckman,
who survived his battle with cancer and is in remission.
"What always gave us fits in Sportsman in Sonoma in trying to dial our cars
in was the way the wind direction changed and the way the micro-currents
would come in. So, you'd get cool and warm pockets of air coming in, which
I'm sure is going to give similar trouble to the nitro cars. The difference
is, in a Sportsman car we had to try to dial a time in, in a nitro car you
have to try to dial the horsepower to the track. They're two different
challenges from a similar cause.
"In Denver (where he reached the semifinals in the first race of the Western
Swing, which includes Denver, Seattle and Sonoma), we had a great tune-up,
but we knew it wouldn't necessarily translate to sea level. We changed some
things around with our horsepower in Seattle and we could just never back it
down enough. So, we think that we've got a baseline now very similar to what
we started the weekend with in Norwalk (Ohio) (where he won). We just hope
we have the same results."
Mail Terminal Services continues its popular "Mail From Home" campaign in
2009, supporting the U.S. troops serving in the war zones. In the past two
NHRA seasons the campaign has sent over 195,000 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.
In 2009 the "Mail From Home" program has been challenged to exceed the
previous records of cards distributed to hit a 120,000-card record for one
season.
JACK BECKMAN QUICK FACTS:
* No. 4 in 2009 Funny Car standings, after two victories (Atlanta; Norwalk,
Ohio), one runner-up, two semifinal, five quarterfinal and four first-rounds
in 14 events
* His 2009 round win-loss record is 20-12
* Qualified No. 13 in 2008 Sonoma, lost second round to Gary Densham
* No. 3 in 2008 Funny Car point standings, with three victories - Phoenix,
Reading, Concord - in seven final rounds
* Was bumped out of the 2007 Countdown to Four playoffs standings at the
Richmond, Va., event, after his teammates Gary Scelzi and Ron Capps reached
the semifinal round. Ended the season No. 5 in points
* In his 78 national events in Top Fuel and Funny Car, he has won eight
times in 15 final rounds (all in Funny Car), and has a career round win-loss
record of 89-65
* Is the 2007 U.S. Smokeless Showdown winner ($100,000 bonus event held at
U.S. Nationals)
* Set national elapsed-time record of 4.662 seconds and national speed
record of 333.66 mph at final 2006 event in Pomona, Calif. The ET record
has since been eclipsed. Beckman still holds the speed record
* As a Funny Car rookie in the last five races of 2006, he qualified No. 1
once (Pomona 2), reached two final rounds (Las Vegas 2 and Pomona 2), won
once (Vegas 2), and set both ends of the national record (Pomona 2)
* Residence: North Hills, Calif.
* Hometown: Granada Hills, Calif.
* Date of birth: June 28, 1966
* Married, Jenna (wedding date 11/7/06), son Jason Russell (3/8/07)
* Height/weight: 6'0", 185 lbs.
* Former instructor and current consultant at Frank Hawley's NHRA
Championship Drag Racing School; former Sergeant in U.S. Air Force
(1984-88); cancer survivor; licensed in nine different NHRA categories
* First Start in TF: Las Vegas 1 2005
* First Start in FC: , Dallas, Texas, 2006
* Competed in only 12 TF events in 2005, ended season 15th in points
* Career-best FC (quarter-mile) elapsed time: 4.662 seconds (Pomona 2 '06)
* Career-best FC (quarter-mile) speed: 333.66 mph (Pomona 2 '06)
* Career-best TF (quarter-mile) elapsed time: 4.563 seconds (TF, Brainerd
2005)
* Career-best (quarter-mile) TF speed: 324.28 mph (TF, Brainerd 2005)
* In 2003 won Super Comp world championship in Lucas Oil Series and Division
7 Super Comp championship
* Leads 14-time champion John Force in head-to-head round wins: 9-5
SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, July 24 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 4 and 6:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, July 25 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 11:30 a.m. and 2:15
p.m.
SUNDAY, July 26 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.
FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11 a.m.
TELEVISION:
Saturday, July 25, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying
coverage at 6 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, July 26, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will air NHRA Race Day at 11 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, July 26, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of final round
eliminations at 9 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE (Analog feed):
Saturday, July 25, 12:30 - 1 a.m. (ET), Galaxy 18 / Transponder 23K (12160
MHz, vertical)
Saturday, July 25, 8:30 - 9 p.m. (ET), Galaxy 18 / Transponder 23K (12160
MHz, vertical)
Sunday, July 26, 9 - 9:30 p.m. (ET), Galaxy 18 / Transponder 23K (12160 MHz,
vertical)
Video news release contains race action highlights each day and winnersą
interviews on Sunday.
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