"Fast" Jack Beckman demonstrated the prowess of the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Funny
Car team in hot weather, by snagging No. 6 in qualifying for the NHRA Summer Nationals today at
Heartland Park Topeka. Air temperatures were in the 90s, with track temperatures in the
120-130-degree range.
He recorded his quickest lap of the weekend of 4.197 seconds at 291.26 mph in Friday night's second
session under somewhat cooler conditions, which placed him No. 5 at the time. His other laps
included a 4.646/191.43 (No. 6) in the first round, and today's 7.815/73.15 (No. 6) and
4.379/276.75.
Beckman faces Jeff Arend in the opening round of Sunday's eliminations.
"It's a step in the right direction for us," he said. "We can't ask for better weather for us. We
always run good in the heat. We've got, in essence, a new chassis. It's last year's car with a
front half on it. This year's car was just long in the tooth, so it's getting a front half and it
will become our spare.
"We left some of the things we tested with in Bristol (on Monday following the last event) on the
car. They showed us some promise. And we're in the top half. It's exactly what we need to do.
"Tomorrow is going to be interesting. It's going to be hot. Not nearly as hot as either of the
sessions today, but it's still going to be a tough track to get down.
"I'm excited about first round. I like our match-up. Jeff and I worked together for five years at
the Frank Hawley Drag Racing school. We'll probably bet a dollar on this. I can't wait."
