In an example of team strategy paying dividends — Jack Beckman delivered his first victory since JFR picked him to take over the cockpit for legendary driver John Force.  

Beckman defeating Ron Capps in the final round of the 13th annual NHRA Midwest Nationals held at St. Louis-area World Wide Technology Raceway. For the wily and experienced veteran returning driver, the win was his first in nearly a four years span.

Beckman went 3.856-seconds at 315.86 mph in his PEAK Chevrolet Camaro SS, holding off Capps’ 3.882 at 329.42 to record his 34th career win and first since 2020. Beckman was named the substitute driver for Force following Force’s crash in June, collecting points for the 16-time champ as Beckman attempts to win another title for the iconic Force.

To reach the final round, Beckman defeated J.R. Todd, Daniel Wilkerson, and points leader and teammate Austin Prock, snapping Prock’s streak of 14 straight round wins. Beckman moved into second in points and heads into the final three races trailing Prock by 105 points.

“The guys just kept making the right call,” Beckman said. “You have all the confidence in your crew that whatever they have to do, we can go drag that thing back up there and it’s going to go down the racetrack. We made a monster lap in the final round. That was fantastic to see our guys turn the screws up and get more aggressive with it because that comes from confidence.”

“There is potential pressure but it’s a complete honor to drive this car. John Force has done everything and we may not have seen the last of him yet. He is by all metrics the greatest of all time and he’s also a friend of mine. He’s also John Force. He’s his own personality. I am absolutely fine with having an asterisk next to John Force’s 17th title out there, but we have Mount Austin and Jimmy (Prock) to continue to try to close that gap on.”

Capps, now fourth in points, reached the final round for the fourth time this season and the 151st time in his career after defeating Buddy Hull, Bobby Bode and Blake Alexander.

Mid-West Nationals Funny Car Class Summary

WIN: Jack Beckman – 3.856 secs 315.86 (Career win #34)

R/UP: Ron Capps – 3.882 secs 329.42 mph

Low ET: Austin Prock – 3.814 secs

Top MPH: Ron Capps – 333.33 mph

Bump: N/A

Entries – 15 cars

Posted with files & photos courtesy of NHRA Communications