Joliet: Jack Beckman Saturday notes

BECKMAN DRIVES TO NO. 15 IN CHICAGO QUALIFYING

JOLIET, Ill. (June 7, 2008) - Jack Beckman survived a three-hour rain delay today to qualify the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car in No. 15 for the Route 66 NHRA Nationals.

He posted his quickest lap of the weekend, a 4.849-second elapsed time at 316.90 mph, in the final session following the rain delay and under the lights.

Beckman's other passes were a 6.402/144.01, a 4.851/315.19 and a 4.859/320.81. He will face Mark Oswald in the opening stanza of Sunday's eliminations.

"The good news is it went down the track our last three qualifying runs," said Beckman. "The odd thing is we got two night sessions because of the long rain delay here, which really throws qualifying out of kilter, because everybody can take a home-run swing when it's a night session.

"But we all get an equal chance. We need to have a better home-run swing so we can qualify better when we get those night session opportunities.

"To get to race Mark Oswald in his first race back in 10 years is awesome. Remember, I got to race Frank Hawley in his first race back. Hawley won the world championship in '82 and '83, Oswald did it in '84. I'm a historian, just not first round tomorrow."

-credit: dsr