Beckman bumped out in Richmond first round

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

BECKMAN BUMPED OUT IN RICHMOND FIRST ROUND

DINWIDDIE, Va. (Oct. 11, 2009) - Jack Beckman, who scored his first No. 1
qualifier of the year and the second of his career by posting a career-best
4.044/305.22 lap in qualifying, saw his hopes of earning his first Funny Car
championship diminish after being bumped out in the opening round of the
NHRA Virginia Nationals.

In the first pairing of Funny Car eliminations at Virginia Motorsports Park,
Beckman struck the tires on the Valvoline Engine Guarantee/Mail Terminal
Services Dodge at the 330-foot mark of the 1000-foot drag strip and pedaled
to a 4.582-second loss at 257.58 mph, while part-time racer John Smith
claimed the victory with a 4.259/291.01.

Beckman fell to fifth place in the Countdown to 1 playoffs standings with
that result, and ended the day in sixth place, when runner-up finisher Tim
Wilkerson moved around him. With only two events remaining in the playoffs
before a champion is named, Beckman remains on the hot seat.

"We're running out of rounds," he said. "There's no excuses. We overpowered
the lane, and we're down to eight rounds of racing right now to the end of
the year. It's not over yet, but now we have to go win two races, which is
doable. We've won back-to-back races and I do think we've got a car capable
- and we just proved it - of running at the top of the heap. If we can get
back that consistency that had been our trademark we can win those two
races.

"We're going to have to hope the other cars stumble right now, as that's
going to be our only shot for the championship.

"We like to run first for a couple of reasons," he added, of the team's
choice to be in the first pair out. "First round, when the sun's out, the
track doesn't do anything but get warmer. And, if you run right after the
Top Fuel dragsters, a lot of times the starting line, because the cars
smooth it out with their longer wheelbase, is a little bit better. I don't
think that that bit us.

"Our teammate Matt Hagan's team looks like they had the same problem several
pairs later (similar result for the No. 3 qualifier in the right lane), so
we can't second guess ourselves. All we can do is look at the data and
figure out what we need to do better next race. But there really isn't any
point in hitting our heads and getting frustrated about it, because they're
not going to let us rerun it. We just have to look forward, we have to be
smart about it and we have to go out and win two races."

Next up is the ninth annual NHRA Las Vegas Nationals at The Strip at Las
Vegas Motor Speedway, Oct. 30-Nov. 1.

UNOFFICIAL FUNNY CAR POINT STANDINGS, after four of six Countdown to 1
playoffs events:
1. Robert Hight, 2362
2. Ashley Force Hood, 2349
3. Tony Pedregon, 2314
4. Ron Capps, 2299
5. Tim Wilkerson, 2280 (runner-up today)
6. Jack Beckman, 2276
7. Bob Tasca III, 2259
8. Del Worsham, 2227 (winner today)
9. John Force, 2216
10. Mike Neff, 2203
11. Cruz Pedregon, 1034
12. Matt Hagan, 1000

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