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BAYTOWN, Texas (March 29, 2008) - Jack Beckman moved into the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car points lead today when he qualified the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger R/T in No. 8 and Robert Hight, the points leader coming into this fourth event of the season, did not qualify. Beckman is now nine points ahead of second-place Cruz Pedregon heading into Sunday's eliminations.
Beckman posted his quickest pass of 4.906 seconds at 314.31 mph in the Friday evening session. His other laps included a tire-smoking 11.353/71.47, another 11.210/77.01 and finally a 4.956/303.03, the third quickest of the final round. He faces 14-time NHRA Funny Car champion and No. 9 qualifier John Force in the opening round, holding the edge over Force in round wins: 4-3.
"It's a good pairing. It's interesting," said Beckman. "I think all of the motorhead people have analytical minds and we're always thinking ahead sometimes, not necessarily for our own best interest. Robert Hight not qualifying gives us a temporary points lead. But, really, the only time it matters is Sunday afternoon at the season finale in Pomona. It would be nice to leave tomorrow with the points lead if for nothing else than the psychological factor.
"We weren't consistent. We went 11 seconds, four seconds, 11 seconds, four seconds. But the nice thing is up until this last pass we hadn't been down a hot race track here in Houston. Now we know we can go down the hot track, which it will most likely be tomorrow. We're starting off against the best Funny Car racer in the universe, which is great. We like it that way. That means we'll earn our keep. And we have lane choice. I'm excited."
BECKMAN SNARES NO. 8 IN HOUSTON QUALIFYING, MOVES INTO POINTS LEAD
BAYTOWN, Texas (March 29, 2008) - Jack Beckman moved into the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car points lead today when he qualified the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger R/T in No. 8 and Robert Hight, the points leader coming into this fourth event of the season, did not qualify. Beckman is now nine points ahead of second-place Cruz Pedregon heading into Sunday's eliminations.
Beckman posted his quickest pass of 4.906 seconds at 314.31 mph in the Friday evening session. His other laps included a tire-smoking 11.353/71.47, another 11.210/77.01 and finally a 4.956/303.03, the third quickest of the final round. He faces 14-time NHRA Funny Car champion and No. 9 qualifier John Force in the opening round, holding the edge over Force in round wins: 4-3.
"It's a good pairing. It's interesting," said Beckman. "I think all of the motorhead people have analytical minds and we're always thinking ahead sometimes, not necessarily for our own best interest. Robert Hight not qualifying gives us a temporary points lead. But, really, the only time it matters is Sunday afternoon at the season finale in Pomona. It would be nice to leave tomorrow with the points lead if for nothing else than the psychological factor.
"We weren't consistent. We went 11 seconds, four seconds, 11 seconds, four seconds. But the nice thing is up until this last pass we hadn't been down a hot race track here in Houston. Now we know we can go down the hot track, which it will most likely be tomorrow. We're starting off against the best Funny Car racer in the universe, which is great. We like it that way. That means we'll earn our keep. And we have lane choice. I'm excited."
