[coverattach=1]NORTH HILLS, Calif. (March 24, 2009) - In only his third full season as a professional Funny Car driver in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, "Fast" Jack Beckman has left his mark on the sport. His short Funny Car career has produced six national event wins in 12 final rounds, two national records (one has since been eclipsed) and a third in the 2008 point standings. His 2009 season is off to a slow start in the first three events, but he's expecting this weekend's NHRA Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park to be the turning point for him and the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge team.
"Houston is one of the original super tracks, so it's always cool to get there," said Beckman, who has not won in Houston, and is 11th in this season's rankings. "It's also neat that this is our first national event in this area of the country this year, so you always get the fans who have been hanging out all winter starving for drag racing who are really excited to see our cars and teams for the first time in a long time.
"We've run OK this year, but we haven't necessarily benefited from any racing luck,” added Beckman, who’s scored one first-round and two quarterfinal finishes so far in 2009. “It's very early in the season and we have plenty of time to get back on our game, but you don't want to let too many races pass you by. And I've said before that there isn't any reason that by the time we leave Vegas (the race immediately following Houston) we shouldn't have a trophy in our hands. Hopefully, it will happen in Houston.
"The bar has been set pretty high with our Don Schumacher Racing team Funny Cars this year. Matt Hagan is coming off a semifinal finish in Gainesville and Ron Capps already has two wins. We want to hold up our end of the deal here."
Mail Terminal Services will continue 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 120,000-card record for one season.
JACK BECKMAN QUICK FACTS:
* No. 11 in 2009 Funny Car standings, after one first-round and two quarterfinal finishes in three events
* No. 3 in 2008 Funny Car point standings, with three victories - Phoenix, Reading, Concord - in seven final rounds
* His 2008 round win-loss record is 33-18
* Qualified No. 8 in Houston in '08. Lost first round to John Force
* 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 67 national events in Top Fuel and Funny Car, he has won six times in 12 final rounds (all in Funny Car), and has a career round win-loss record of 71-56
* 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 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: North Hills, 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.
* Serves as instructor 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 elapsed time: 4.662 seconds (Pomona 2 '06)
* Career-best FC speed: 333.66 mph (Pomona 2 '06)
* Career-best TF elapsed time: 4.563 seconds (TF, Brainerd 2005)
* Career-best 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: 6-4
SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, March 27 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 1:30 & 5 p.m. SATURDAY, March 28 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. SUNDAY, March 29 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m. FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11 a.m.
TELEVISION:
Saturday, March 28, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise one hour of qualifying highlights at 8 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, March 29, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise NHRA Race Day, a 30-minute news magazine show, at 11a.m. (ET).
Sunday, March 29, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise three hours and thirty minutes of coverage starting at 4:30 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE (Analog feed):
Friday, March 27, 9 - 9:30 p.m. (ET), AMC 15 / Transponder 1K (11720 MHz, vertical)
Saturday, March 28, 8 - 8:30p.m. (ET), AMC 15 / Transponder 1K (11720 MHz, vertical)
Sunday, March 29, 8 - 8:30 p.m. (ET), AMC 15 / Transponder 1K (11720 MHz, vertical)
Video news release contains race action highlights each day and winners' interviews on Sunday.
"Houston is one of the original super tracks, so it's always cool to get there," said Beckman, who has not won in Houston, and is 11th in this season's rankings. "It's also neat that this is our first national event in this area of the country this year, so you always get the fans who have been hanging out all winter starving for drag racing who are really excited to see our cars and teams for the first time in a long time.
"We've run OK this year, but we haven't necessarily benefited from any racing luck,” added Beckman, who’s scored one first-round and two quarterfinal finishes so far in 2009. “It's very early in the season and we have plenty of time to get back on our game, but you don't want to let too many races pass you by. And I've said before that there isn't any reason that by the time we leave Vegas (the race immediately following Houston) we shouldn't have a trophy in our hands. Hopefully, it will happen in Houston.
"The bar has been set pretty high with our Don Schumacher Racing team Funny Cars this year. Matt Hagan is coming off a semifinal finish in Gainesville and Ron Capps already has two wins. We want to hold up our end of the deal here."
Mail Terminal Services will continue 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 120,000-card record for one season.
JACK BECKMAN QUICK FACTS:
* No. 11 in 2009 Funny Car standings, after one first-round and two quarterfinal finishes in three events
* No. 3 in 2008 Funny Car point standings, with three victories - Phoenix, Reading, Concord - in seven final rounds
* His 2008 round win-loss record is 33-18
* Qualified No. 8 in Houston in '08. Lost first round to John Force
* 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 67 national events in Top Fuel and Funny Car, he has won six times in 12 final rounds (all in Funny Car), and has a career round win-loss record of 71-56
* 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 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: North Hills, 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.
* Serves as instructor 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 elapsed time: 4.662 seconds (Pomona 2 '06)
* Career-best FC speed: 333.66 mph (Pomona 2 '06)
* Career-best TF elapsed time: 4.563 seconds (TF, Brainerd 2005)
* Career-best 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: 6-4
SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, March 27 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 1:30 & 5 p.m. SATURDAY, March 28 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. SUNDAY, March 29 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m. FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11 a.m.
TELEVISION:
Saturday, March 28, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise one hour of qualifying highlights at 8 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, March 29, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise NHRA Race Day, a 30-minute news magazine show, at 11a.m. (ET).
Sunday, March 29, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise three hours and thirty minutes of coverage starting at 4:30 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE (Analog feed):
Friday, March 27, 9 - 9:30 p.m. (ET), AMC 15 / Transponder 1K (11720 MHz, vertical)
Saturday, March 28, 8 - 8:30p.m. (ET), AMC 15 / Transponder 1K (11720 MHz, vertical)
Sunday, March 29, 8 - 8:30 p.m. (ET), AMC 15 / Transponder 1K (11720 MHz, vertical)
Video news release contains race action highlights each day and winners' interviews on Sunday.
