FUNNY CAR

(Ron Lewis photo)

"Fast Jack" Beckman powered to his third career Funny Car crown at the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals on Sunday, running the record of the new 2015 Mopar Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car to a dominating 11 victories in 14 events this season.
The victory was Beckman's fourth of the year, a career best win total for a single season with 10 events still remaining. The triumph was also the 19th of his career, moving him to tenth on the all-time Funny Car win list past Ed McCulloch, Mark Oswald and active drivers Tim Wilkerson and teammate Matt Hagan. In addition, drivers piloting a new 2015 Mopar Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car have now reached the final round at 13 of 14 events this season.
Beckman led the Mopar NHRA Funny Car squad both in qualifying and on race day. Starting third, "Fast Jack" opened up his day against Todd Simpson. The 2012 Funny Car champ smoked the tires but was able to reel in his 2015 Mopar Dodge Charger R/T to score a winning 4.587/270.92.

Next, it was HEMI vs. HEMI in the quarterfinals, as Beckman squared off with Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) teammate and Mopar Express Lane Dodge Charger R/T driver Hagan.

The pair was even in previous meetings, at 14-14. Beckman claimed the rubber match, recording a 4.124/302.48 as Hagan drifted toward the center line and slowed to a 4.391/228.11. Beckman was quicker and faster with a 4.184/295.40 against semifinals opponent Alexis DeJoria (who also redlighted), advancing to his fourth career final at Bandimere.

Beckman entered the final with a healthy 23-8 career record against foe John Force, and he left with 24 round wins over the 16-time champ. The two left the line with identical reaction times but Beckman quickly pulled away in his Mopar-powered Dodge Charger R/T, taking out Force with a 4.190/293.92 to his opponent's 4.291/258.96.

"There is a comfortable level with this new 2015 Dodge Charger R/T body," said Beckman. "The added downward visibility is huge. Aerodynamically it's every bit as good and we don't even have that many runs on it yet. I think the proof is we've won 11 of 14 races with this new body. It's been a huge part of our success."

"A gratifying win today," added team owner Don Schumacher. "It was tremendous to go out there and have Jack win this race for Mopar, for DSR and to take that Force car out in the final with John (Force) driving it."

(Ron Lewis photo)

John Force and the Blue Def Peak Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car team collected their second consecutive and seventh overall No. 1 qualifier at the Mopar Mile High NHRA Nationals, but he ended up in the second spot in the final round.

Force was appearing in his fourth final round of the season and second against Beckman. Force, a six-time winner at Denver, jumped to third in the Funny Car point standings.