MOHNTON, Pa. (AP) — Jack Beckman raced to his first Funny Car victory of the season Sunday, beating 70-year-old John Force in the Countdown-opening Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals to take the points lead.
Beckman had a 3.958-second pass at 330.07 against Force at Maple Grove Raceway two weeks after losing to him in the U.S. Nationals for his fourth runner-up finish of the season.
"In NHRA, you have zero control over what the car and driver in the other lane are doing," Beckman said. Did I want to beat him? Of course. Did it sting that he beat us in the Indy final? Duh. But none of that was going to help me be any better. Some fans came over before the final and said, 'Hey, we'll go razz John.' And I said, 'Don't poke the bear.'"
Richie Crampton won in Top Fuel, Jason Line in Pro Stock, and Jerry Savoie in Pro Stock Motorcycle.
It was a battle of Kalitta Motorsports entries, Crampton topped Doug Kalitta with a 3.738 at 329.10.
Line raced to his 50th career Pro Stock victory, beating Fernando Cuadra with a 6.553 pass at 210.60 in a Chevrolet Camaro. Savoie picked up his second consecutive win, edging Steve Johnson with a 6.774 at 198.55 on a Suzuki.
He took down Steve Johnson with his 6.774 lap at 198.55 in the final round and went on to claim the Pro Stock Motorcycle points lead.
