Jack Beckman and the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger Funny Car team arrive for this weekend's 13th annual Route 66 NHRA Nationals in Joliet, Ill., to race the latest version of the initial 2008 DSR-1 chassis design.

Jack Beckman and the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger Funny Car team arrive for this weekend's 13th annual Route 66 NHRA Nationals in Joliet, Ill., to race the latest version of the initial 2008 DSR-1 chassis design.

With the original DSR-1 iteration put to pasture, Beckman is confident the new chassis will provide the improved performance the team needs to move up in the points and be assured a spot in the top 10 to contend for the class crown in the Countdown to 1 playoffs (the final six events of the year). Beginning this weekend, the schedule hosts four back-to-back events, followed by one weekend off, then the three-race Western Swing.

"This weekend will be the first event of four in a row, the first of seven in eight weeks, and we have a brand-new car," said Beckman, who is fifth in the Funny Car rankings. "We really looked at the big picture with this car and did a lot of things to take weight off and redistribute weight.

"All the things that we've done should make for a better car, but it's still an untested car. So, it's going to be a little bit of nail-biting, and not just on the first run but the first few races, because a different car can respond to changes differently. This is going to be a very, very steep and fast learning curve for us and I think (crew chiefs) Rahn Tobler and John Collins are up to the task.