LAS VEGAS (April 17, 2010) - Jack Beckman and the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger Funny Car team had a tough time in qualifying for the 11th annual NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. They pulled out only one solid pass to get into the 16-car field and that was in today's third session, a 4.289-second elapsed time at 287.47, the quickest pass of that round.
His other tries produced a 7.194/93.98 (No. 16), a 8.615/72.28 (DNQ), and a 7.440/91.78.
"It's not what we were looking for," said Beckman. "Getting down the race track one out of four times is not what we're capable of doing. After Houston, where we struggled similarly at the first real hot race of the year, we knew we had to make changes in the clutch to get ready for the summer months, when most of the points races are going to be on hot race tracks.
"This is that 'one step backwards, two step forwards' type of thing. But, any time you make these sort of changes - and the NAPA team (with Beckman's teammate Ron Capps driving) is doing something similar as we are and having similar results - we know it's going to pay off. We know it's the right direction to head in. Right now everybody is a little bit frustrated and the plan is to turn it around staring first round tomorrow.
"We're still very capable of winning the race tomorrow. We want to be the car with the '1' on it next year, and this is something that's necessary to do for that long-range goal."
Beckman faces his teammate Capps in the opening round of Sunday's eliminations.
