Jack Beckman weathered a wild ride Sunday at the NHRA Winternationals in Southern California when his Valvoline NextGen Dodger Charger R/T Funny car abruptly veered into the next lane at close to 300 mph.
After that nerve-racking run, it would seem he and his team could have used some quiet time on Monday before they head to Phoenix for this weekend's NHRA Arizona Nationals.
With the Valvoline NextGen crew spending the day in Beckman's haunts near his home in Norco, Calif., the popular driver played host and decided a fun way to forget about the high-speed close call would be, of course, to head to an explosion.
"It was really cool," he said of the planned detonation at a rock quarry. "And it was free."
But what was priceless for Beckman was hanging out with his crew that is based in Brownsburg, Ind. It was a rare chance for them to just be buddies - and enjoy a controlled explosion - without racing to get the Funny Car ready for the next run or to race it down the track.
"It was nice because we were away from the racetrack and didn't have to think about racing," he said. "We were just some guys joking around and watching an explosion."
Beckman and his team will drive to Phoenix on Tuesday to begin preparing for the three-day event that begins with two qualifying sessions on Friday and another two Saturday to determine the field for Sunday's championship eliminations.
Beckman has never been to a dragstrip he didn't like, but the one at Firebird International Raceway certainly is one he loves.
The Valvoline NextGen team has won the last two NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series events there even though they were held at different times of the year.
Last year, Beckman won for the 12th time in his pro career when the race was held in mid-October. The year before and in 2008, he won when the NHRA event was held in late February.
"Yeah, I guess you could say I like racing in Phoenix," he said of where he has won one-fourth of his NHRA titles.
While Beckman's Don Schumacher Racing team will be the same, the Dodge Charger R/T carbon fiber body will be featuring sponsorship from Schumacher Electric, a worldwide company owned by Don Schumacher.
"Nah, there's no pressure driving a car sponsored by the man who owns that company and the one you race for," Beckman joked. "But seriously, it really will be an honor to get inside the Schumacher Electric car."
Beckman and crew chief Rahn Tobler still aren't certain what caused their Funny Car to make an abrupt right turn in front of veteran Gary Densham in Sunday's second round of eliminations. Beckman was disqualified for crossing the center line, but fortunately he was well ahead of Densham, who crossed the finish line on Beckman's bumper.
Beckman's crew, instead of loading up their car, headed for Denham's pit area to help repair some frontend damage incurred when Beckman crossed in front of him.
"I asked Gary if there was anything I could do to help and said to stay as far away as possible from him," Beckman joked about his longtime friend.
"The only thing we can figure is that some fluid got on one of the rear tires," Beckman said. "No human could have turned the steering wheel so quickly to make that move."
No human, not even the explosive "Fast Jack" Beckman, has reflexes that good.
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