BENDING LIKE BECKMAN
Sometimes you know it is your day, even when you feel like the weakest link in the chain.
Jack
Beckman is winning races like a seasoned veteran but he's the first to
admit that he still has a lot of learning to do following yesterday's
win in Denver.
"We were lingering down there around 10th or 11th (in points) and with this [Countdown] format, I think it's three separate seasons: until Indy, four races after Indy, the last two. So, you do look at it slightly different, but the purpose is still the same. We want to win every race we come to.
"I am so spoiled that I drive a car that could win every race we go to. When I won Las Vegas last year I knew I was going to win that race. I felt confident all weekend. [We] struggled a little bit this year."
Beckman added another chapter to his growing driver's manual. He learned what it takes to win on the mountain.
Sometimes you know it is your day, even when you feel like the weakest link in the chain.
Jack Beckman is winning races like a seasoned veteran but he's the first to admit that he still has a lot of learning to do following yesterday's win in Denver.
"I think our car and our team would have won three races by now," said
an elated Beckman. "I replaced Whit Bazemore (last year for the last
five events). Tomorrow he can get back in and be one of the top three
Funny Car drivers. And I'm on a steep learning curve. I've definitely
been the weakest link on the team. So, to get that first win of the
season, especially with the momentum that we've had over the last four
or five races, I don't know that it would have come at a better time.
"We were lingering down there around 10th or 11th (in points) and with
this [Countdown] format, I think it's three separate seasons: until
Indy, four races after Indy, the last two. So, you do look at it
slightly different, but the purpose is still the same. We want to win
every race we come to.
"I am so spoiled that I drive a car that could win every race we go to.
When I won Las Vegas last year I knew I was going to win that race. I
felt confident all weekend. [We] struggled a little bit this year."
Beckman added another chapter to his growing driver's manual. He learned what it takes to win on the mountain.
"It was a real hot race track, the tune-up up here is completely
different, the car sounds and feels different. I wouldn't say I felt
really comfortable this weekend, but Todd (Okuhara, crew chief), Phil
(Shuler, assistant crew chief) and the seven other MTS Dodge guys
always gave me a consistent car.
"All those guys deserve wins. They get bonuses. The better I perform,
the better their paycheck is. Hopefully this time they will treat me to
dinner. I've been doing that the last four months."
The largest lesson Beckman is learning is that comraderie is worth its weight in gold.
"I think it's cool to have the chemistry that we've got between the
three [DSR Funny Car drivers: Beckman, Capps and Gary Scelzi]. Ron was
so gracious down there. And, no matter the fact that they're leading
the points and just stretched their points lead, losing sucks and
losing in the final is really tough to do. But he was so gracious when
he came over. It actually looked like he was happy for us."