Beckman bows out in pedalfest at U.S. Nationals

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2009 NHRA FULL THROTTLE DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 18 of 24
55th annual U.S. Nationals
Raceway Park at Indianapolis
Sept. 4-7, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Judy Stropus, 203-438-0501; cell 203-243-2438;
jstropus@earthlink.net

BECKMAN BOWS OUT IN PEDALFEST AT U.S. NATIONALS

INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 7, 2009) - Jack Beckman, the 2008 Funny Car runner-up at
the U.S. Nationals, bowed out of this year's 55th annual running of the
historic event after he and Mike Neff performed a pedalfest for the fans in
the opening round of eliminations.

Beckman, who had qualified 14th, came out on the losing end of the contest
in the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge against No. 3 qualifier Neff,
who recovered first to reach the finish line in 4.897 seconds at 194.55 mph,
while Beckman followed with a 5.725/138.87.

He slipped back to fifth place in the point standings, where he'll start the
Countdown to 1 playoffs, which begin at the next event in Charlotte for the
final six events of the year.

"All losses hurt, but there's some that just sting more than others. That
one stung," said Beckman. "We had one strike against us not qualifying well.
When you go in 14th and you're running against a good car like Mike Neff's,
you know you've got to be perfect. We had to go up there aggressive and we
smoked the tires and they smoked the tires.

"The problem is, you don't know in advance if you can back the car down and
get down the track. When it turns into a throttle-pedaling race - which is
exciting as a driver - and he's way out there and yours is smoking and
heading towards the wall, getting sideways, there is just no way you are
going to catch him.

"There's not a real good face we can put on it, but we've locked a spot in
the Countdown and we're in fifth place coming out of here. We've still got
all of the right people and parts. We'll go to Charlotte, where we won it
last year. If we can go to Charlotte and win again, we will be right back up
there as a top-three car and we'll go from there.

"It's just very frustrating right now and it's tough to let down companies
like Mail Terminal Services and Valvoline, so we'll try to make it up in
Charlotte."

Next up is the second annual NHRA Nationals in Charlotte, N.C., Sept. 18-20.

UNOFFICIAL FUNNY CAR POINT STANDINGS, after 18 of 24 events (Countdown
points in parentheses)
1. Tony Pedregon, 1364 (2110)
2. Ron Capps, 1250 (2080)
3. Ashley Force Hood, 1245 (2070) - winner today
4. Bob Tasca, 1061 (2060)
5. Jack Beckman, 1027 (2050)
6. Tim Wilkerson, 1014 (2040)
7. John Force, 993    1013 (2030)
8. Del Worsham, 963 (2020)
9. Mike Neff, 928 (2010)
10. Robert Hight, 861 (2000) - runner-up today
11. Cruz Pedregon, 856
12. Matt Hagan, 801

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