The driver of the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Funny Car has qualified for every race so far this year and stands fourth in the point standings. At this stage in 2008, despite having notched an early win in Phoenix, he had failed to qualify twice, including at Bristol.

"We're actually just past the quarter-way point of this season and we're sitting in fourth place," said Beckman, in only his third full term competing in the Funny Car class for Don Schumacher Racing. "We're ahead of where we were at this time last year (11th).

"Something else that I think is interesting," added Beckman, "is that until we get to Denver I believe this is the first time we're racing at all these tracks this year to 1000 feet. It doesn't make a whole lot of difference other than the fact that the crew chiefs have found a way to shorten the fuse up a little bit on the cars. Instead of eating themselves up at 1250 feet, some of them are eating themselves up at 950 feet.

"We have not stepped on our car in that way and we're not going to do that until we've used up a couple of our four allotted test sessions and figure out what can make the car faster in the earlier part of the run. And, in fact, we're kind of taking a step backwards. We have been testing some things during qualifying runs. We're going to go back more to the combo that we ran in the 1000-foot era last year, with which we arguably have been the most successful Funny Car to 1000 feet, and make sure that this 2009 chassis responds to that. Once we're satisfied, we're going to build on it with a lot of test sessions.

"Bristol isn't called Thunder Valley for nothing," said Beckman of the thunderous echo resounding in the valley where the dragway sits when the nitro cars take off. "So, it's always dramatic to race in Bristol. Also, I'm going to have my father and a lot of relatives from Maryland coming out for this race. Last year I got many of that group in the winner's circle at Reading, Pa. It would be cool to do that at Bristol."

Mail Terminal Services continues 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. 4 in 2009 Funny Car standings, after one victory, one runner-up, three quarterfinal and two first-rounded in seven events
* His 2009 round win-loss record is 10-6
* No. 3 in 2008 Funny Car point standings, with three victories - Phoenix, Reading, Concord - in seven final rounds
* DNQ'd in Bristol in 2008
* 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 71 national events in Top Fuel and Funny Car, he has won seven times in 14 final rounds (all in Funny Car), and has a career round win-loss record of 79-59
* 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.
* Former instructor and current consultant 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: 7-5

SCHEDULE:
Pro qualifying sessions are scheduled for 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 15, and 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 16.
Final eliminations begin at noon on Sunday, May 17.

TICKETS:
Tickets are available for the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals by calling Bristol Dragway at (423) 989-6900 or via http://www.bristoldragway.com

ON TV:
ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 6 p.m. (ET) on Saturday May 16.
On Sunday, May 17, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will feature NHRA Race Day, a 30-minute pre-race show, at 11 a.m. (ET), and three hours and 30 minutes of eliminations coverage at 7 p.m. (ET).

Courtesy of Judy Stropus