Beckman feeling good going into eliminations

"The best thing about being the defending event champ is you get your picture in the program the next year."

Before arriving at Atlanta Dragway on Friday, Jack Beckman didn't like his chances of defending the NHRA Southern Nationals Funny Car title that he and his Valvoline NextGen team won a year ago.

But the driver from Southern California might get his mug in next year's book too.

Beckman's Dodge Charger R/T had not made two consecutive back-to-back passes in its last 17 attempts.

That, however, changed during four qualifying sessions over two hot and humid days about 70 miles northeast of Atlanta when the Dodge went 4-for-4.

After not qualifying last weekend near Houston, Beckman said his team had lost momentum and it had to start over.

With crew chief Todd Smith at the helm since the middle of April, Beckman made two solid runs on Friday and followed up with two more Saturday to earn the No. 8 qualifying position for Sunday's 16-car championship eliminations. Their 4.183-second run at 298.21 was the third quickest of the fourth and final qualifying session.

"Coming into this race, this car had never been down the track two runs in a row. We have four in a row now," said an overjoyed Beckman.

"It's pretty awesome. It's hard not to be upbeat right now."

When the team didn't qualify at Houston, it ended Beckman's streak of qualifying for 87 consecutive NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series events. That was the longest active streak in Funny Car.

"When you have a streak like we did and it ends, it just completely deflates you. It completely resets your perspective and your priorities. Your priority is no longer winning the next race, it's qualifying at the next race.

"Running good Friday was great, running good twice on Saturday was even better. Getting down the track, we actually got a bonus point in the last session. It's awesome. I feel so good. As a driver, that mental component of having a good race car underneath you only makes you better. I feel good going into race day again."

The team made five test runs Monday near Houston and benefitted greatly.

And lessons learned apparently have paid dividends so far at Atlanta.