Jack Beckman (Born June 28, 1966, at San Fernando, California and also known as Fast Jack,[1]) is a professional drag racer currently driving for John Force Racing in the National Hot Rod Association Funny Car class.
| Jack Beckman | |
|---|---|
 Beckman in 2013 | |
| Nationality | American |
| Born | June 28, 1966 San Fernando, California |
| Awards | |
| 2012 NHRA Funny Car World Championship
2003 NHRA Super Comp World Championship 35 national event wins (FC: 33 Sports: 2) 73 final rounds (FC: 69 Sports: 4) | |
Prior to that, he raced for Don Schumacher Racing until 2020.[2] Beckman won the Super Comp (8.90 second class) championship in 2003, his first Funny Car championship in November 2012 and achieved the third fastest Funny Car time in NHRA history in 2015.[3][4][5] He raced the quickest time in Funny Car history earlier in that same month.[6] Beckman was let go at the end of the 2020 season as part of Don Schumacher cutting back and did not race in a professional race until August 2024.
Off the track, Beckman was an instructor for Frank Hawley's Drag Racing School, the official driving instruction school of the National Hot Rod Association, and currently serves as a consultant. For over 11 years, Beckman instructed over 7,000 different students.[7] He is currently documenting the sport's history and is taking part in the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsport Museum's History of Hot Rodding.[8][9][10]
Beckman is a former sergeant in the U.S. Air Force and in May 2013 he was presented with the U.S. Air Force Wall of Achievers honor in Enlisted Heritage Hall at Gunter Annex of Maxwell Air Force Base.[1]
On July 30, 2024, Beckman came out of retirement to drive for John Force Racing in the primary Peak Antifreeze Chevrolet as a substitute driver after John Force had a season-ending injury at Virginia Motorsports Park during the Virginia Nationals during the first round of eliminations. Under NHRA rules, Beckman can finish the remaining eight races to allow the Force team to participate in the Countdown to the Championship[11]. His first drive will be at Summit Motorsports Park in a session with the Cornwell Tools Night of Fire event, which legally is a test session in a non-championship, non-pressure situation.
References
edit- ^ a b Blankenship, William J. (2013-05-06). "Funny car champion added to Wall of Achievers". Retrieved 2021-12-07.
- ^ Wade, Susan (2021-10-14). "Tony Stewart's NHRA Move Leaves Don Schumacher Racing Reeling". Retrieved 2021-12-07.
- ^ Brammer, Matthew. "Competition Plus.com - Drag Racing's Internet Magazine". Archived from the original on 2010-06-26. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
- ^ "Beckman sets 3rd-quickest NHRA Funny Car run". 2015-08-22. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
- ^ "Beckman wins first NHRA Funny Car championship". NHRA. Archived from the original on 1 June 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
- ^ Riley, Jim (2015-08-08). "'Fast Jack' Beckman makes quickest run in Funny Car history". Retrieved 2021-12-07.
- ^ "Fast Jack Talks About Frank Hawley's Drag Racing School" (Interview). 2015-08-14.
- ^ "Wally Parks NHRA Motorsport Museum: History of Hot Rodding series—Part 1". Retrieved 2021-12-07.
- ^ McCleary, Michael. ""This very possibly is going to be my last year": Jack Beckman is savoring every moment of history". Retrieved 2021-12-07.
- ^ Pryson, Mike (2020-10-14). "NHRA Champ Jack Beckman Is on a Quest to Keep Drag Racing History Alive". Retrieved 2021-12-07.
- ^ ""Fast Jack" to drive Peak Chevy in Relief of Force". John Force Racing. Retrieved 2024-07-30.