NORWALK, Ohio – Starting off a stretch of four straight race weekends on a sour note is usually not ideal, even for a veteran driver and team.
Jack Beckman has already reversed course quickly and he’ll now to look to end this rigorous stretch on a good note at the 13th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, June 20-23 at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park.
The 2012 Funny Car world champion started the stretch with a semifinal finish in Chicago, but he took the blame for it not being more. Beckman, though, responded with a final round appearance on Sunday in Topeka and he will look to grab his first win of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season in his 11,000-horsepower Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat in Norwalk, where he has a Funny Car-best three career wins at the fan-favorite facility.
“A win puts everyone on the right track,” Beckman said. “You can’t guarantee a win, but you have a better chance of winning if everyone is in a positive mood. It helps to have some history with the team, especially when you make a mistake like I did in Chicago. But we’ve done some good things and they know I’ll get back on track. All of us are going to make mistakes, but being close and having history together, that helps. Overall, everyone is putting in a great effort.”
Blake Alexander (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Tanner Gray (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year’s winners the event. It is the 12th of 24 races this year, as Beckman will look to finish the first half of the season on a strong note. With a Primetime nitro session starting at 7:45 p.m. on Friday, he’ll look to do it in style as well.
The weekend in Norwalk starts with nitro racing at night, jet cars and spectacular fireworks show, and it’s that type of entertainment Beckman has always enjoyed about the race. He will try to provide the highlights on Sunday during eliminations to earn his 29th career victory, but Beckman, who is currently sixth in a loaded Funny Car class, appreciates the show included in a weekend of racing at Norwalk, as well as the special victory trophy they provide along with the Wally.
“Each track has its own unique flavor and Norwalk is big on their pound of ice cream deal (for $1),” Beckman said. “So if you win there, not only do you leave with a Wally, but you get an engraved, pewter ice cream scooper. The Bader family knows how to keep fans happy and really pack the grandstands. As a driver, that really means something and I always enjoy going to Norwalk.”
But Beckman, who has two final round appearances in 2019, will face a number of challenges to get his fourth win in Norwalk. Points leader Robert Hight, who beat Beckman in Chicago and in the final round in Topeka, has a class-best four wins this year, while others to watch include Beckman’s Don Schumacher Racing teammates Ron Capps, defending event winner Hagan and Chicago winner Tommy Johnson Jr., defending world champ J.R. Todd and John Force, who is seeking his 150th career win. Beckman, though, feels like his team is trending in the right direction.
“It’s been an interesting year,” Beckman said. “At the beginning of the year, we had one of the best cars, but after Gainesville we had a little magic out of the car. We stayed after Richmond and tested and Chicago was the first time I felt we were back. The car is listening and things are working well, and that’s going to pay off when we continue to go to these hot tracks. That test session and getting things turned around couldn’t have come at a better time.”