The Man "Fast" Jack Beckman

“Fast” Jack Beckman is one of the best NHRA Top Fuel/Funny Car drivers to ever take to the track, in Beckman’s career he has 14 Final Round wins all in funny car. Beckman is not juts a driver, he is also an instructor at Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School and has taught over 7,000 different students, some of which he races against today. In 2003 Beckman was crowned Lucas Oil Series Super Comp and Division 7 Super Comp champion. But in May 2004 Jack Beckman discovered he had a new race to win, and that race was defeating cancer. Beckman was diagnosed with level 3B Lymphoma, which has a survival rate between 46-60 percent. The always bright and colorful Beckman accepted this challenge and fought for his new championship. On October 25, 2004 Jack had his final chemotherapy treatment, and was informed shortly after that his cancer was in remission. Beckman knew exactly what he had to do now, and that was get back to what he loved and he did it in style. Come April 2005 “Fast” Jack Beckman qualified for his first ever NHRA event in his Top Fuel debut, driving for Dexter Tuttle, and won his first profession round in round one. At the end of the 2007 season Beckman joined the Funny Car ranks with powerhouse team Don Schumacher Racing. In 2008 he finished 3^rd in points, 2009 fifth, 2010 fourth and last year he fell short to his teammate Matt Hagen and finished 2^nd in the standings. The number one position is only position left in the top five for Beckman, and he currently sits as the point’s leader going into the 2012 season finally in two weeks in Pomona, Ca. Beckman and crew are hoping to make dreams come true, he has fought harder then any other driver and has always had a smile on his face as he does. There is no one quite like “Fast” Jack Beckman in the pits; he is a face of dedication and determination, and a role model to always stay positive no matter what.  

The Battle Thickens

NASCAR has drawn a lot of attention this season with there tight points battles, but the NHRA has one that is even better as they close in on the final race of the season in just two short weeks in Pomona, CA. For Don Schumacher Racing it cant come soon enough as they will take home yet another NHRA Funny Car Championship; the only remaining question is which of his driver will it be. Fast Jack Beckman is currently sitting in the points lead only four points ahead of DSR teammate Ron Capps. Ironically the two teammates swapped crews shortly after the season began, Capps didn’t take long to adjust as he made six consecutive final rounds. Beckman and his new crew on the other hand did take a little warming up, but the made sure everyone still knew they were there after a record setting weekend by the team in St. Louis. The interesting thing about Beckman and Capps is, in there successful careers neither of them has a NHRA Championship.

This is all about to change for one of them in two very short weeks, and when the time comes every millisecond is going to count.