JACK BECKMAN EXCITED TO COMPETE IN 4-WIDE THIS WEEK IN NORTH CAROLINA

Jack Beckman, driver of the Aaron’s Dream Machine/Valvoline Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car, heads to zMAX Dragway here for this weekend’s 2nd annual VisitMyrtleBeach.com NHRA 4-Wide Nationals fully anticipating a fun and interesting race.

“I dig it,” said the California native about the unique race, which has four cars running simultaneously per round side-by-side in four lanes. “It is the most bitchin’ thing I’ve ever been a part of in drag racing.

“I understand it’s tough for television coverage, which has some impact on our sponsors since television exposure is a major reason for their participation, but I think it’s an amazing event for the drivers.”

Beckman’s enthusiasm is partially fueled by a solid test session, which followed the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series’s last race, just under two weeks ago, on The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

“It was a perfect test day,” he said about the test on The Strip. “We tried some new parts which we will use the remainder of the season and had some great runs, including a 4.060 (seconds) at 314.53 miles per hour.”

Beckman reached the quarterfinals in Las Vegas before losing to event-winner, and winner of two of the first three races this season, Robert Hight. The results mean Beckman arrives here holding sixth place in the NHRA Full Throttle Funny Car championship.

He had mixed results in last year’s initial four-wide race here. He won his first-round contest, but did not make it out of the quarterfinals. According to the 44-year-old Don Schumacher Racing driver, you have to do your homework for this event.

“It forces you to think out of the box, which I like, especially with the debut of a new Christmas tree for this race,” he said.

The new tree features new blue pre-stage and stage LEDs. The changes are for increased reliability of tree operations and to make it easier for the drivers to know exactly what is happening across all lanes.