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Jack Beckman Claims the Funny Car Title
COMMERCE, Ga. (April 19, 2009) -- Jack Beckman, driving the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge, claimed the Funny Car title Sunday at the NHRA national event contested at Atlanta Dragway.
It was the seventh career win for Beckman, who defeated three of the John Force-owned cars, including Ashley Force Hood in the final round. Beckman ran 4.128-second elapsed time at 300.43 miles per hour to Force Hood's 4.157 at 248.39.
Beckman's march to the final included wins over Robert Hight (of John Force Racing) in the first round, John Force in the quarterfinal round and Tim Wilkerson in the semifinal round.
"I'm going to ask Valvoline if there's any sort of double bonus for beating those other oil cars," said Beckman. "To beat four awesome opponents makes today feel a lot more special."
Beckman, who lost to Force Hood in the final round last month at Houston Raceway Park, moved into second place in the Funny Car points standings.
Along with Beckman's win, Team Valvoline had four semifinal finishes -- Tony Schumacher and Cory McClenathan in Top Fuel, Wilkerson in Funny Car and Matt Smith in Pro Stock Motorcycle.
In the NHRA point standings, Team Valvoline leads in three of the four professional categories -- Top Fuel (Schumacher), Funny Car (Ron Capps) and Pro Stock Motorcycle (Smith).
NHRA Full Throttle Series
April 19, 2009
Atlanta Dragway
Commerce, Ga.
Top Fuel:
Larry Dixon, Alan Johnson Racing
Lost in First Round
Point Standing: 6th
Cory McClenathan, Don Schumacher Racing
Lost in Semifinal Round
Point Standing: 4th
Tony Schumacher, Don Schumacher Racing
Lost in Semifinal Round
Point Standing: 1st
Funny Car
Jack Beckman, Don Schumacher Racing
Won Event
Point Standing: 2nd
Ron Capps, Don Schumacher Racing
Lost in Quarterfinal Round
Point Standing: 1st
Matt Hagen, Don Schumacher Racing
Lost in Quarterfinal Round
Point Standing: 5th
Tim Wilkerson, Team Wilkerson Racing
Lost in Semifinal Round
Point Standing: 11th
Del Worsham, Alan Johnson Racing
Lost in First Round
Point Standing: 6th
Pro Stock
Ron Krisher, Krisher Racing
Lost in First Round
Point Standing: (official Pro Stock points will be posted Monday after completion of final round)
Pro Stock Motorcycle
Matt Smith, Don Schumacher Racing
Lost in Semifinal Round
Point Standing: 1st
Next NHRA Event
May 3
St. Louis
