BECKMAN BANKS NO. 5 IN NORWALK QUALIFYING


NORWALK, Ohio (June 28, 2008) - Jack Beckman earned a fine birthday present today when he qualified the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger R/T in No. 5 at the Second Annual NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio, his highest starting position of the 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series season.

He recorded a pair of solid passes in the only two qualifying sessions held today for the event. Friday's two rounds were cancelled because of water seeping onto the track. His first was a 5.029-second lap at 291.07 mph. Beckman then tore down the track in his final attempt to register a strong 4.965/300.26 to claim No. 5.

"That's the highest we've qualified all year," said Beckman, who turned 42 today. "That's awesome. Also important is that we ran good in both qualifying sessions. With the seepage problem we lost all day Friday and you say, Well, so did everybody, but we're dealing with a new chassis and a new tune-up so we really want to get as many runs as possible. But it is so encouraging to go down both lanes in slightly different conditions and run very well relevant to the rest of the cars out here.

"No easy draws, but now is the time. Our backs are against the wall, as I've said before," added Beckman, who is 13th in the point standings. "We have to start being responsible and in charge of our own destiny. So, it would be nice to begin picking up win lights starting tomorrow.

"We need to make good runs. We need to race the track, not the other lane."

And in that other lane will be Cruz Pedregon in first round of eliminations on Sunday.