Closing the gap is Beckman's goal in Richmond
DON SCHUMACHER RACING 2009 NHRA FULL THROTTLE DRAG RACING SERIES Round 4 of six in Countdown to 1 Playoffs Round 22 of 24 for season Fourth Annual NHRA Virginia Nationals Virginia Motorsports Park Dinwiddie, Va. Oct. 9-11, 2009 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Judy Stropus, 203-438-0501; cell 203-243-2438; jstropus@earthlink.net CLOSING THE GAP IS BECKMAN'S GOAL IN RICHMOND DINWIDDIE, Va. (Oct. 8, 2009) - After making a charge into third place in the standings, then falling to fourth in the third of six events of the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Countdown to 1 playoffs, Jack Beckman is aiming to close the gap at this weekend's NHRA Virginia Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park, located south of Richmond, Va. Driving the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Service Dodge Funny Car, the two-time season winner is just 73 points behind leader Ashley Force Hood, which relates to four rounds (20 points per round win), with 12 rounds of racing remaining in the season before a champion is crowned. Not to mention the opportunity to earn bonus points in each qualifying session (three, two and one points for the top three) and for setting and backing up a national elapsed-time record (20 points) in the same event. "With the Countdown, we don't really need to over-dramatize anything because there's a lot of drama going on," said Beckman, who was runner-up at VMP last year to Cruz Pedregon. "We're 73 points behind. We can make that up in one race. But, we can't afford to lose more rounds to those drivers in front of us (Force Hood, Robert Hight and Tony Pedregon). We have 12 rounds of racing left and we have to close that gap in Richmond. "I've said this before, by Vegas (the penultimate event of the season), the contenders will be separated from the pretenders, so we have to make that final round in Richmond. No pressure." 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 125,000-card record for one season. JACK BECKMAN QUICK FACTS: * No. 4 in Countdown to 1 playoffs standings, after three of six events * 73 points out of first place, with three races remaining * No. 5 in 2009 Funny Car "regular season," after two victories (Atlanta; Norwalk, Ohio), one runner-up, three semifinal, five quarterfinal and seven first-rounds in "regular season" * His 2009 round win-loss record is 26-19 * Qualified No. 7 at 2008 NHRA Virginia Nationals, runner-up to Cruz Pedregon * 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 85 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 95-72 * 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 (on quarter-mile) 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: Norco, 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, Oct. 9 - Professional Qualifying Sessions at 1:30 and 4 p.m. SATURDAY, Oct. 10 - Professional Qualifying Sessions at noon and 2:30 p.m. SUNDAY, Oct. 11 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m. Final Eliminations begin at 11 a.m. TELEVISION: Saturday, Oct. 10, ESPN and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 10:30 p.m. (ET). Sunday, Oct. 11, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise NHRA Race Day, a 30-minute pre-race show at 11 a.m. (ET). Sunday, Oct. 11, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of eliminations at 7p.m. (ET). ***