"Fast" Jack Beckman, driver of the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Funny Car for Don Schumacher Racing in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, will appear on the Sept. 17 PINKS All Out show which airs on SpeedTV.

The segments featuring Beckman were filmed this summer at Maryland International Raceway in Mechanicsville, Md., in which Beckman presented the Valvoline Coveted Spot Award, and was invited by the show to present a $10,000 check to the winner of the event in the winner's circle.

An estimated 12,000 fans were on hand in the grandstands to watch the event, at which Beckman signed hundreds of autographs.

"Fast" Jack Beckman, driver of the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Funny Car for Don Schumacher Racing in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, will appear on the Sept. 17 PINKS All Out show which airs on SpeedTV.

The segments featuring Beckman were filmed this summer at Maryland International Raceway in Mechanicsville, Md., in which Beckman presented the Valvoline Coveted Spot Award, and was invited by the show to present a $10,000 check to the winner of the event in the winner's circle.

An estimated 12,000 fans were on hand in the grandstands to watch the event, at which Beckman signed hundreds of autographs.

Beckman was asked to interview the drivers in the pits and in the staging lanes. He also interviewed the Valvoline Coveted Spot Award winner and was filmed in several segments with the PINKS hosts talking about a variety of subjects, including safety and how the show works in general. During eliminations, Beckman, always wearing his instructor's hat as a former Frank Hawley Drag Racing School instructor, gave advice to the drivers to help pump them up for the race.

"We got there at 9:20 in the morning, and they ran the final at 12:15 the following morning, because there were two lengthy rain delays, so it was a long and wonderful day," said Beckman, who will start the NHRA Countdown to 1 playoffs next week in Charlotte from the fifth position.

"I have to tell you, everybody on the staff and everybody on the crew was phenomenal to me. You don't know going in how it all is going to work out, as I was kind of a third wheel. I was just a guest appearing on the show. (IHRA and NHRA Top Fuel racer) Clay Millican is a regular on the show and to say he was gracious is an understatement.

"As a professional racer they included me in their deliberations for pairings, and which cars to choose for the race. It was great. It wasn't that I showed up and got to spend five minutes on a segment and then left. They actually made me an integral part of the show and the strategy.

"Honest to God, it was really cool," he added. "I was warmly surprised at how great everybody was."
 

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