Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Features

DI.com Video: Explosive Start for Beckman at Pomona

Funny Car points leader Jack Beckman went for a wild, fiery ride Nov. 8, in the opening round of qualifying for the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals at historic Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, California.

Fortunately, the 46-year-old driver was unhurt by the massive engine explosion and did a masterful job of getting the car stopped safely on the track, but it was Beckman’s demeanor upon climbing from the wreckage that really impressed us. That’s one cool cat. (Click “Read More” for video)

[media url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYuECwC48A8″]

 

Running side-by-side in Thursday’s lone qualifying round, Don Schumacher Racing teammates Beckman and Ron Capps ended Funny Car qualifying in spectacular fashion.

Beckman, who leads Capps by four points in the sixth and final round of the Countdown playoffs, had his qualifying run end with the fiberglass body on his Valvoline Dodge Charger blowing off after an explosion just as he crossed the 1,000-foot finish line.

Beckman still qualified fifth with a 4.117 at 273.00 mph, but Capps lost traction in the NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger and was the first nonqualifier.

“I’ve never had that happen before, and I’m not going to sign up for it again,” Beckman said later. “I had just let go of the wheel to reach for the parachute, and all of a sudden, there was no body on the car.”

(Video courtesy NHRA/YouTube)

This story was originally published on November 9, 2012. Drag Illustrated

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like

Exclusive

Drag Illustrated’s Pound-for-Pound Pro Mod Rankings are back with a seismic shakeup, unveiling a blazing Top 20 update that spotlights drag racing’s fiercest competitors...

News

Beset by memories of Virginia Motorsports Park, the track on which her dad was seriously injured last year after crashing his Funny Car at...

News

Energized by a streak-extending victory two weeks ago at Bristol, Tenn., four-time Top Fuel world champion Steve Torrence raced back into the winners’ circle...

News

Less than two weeks after winning in Bristol, Top Fuel standout Steve Torrence continued to roll on Saturday at Virginia Motorsports Park, defeating Shawn...

Since 2005, DI has informed, inspired and educated drag racers from every walk of the racing life - weekend warrior and street/strip enthusiasts to pro-level doorslammer and Top Fuel racers. From award-winning writing and photography to binge-worthy videos to electric live events, DI meets hundreds of thousands of racers where they live, creating the moments that create conversations.