Jack Beckman
Encyclopedia
Jack Beckman is a professional drag racer who currently drives a NHRA Fuel Funny Car for Don Schumacher Racing. He is known in the drag racing community as "Fast Jack".
Beckman is also an instructor for Frank Hawley
’s Drag Racing school, (the official driving instruction school of the National Hot Rod Association). Over a period of 11 years, Beckman has instructed over 7,000 different students.
at a very early age. "In 1973 my uncle John began to take my brother (Ted) and me to Orange County International Raceway
, Ontario, Irwindale and Bakersfield", recalls Beckman. "I made my first run (a 15.06 second elapsed time) at Lubbock Dragway in Texas while I was serving in the military in 1986."
In 1988 Beckman won his first race driving a 1968 El Camino (which was also the same car he drove for his driver license test when he was 16) and moved up to the Super Comp division in 1991. His dragster, known as "The Blackbird" was built by California Chassis Engineering and was the same dragster Beckman drove to a Lucas Oil
World Championship in the Super Comp class in 2003. "The Blackbird Super Comp dragster has been with me since 1995, I've made more than 1500 runs in it and it feels like a second skin", states Beckman who continues to run his dragster at local bracket races when time permits.
In May 2004, following his Super Comp championship season in 2003, Beckman was diagnosed with cancer (high grade level 3B Lymphoma), which we now know has a survival rate of 46-60 percent. "I had what they call high grade level 3B lymphoma
, and it was pretty pervasive throughout my body. One doctor told me the survival rate for that type of cancer is about 80% and another one said it’s about 50 to 65%. I liked the first doctor better."
Beckman had his eighth and final chemotherapy
treatment on October 25, 2004, after which he was informed by doctors that they had been successful and his cancer was in remission. He then began a new type of treatment, "G-Force Therapy". In April, 2005 Beckman debuted as a professional drag racer in the NHRA in the sports elite category, Top Fuel Eliminator. Driving a Top Fuel Dragster for car owner Dexter Tuttle, Beckman qualified in his first event and beat fellow rookie dragster driver, Ben Marshall
earning his first professional round victory.
As of March 2010, Beckman has nine career NHRA National Event Championships- including seven as a pro (all in Funny Car) and two as a sportsman driver (1998 and 2003 NHRA Winternationals in Super Comp). He has competed in 18 final rounds in NHRA National Event Competition.
Beckman is also an instructor for Frank Hawley
Frank Hawley
Frank Hawley is a two-time World champion drag racing driver. He won seven National Hot Rod Association Funny Car and two Top Fuel Dragster national events during his 10-year Top fuel racing career that included the 1982 and 1983 National Hot Rod Association Funny Car World Championship...
’s Drag Racing school, (the official driving instruction school of the National Hot Rod Association). Over a period of 11 years, Beckman has instructed over 7,000 different students.
The early years
Beckman became a fan of drag racingDrag racing
Drag racing is a competition in which specially prepared automobiles or motorcycles compete two at a time to be the first to cross a set finish line, from a standing start, in a straight line, over a measured distance, most commonly a ¼-mile straight track....
at a very early age. "In 1973 my uncle John began to take my brother (Ted) and me to Orange County International Raceway
Orange County International Raceway
Orange County International Raceway was a combined ¼ mile US dragstrip and 2-mile road course located in Irvine, California adjacent to the Interstate 5 Santa Ana Freeway. Under a lease agreement with the Irvine Company, OCIR - as it was known in racing circles - was in operation from August 5,...
, Ontario, Irwindale and Bakersfield", recalls Beckman. "I made my first run (a 15.06 second elapsed time) at Lubbock Dragway in Texas while I was serving in the military in 1986."
In 1988 Beckman won his first race driving a 1968 El Camino (which was also the same car he drove for his driver license test when he was 16) and moved up to the Super Comp division in 1991. His dragster, known as "The Blackbird" was built by California Chassis Engineering and was the same dragster Beckman drove to a Lucas Oil
Lucas Oil
Lucas Oil Products is a manufacturer and distributor of automotive oil, additives, and lubricants. It was founded by trucker Forrest Lucas and his wife Charlotte in 1989....
World Championship in the Super Comp class in 2003. "The Blackbird Super Comp dragster has been with me since 1995, I've made more than 1500 runs in it and it feels like a second skin", states Beckman who continues to run his dragster at local bracket races when time permits.
