Beckman upset in Memphis first round

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2009 NHRA FULL THROTTLE DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 3 of six in Countdown to 1 Playoffs
Round 21 of 24 for season
NHRA MID-SOUTH NATIONALS
Memphis Motorsports Park
Oct. 2-4, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

BECKMAN UPSET IN MEMPHIS FIRST ROUND

MEMPHIS (Oct. 5, 2009) - Jack Beckman, steering the Valvoline/Mail Terminal
Services Dodge Funny Car, bowed out in the opening round of eliminations in
Monday's running of the NHRA Mid-South Nationals at Memphis Motorsports
Park.

Following a long clean-up after Daniel Wilkerson crashed into the opposite
guard wall (he escaped injury) in his first-round match-up against Beckman's
teammate Ron Capps, Beckman and Jeff Arend were the second pair out. With
lane choice, as the No. 2 qualifier, Beckman took off a tick after Arend,
then both drivers struck the tires and pedaled their respective cars aiming
for the finish line. Arend recovered first to take the win with a
4.646-second elapsed time at 201.82 mph. Beckman followed with a
4.745/260.56.

With that, Beckman slipped to fourth in the Countdown to 1 playoffs
standings.

(Note: Jeff Arend won the second national event of his career since 1996
today, against Tony Pedregon.)

"It didn't affect us." Beckman said of the long delay. "Sometimes when
there's a long delay and the sun is out, especially first round, the
conditions can change dramatically. That wasn't the case for us.

"And the race track was OK. You saw several good runs after us, but you saw
several that smoked the tires and had to pedal.

"What it looks like to me is it was one of those conditions where the
tune-up window is very small, where if you hit it right the car's going to
fly, if you miss it's going to go out there and shake and smoke. And thatıs
what happened with us.

"We missed it. It stings, because we're down to a very small number of
rounds right now and to watch so many of the other Countdown cars get the
win light first round was tough, too.

"We have to go back to the final round in Richmond. Thatıs the only way
we're going to be a championship contender. It's time to put up or shut up.
Weıre ready.²

Next up is the Fourth Annual NHRA Virginia Nationals in Richmond, Va., Oct.
9-11.

UNOFFICIAL FUNNY CAR POINT STANDINGS, after three of six Countdown to 1
playoffs events:
1. Ashley Force Hood, 2308
2. Robert Hight, 2305
3. Tony Pedregon, 2282 (runner-up today)
4. Jack Beckman, 2235
5. Ron Capps, 2220
6. Bob Tasca III, 2206
7. John Force, 2184
8. Tim Wilkerson, 2181
9. Mike Neff, 2130
10. Del Worsham, 2116
11. Cruz Pedregon, 1003
12. Matt Hagan 961

***