2015 U.S. Nationals Extra: Beckman Wins Traxxas Nitro Funny Car Shootout – DSR Runs The Table!


2015 U.S. Nationals Extra: Beckman Wins Traxxas Nitro Funny Car Shootout – DSR Runs The Table!

Words by NHRA Communications

Photos by Mike & Jeff Burghardt and Ron Lewis courtesy of John Force Racing

 

Jack Beckman earned a $100,000 payday with his victory in the Traxxas Nitro Shootout for Funny Car Sunday at the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals.

Beckman, the 2012 funny car world champ, claimed the victory with a winning performance of 4.051 seconds at 309.06 mph, defeating Robert Hight in the final of the all-star bonus event. It was Beckman’s second win in the Traxxas Nitro Shootout, making him the second Funny Car driver to win the event twice, tying John Force.

beckman traxxas2

“I think we have shown everyone how good we are when conditions are favorable,” said Beckman, a California native who also won a Funny Car all-star race at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis in 2007. “We’ve been spectacular in hot conditions too but we haven’t had that many runs in it over the last month and a half. I think we just reinforced that this Infinite Hero team has it no matter how hot the track is.”

 

Hight Traxxas Lewis

Hight, who was also the runner-up in the Traxxas Nitro Shootout last season, ran a 4.138 at 303.71 in the Auto Club Chevy Camaro SS. He defeated Matt Hagan and Tim Wilkerson to reach the final.

Beckman also earned the No. 1 qualifying position for Monday’s 11 a.m. eliminations with his Friday night pass, a track-record performance of 3.936 at 323.74 in the Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger R/T team led by crew chief Jimmy Prock with assistants John Medlen and Chris Cunningham. He earned his fifth No. 1 of the season, fourth-in-a-row and 15th of his career. Beckman will battle Bob Bode in the first round of eliminations.

Hight qualified second with a 3.971 at 322.96, earning him a first round matchup with John Bojec. Tommy Johnson Jr. starts third with a 3.976 at 318.32 in the Riley Children’s Hospital Dodge Charger R/T. He will face John Hale.

A critical matchup that will be pivotal in deciding the final playoff spot in the Countdown to the Championship will take place in the first round of Funny Car eliminations featuring Alexis DeJoria and Courtney Force. If Force defeats DeJoria in round one, she would need to reach the final to clinch the final playoff position.

 

TRAXXAS FUNNY CAR SHOOTOUT ELIMINATIONS ON SUNDAY

 

FIRST ROUND: No. 5 Ron Capps (4.033, 317.34) def. No. 4 John Force (4.148, 285.59); No. 7. Robert Hight (4.069, 313.80) def. No. 2. Matt Hagan (redlight/4.023, 315.44); No. 1. Jack Beckman (4.052, 311.99) def. No. 8 Courtney Force (4.113, 314.09); No. 6 Tim Wilkerson (4.035, 317.19) def. No. 3. Tommy Johnson Jr. (4.390, 276.41.

 

SEMIFINALS: Beckman (4.027, 314.09) def. Capps (4.122, 305.84); Hight (4.102, 305.56) def. Wilkerson (4.165, 302.82).

 

FINAL: Beckman (4.051, 309.06) def. Hight (4.138, 303.71)

 


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