Like riding a bicycle. In his first points-earning appearance at the wheel of John Force’s PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS, Jack Beckman made solid runs in both lanes Friday to grab the provisional No. 7 qualifying position for the 42nd Lucas Oil Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway.
After a 44-month hiatus during which he went back to work at his old job as a elevator repairman, the 58-year-old Beckman will start the final day of qualifying one position behind teammate and point leader Austin Prock, who was forced to abort his second run Friday in the Cornwell Tools Camaro due to tire shake.
Beckman, who is driving in place of the sport’s all-time biggest winner, who suffered a TBI in a high-speed crash at Richmond, Va., was second quickest at 3.920 seconds on his first attempt Friday before stopping the 1,000 foot timers in 3.931 seconds on his second. The 2012 series champion will have two more opportunities to improve on Saturday.
“A real fast bike,” Beckman said of his new ride. “Now it’s about managing everything from the neck up. Some days that’s pretty easy, (but) I find that some days I just have to accept that God put a lot of crap in my head and just deal with it. That (first run) felt like (how) a Funny Car should feel. I’m starting to feel a little bit better. I’m way behind the car in a lot of things; a few more runs (though) and I can get caught up. It feels great!”
“That first run was everything,” said Chris Cunningham, co-crew chief on the aqua blue Camaro with Dan Hood. “To come here and hit the ground running, it’s great. It’s the momentum we needed.”
Meanwhile, Prock began qualifying as he has virtually all season long, wrestling the Cornwell Camaro to an opening 3.916 at 330.15 mph that was quickest of the first session. However, the usually potent “Prock Rocket” suffered a bit of a flameout in the evening session when it shook violently shortly after leaving the starting line, slowing to 5.630 seconds at just 152.16 mph
For Brittany Force, it was a solid if not spectacular first day at the wheel of the Monster Energy Chevrolet dragster. After an opening 3.791 at 334.24 mph, the two-time Top Fuel World Champion improved to 3.720 at 336.07 mph in the evening session, good enough for the No. 6 spot.
She and Prock both will be involved Saturday in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge, a result of their advance to the semifinals at the most recent event in the Mission Series at Sonoma, Calif. Television coverage of the Challenge will air from 6-7 p.m., Eastern time, Saturday on FS1.
This story was originally published on August 17, 2024. 
