Beckman set for Chicago run in new DSR-1 chassis
DON SCHUMACHER RACING 2010 NHRA FULL THROTTLE DRAG RACING SERIES Round 10 of 23 13th annual United Association Route 66 NHRA Nationals Route 66 Raceway Joliet, Ill. June 4-6, 2010 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Judy Stropus, 203-438-0501; cell 203-243-2438; jstropus@earthlink.net BECKMAN SET FOR CHICAGO RUN IN NEW DSR-1 CHASSIS NORCO, Calif. (June 2, 2010) - Jack Beckman and the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger Funny Car team arrive for this weekend's 13th annual Route 66 NHRA Nationals in Joliet, Ill., to race the latest version of the initial 2008 DSR-1 chassis design. With the original DSR-1 iteration put to pasture, Beckman is confident the new chassis will provide the improved performance the team needs to move up in the points and be assured a spot in the top 10 to contend for the class crown in the Countdown to 1 playoffs (the final six events of the year). Beginning this weekend, the schedule hosts four back-to-back events, followed by one weekend off, then the three-race Western Swing. "This weekend will be the first event of four in a row, the first of seven in eight weeks, and we have a brand-new car," said Beckman, who is fifth in the Funny Car rankings. "We really looked at the big picture with this car and did a lot of things to take weight off and redistribute weight. "All the things that we've done should make for a better car, but it's still an untested car. So, it's going to be a little bit of nail-biting, and not just on the first run but the first few races, because a different car can respond to changes differently. This is going to be a very, very steep and fast learning curve for us and I think (crew chiefs) Rahn Tobler and John Collins are up to the task. "We're coming back to the Chicago area, which, in the match-race days, was the iconic place, and now Route 66 Raceway is one of the more iconic tracks. And we're going to see one of the largest Funny Car fields of the year, from all appearances. Route 66 has never let anybody down in terms of hosting Funny Car shows, and it doesn't look like it's going to disappoint. "The paint scheme this weekend features Valvoline," added Beckman. "In our first race of this year with the brand-new Mail Terminal Services body, we put it in the winner's circle in Phoenix. I would love to get Valvoline their first win with their body on the debut of this new DSR-1 chassis." Mail Terminal Services will continue to send boxes of post cards of support and encouragement, along with hand-out cards of DSR drivers, National Dragster and Drag Racing Action magazines to soldiers overseas. This year the program expands the opportunity to participate beyond just the NHRA fans and are including schools and service organizations. If a school or organization would like to write post cards of encouragement to the U.S. troops, the request should be sent to mts.mfh@gmail.com. MTS will be pleased to send post cards for the project and signed handout cards from Funny Car driver Jack Beckman and a Certificate of Service for the school or organization. To find out more about Mail Terminal Services go to www.mailterminals.com <http://www.mailterminals.com/> . JACK BECKMAN QUICK FACTS: * No. 5 in 2010 Funny Car points after nine events: including two semifinal finishes, a victory in Phoenix and a runner-up in St. Louis * Has never won at Route 66 Raceway * Qualified No. 15 in 2009 Joliet; lost first round to Ashley Force Hood * Ended 2009 No. 5 in point standings, winning two events in five final rounds (Atlanta; Norwalk, Ohio) * Entered 2009 Countdown to 1 in fifth place * His 2009 round win-loss record is 29-22 * 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 97 national events in Top Fuel and Funny Car, he has won nine times in 19 final rounds (all in Funny Car), and has a career round win-loss record of 110-83 * 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 elapsed time racing to 1000 feet is 4.040 seconds (Concord 1 '09) * Career-best speed racing to 1000 feet is 313.66 mph (Concord 1 '10) * 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: 11-6 (2-1 in final rounds) - DOES NOT INCLUDE CONCORD FOUR-WIDE EVENT WEEKEND SCHEDULE: Full Throttle Series qualifying sessions are scheduled for noon and 2:45 p.m. on Friday, June 4, and will continue at 1 p.m. and 3p.m. on Saturday, June 5. Final professional eliminations begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, June 6. TELEVISION: ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 11 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, June 5. On Sunday, June 6, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will feature NHRA Race Day, a 30-minute pre-race show, at 10 a.m. (ET), and three of eliminations coverage at 4 p.m. (ET). SATELLITE NEWS FEED: Friday, June 4, 8:30-9 p.m. (ET) AMC 9 / Transponder 5 K Saturday, June 5, 7:30-8 p.m. (ET) AMC 9 / Transponder 5 K Sunday, June 6, 7:30-8 p.m. (ET) AMC 9 / Transponder 5 K Downlink Frequency: AMC 9 / Transponder 5K (11800 MHz, Horizontal) This is an ANALOG feed ON THE WEB: Get instant results, access to photos, video and audio clips and the latest news updates from every NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event on the Internet at www.nhra.com. ***