- In 2003 won Super Comp world championship in Lucas Oil Series and Division 7 Super Comp championship
- Leads 14-time champion John ForceJohn ForceJohn Harold Force is an NHRA drag racer, a 15-time Funny Car champion driver, and a 17-time champion car owner. Force owns and drives for John Force Racing. He is one of the most dominant drag racers in the sport with 133 career victories...
in head-to-head round wins: 8-5
In May 2004, following his Super Comp championship season in 2003, Beckman was diagnosed with cancer (high grade level 3B Lymphoma), which we now know has a survival rate of 46-60 percent. "I had what they call high grade level 3B lymphoma
Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a cancer in the lymphatic cells of the immune system. Typically, lymphomas present as a solid tumor of lymphoid cells. Treatment might involve chemotherapy and in some cases radiotherapy and/or bone marrow transplantation, and can be curable depending on the histology, type, and stage...
, and it was pretty pervasive throughout my body. One doctor told me the survival rate for that type of cancer is about 80% and another one said it’s about 50 to 65%. I liked the first doctor better."
Beckman had his eighth and final chemotherapy
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with an antineoplastic drug or with a combination of such drugs into a standardized treatment regimen....
treatment on October 25, 2004, after which he was informed by doctors that they had been successful and his cancer was in remission. He then began a new type of treatment, "G-Force Therapy". In April, 2005 Beckman debuted as a professional drag racer in the NHRA in the sports elite category, Top Fuel Eliminator. Driving a Top Fuel Dragster for car owner Dexter Tuttle, Beckman qualified in his first event and beat fellow rookie dragster driver, Ben Marshall
Ben Marshall
Ben Marshall is an English footballer, currently playing for Sheffield Wednesday on loan from Premier League Side Stoke City.-Stoke City:...
earning his first professional round victory.
As of March 2010, Beckman has nine career NHRA National Event Championships- including seven as a pro (all in Funny Car) and two as a sportsman driver (1998 and 2003 NHRA Winternationals in Super Comp). He has competed in 18 final rounds in NHRA National Event Competition.
Records
- No. 3 in 2008 Funny Car point standings, with three victories - Phoenix, Reading, Concord - in seven final rounds
- In his 72 national events in Top FuelTop FuelTop Fuel racing is a class of drag racing in which the cars are run on a mix of approximately 90% nitromethane and 10% methanol rather than gasoline or simply methanol. The cars are purpose-built for drag racing, with an exaggerated layout that in some ways resembles open-wheel circuit racing...
and Funny CarFunny CarFunny Car is a drag racing car class. In the United States, other "professional" classes are Top Fuel, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle. Funny cars have forward-mounted engines and carbon fiber automotive bodies over the chassis, giving them an appearance vaguely approximating manufacturers'...
, he has won seven times in 14 final rounds (all in Funny Car), and has a career round win-loss record of 80-60 - Is the 2007 U.S. Smokeless Showdown winner ($100,000 bonus event held at U.S. Nationals)
- Set national elapsed-time record of 4.662 seconds and national speed record of 333.66 mph at final 2006 event in Pomona, Calif. The ET record has since been eclipsed. Beckman still holds the speed record
- Career-best FC elapsed time: 4.662 seconds (Pomona 2 '06)
- Career-best FC speed: 333.66 mph (Pomona 2 '06)
- Career-best TF elapsed time: 4.563 seconds (TF, Brainerd 2005)
- Career-best TF speed: 324.28 mph (TF, Brainerd 2005)
Personal life
- Residence: North Hills, Calif.
- Hometown: Granada Hills, Calif.
- Date of birth: June 28, 1966
- Married, Jenna (wedding date 11/7/06), son Jason Russell (3/8/07)
- Former instructor and current consultant at Frank HawleyFrank HawleyFrank Hawley is a two-time World champion drag racing driver. He won seven National Hot Rod Association Funny Car and two Top Fuel Dragster national events during his 10-year Top fuel racing career that included the 1982 and 1983 National Hot Rod Association Funny Car World Championship...
's NHRA Championship Drag Racing School; former Sergeant in U.S. Air Force (1984–88); cancer survivor; licensed in 11 different NHRA categories - Was told in early 2005 that his cancer is in remission and currently spends much time supporting cancer-related charities and causes.