For the past two racing seasons, Infinite Hero has been honored to have a NHRA Funny Car, driven by former Air Force Sergeant “Fast” Jack Beckman, competing on behalf of its mission to raise both awareness and funding for the foundation. Thanks to a very generous donation by sponsor Terry Chandler and team owner Don Schumacher, and through the ongoing efforts of the dedicated staff at Don Schumacher Racing, the car ran six events last season and are running a full season with Infinite Hero in 2015. The foundation does not contribute any money to advertise or sponsor the team or car. Terry and Don also run a second team on behalf of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, in a funny car driven by Tommy Johnson, Jr..
Fast Jack takes a limited number of Infinite Hero challenge coins down the track on each run, and fans who donate $100 or more to the foundation are able to get one of the collectible coins signed by Jack. In 2014, over $150,000 was raised through the program, and in 2015, Infinite Hero is well on its way to reaching a goal of $250,000 through the very successful partnership with DSR! A highlight of the season off the track came when CWO5 Gary Linfoot, U.S. Army (Ret.) and his wife Mari attended a race in Bristol, TN on Father’s Day weekend. Gary graces the back of one of the team’s haulers in an exoskeleton, which allows him to walk despite his paralysis which occurred due to a helicopter crash on his 19th combat tour in Iraq. Gary was able to stand for the National Anthem for the first time in seven years due to the amazing technology (http://www.wcyb.com/news/paraplegic-veteran-stands-for-national-anthem-for-first-time-since-200x/33700598)
The 24-event NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season is divided into two distinct sections: the 18-race regular season and the six-race playoffs, the Countdown to the Championship. After the first 18 races, only the top 10 drivers advance into the final segment of the playoffs, and their points are reset to within 10 of one another with the exception of the points leader, who will have a 30-point advantage over second place. The 10 drivers will then compete for Mello Yello world championships at the season’s final six races. In 2014, Jack missed the top ten but in 2015, is headed into the Countdown in the number one position!
On top of being the points leader, in the last three races of the regular season, Jack has clocked the quickest Funny Car runs in NHRA history.
He drove his Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger to an amazing 3.901 second elapsed time to take the No. 1 qualifying position in a rain-shortened day of racing on Aug. 22 at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway in Minnesota. Beckman, posted a 3.921 at Sonoma, Calif. and a 3.912 at Seattle. In this past weekend’s 61st edition of the U.S. Nationals, Jack and the Infinite Hero 2015 Dodge Charger R/T with crew chief Jimmy Prock and assistants John Medlen and Chris Cunningham dominated the four-day event near Indianapolis by winning the Funny Car title to complement the $100,000 Traxxas Nitro Funny Car Shootout all-star title the day before.
It is the sixth NHRA Wally trophy for the Infinite Hero team this year and the first U.S. Nationals title for Beckman, who has won 21 times in his pro career. Wishing the team the best of luck on the COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP! Infinite Hero will host a special tribute to Terry Chandler and Don Schumacher at its November 11th Veterans Day gala on the eve of the final event at the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona on November 12-15.