JOHNNY WEST MAKES IMPACT WITH BECKMAN
Mon, 2008-08-18 12:28
Johnny West has had a calming effect on the Valvoline/MTS Dodge Funny
Car that Jack Beckman has driven to back-to-back final rounds.
"A couple of times it wanted to move over toward the centerline, but it was a pretty smooth car all weekend long,” explained Beckman of his Reading win. “Didn’t throw us any curve balls out there.
"(Crew chief) Johnny West is a very conservative-by-nature type of guy, so he and (assistant crew chief) Tommy Delago balance each other well and I think now that we've been consistent for a few races we're starting to get quick and I think if we can take that to cold-weather tracks we will be contending for the championship." Johnny West has had a calming effect on the Valvoline/MTS Dodge Funny Car that Jack Beckman has driven to back-to-back final rounds.
"A couple of times it wanted to move over toward the centerline, but it was a pretty smooth car all weekend long,” explained Beckman of his Reading win. “Didn’t throw us any curve balls out there.
"(Crew chief) Johnny West is a very conservative-by-nature type of guy, so he and (assistant crew chief) Tommy Delago balance each other well and I think now that we've been consistent for a few races we're starting to get quick and I think if we can take that to cold-weather tracks we will be contending for the championship."
West admits the victory was just a matter of being in the right place at the right time.
"There's a lot of mixed emotions,” admitted West. “The Valvoline/MTS Dodge has been running really good. It's like Austin Coil (John Force's crew chief) told me a long time ago, everybody tells you you've done a real good job (when you win). We've been doing the same job; we just finally had good results. The biggest part is the entire Schumacher group and all the people at the shop and the guys who build the chassis - that's the nucleus of the whole operation. I just came in and brought a little continuity and that's what probably helped make this thing turn the corner. Outside of that, I really haven't done anything different than what I've normally done my whole life."
"A couple of times it wanted to move over toward the centerline, but it was a pretty smooth car all weekend long,” explained Beckman of his Reading win. “Didn’t throw us any curve balls out there.
"(Crew chief) Johnny West is a very conservative-by-nature type of guy, so he and (assistant crew chief) Tommy Delago balance each other well and I think now that we've been consistent for a few races we're starting to get quick and I think if we can take that to cold-weather tracks we will be contending for the championship." Johnny West has had a calming effect on the Valvoline/MTS Dodge Funny Car that Jack Beckman has driven to back-to-back final rounds.
"A couple of times it wanted to move over toward the centerline, but it was a pretty smooth car all weekend long,” explained Beckman of his Reading win. “Didn’t throw us any curve balls out there.
"(Crew chief) Johnny West is a very conservative-by-nature type of guy, so he and (assistant crew chief) Tommy Delago balance each other well and I think now that we've been consistent for a few races we're starting to get quick and I think if we can take that to cold-weather tracks we will be contending for the championship."
West admits the victory was just a matter of being in the right place at the right time.
"There's a lot of mixed emotions,” admitted West. “The Valvoline/MTS Dodge has been running really good. It's like Austin Coil (John Force's crew chief) told me a long time ago, everybody tells you you've done a real good job (when you win). We've been doing the same job; we just finally had good results. The biggest part is the entire Schumacher group and all the people at the shop and the guys who build the chassis - that's the nucleus of the whole operation. I just came in and brought a little continuity and that's what probably helped make this thing turn the corner. Outside of that, I really haven't done anything different than what I've normally done my whole life."
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