NHRA

Jack Beckman Joliet Final Report

Route 66 Raceway

Edited: Jul 12, 2011, 1:02 AM

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Jack Beckman Collects Semifinal-Round Finish At Route 66 NHRA Nationals

Piloting his Valvoline/Aaron’s Dream Machine Dodge Charger R/T charger, “Fast” Jack Beckman recorded a semifinal-round appearance Sunday in the 14th-annual Route 66 NHRA Nationals here at Route 66 Raceway.

Jack Beckman

Photo by: Ted Rossino

Beckman faced off with eventual-race winner and points-leader Mike Neff in the semis on a hot, tricky race track. The Southern California resident laid down a clean 4.314-second pass at 285.53 miles per hour, but it was a bit slower than Neff’s 4.252-second trip at 296.05 mph.

“Our objective was about completely fulfilled,” said the Don Schumacher Racing driver afterwards. “We were able to put points between everyone and us but Mike Neff.

“It truly seems like this is a year of the haves. There have only been four winners (Beckman has two) in Funny Car through 11 races which is pretty amazing given the level of competition that is out here.”

En route to his confrontation with Neff, Beckman had to slide by Neff’s John Force Racing teammate, Robert Hight, and Melanie Troxel.

“Both of those races were tough,” said Beckman, who remained second in the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Funny Car standings. “With the weather being so hot, the whole weekend was incredibly challenging. You have to give my guys tremendous credit – they worked their tails off and were able to get positive results.

“We’re going to test here tomorrow to get ready for the Western Swing (consecutive weekends in Denver, Sonoma and Seattle) which starts in a couple of weeks. We want to go out and win some more races.”

When Beckman was not strapped into his 8,000-horsepower race car this weekend, his mind was clearly on the condition of his wife, Jenna, and his soon-to-be-born second child.

“My wife is going to be delivering our second baby in a couple of days and, unfortunately, she is dealing with some complications at the moment,” he said. “I pray and hope everything will be okay.”

By: don schumacher racing

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