Beckman on right track with new crew chief Smith as Freightliner/Valvoline NextGen Dodge improves

April 15

CONCORD, N.C. (April 15) – For the first time in the long racing history of Jack Beckman, a second-round loss should be chalked up as a victory.

After the Las Vegas race when Beckman’s Don Schumacher Racing teammate Ron Capps didn’t qualify, drastic changes were made. Rahn Tobler, who had been Beckman’s crew chief, moved to Capps team and and Todd Smith was hired to be Beckman’s crew chief and work alongside Tobler.

The crews also were switched among sundry other things.

“There was so much work that had to be done since Las Vegas with the change in crews chiefs and crews that I can’t ever remember being so proud of our teams after losing a second round than I am today,” Beckman said.

Beckman qualified No. 5 and advanced out of the first quartet of drivers in the first round but didn’t make it past Round 2.

“On Friday night when we qualified so strong it was just a thanking to all of guys on both teams,” Beckman said. “We struggled a little bit in the two rounds of qualifying on Saturday but we found it again Sunday in the first round.

“We’ll stay Monday and test. I’m not saying we’re completing out of the woods but I cannot be anything but optimistic going to our next race in Houston in two weeks.

“We’re bummed out we didn’t get into the final round but his is a little bit of a learning curve. It was excellent working Todd this weekend.”

Jack Beckman, Freightliner/Valvoline NextGen Dodge Charger R/T
Qualified: No. 5

Round 1: ADVANCED: BECKMAN (4.071 sec., 318.62 mph) and Cruz Pedregon (4.085, 310.27); ELIMINATED: Todd Lesenko (6.767, 100.23) and Courtney Force (4.191, 298.87).

Round 2: ADVANCED: Cruz Pedregon (4.142, 311.92) and Robert Hight (4.185, 273.00; ELIMINATED: BECKMAN (4.395, 239.44) and Bob Tasca III (4.284, 268.44).

NEXT NHRA FULL THROTTLE RACE
April 27-29, NHRA Spring Nationals
Royal Purple Raceway, Baytown, Texas