Mopar: Beckman Shows Up At The Carolina Nationals
Jack Beckman led the brigade of Dodge//SRT Mopar drivers into Monday’s rain-delayed elimination rounds of the 13th annual NTK NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway near Charlotte, driving the Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car to the final round. His weekend run moved Beckman up to second place in the point standings halfway through the six-race Countdown to the Championship playoffs. He opened the weekend earning his 26th career No. 1 qualifier and led five other HEMI®-powered Dodge//SRT Mopar drivers into the Funny Car field. He was joined in the semifinals Monday by fellow Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) teammates Matt Hagan and Ron Capps.
Sunday’s rain delay didn’t seem to faze Beckman, who was fast out of the gate Monday, putting up the best run in the class of the weekend, 3.864 seconds, in his opening-round victory over Dale Creasy.
In the second round, he and DSR teammate Tommy Johnson, Jr. squared off. Beckman was smooth again, turning on the win light with a pass of 3.932 seconds at 323.27 mph over a tire-smoking Johnson. Beckman faced another Dodge//SRT and DSR teammate in the semifinals.
This time it was Capps and Beckman was able to avenge an earlier loss to reach his sixth final of the season and second in three Countdown races.Beckman had the opportunity he was hoping for, facing points leader Robert Hight in the final. Unfortunately, his chance at career win No. 30 turned up red when Beckman left the starting line 0.080 seconds early, giving Hight the win. It was Beckman’s first red light in a final in more than a decade.
