2009 PALM BEACH INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY - TESTING COVERAGE
PHOTO GALLERY
TESTING RESULTS FROM DRAG RACE CENTRAL
SUNDAY NOTEBOOK -
TEST PILOT BECKMAN – Anytime Jack Beckman gets the opportunity to test his MTS/Valvoline Funny Car, he takes advantage of it. This weekend’s test session provided more than enough kick for Beckman to shake off the cobwebs of winter.
“You know what, all testing is good,” said Beckman with his characteristic smile. “It’s an interesting balance. These cars cost a lot of money every time you run them, so testing beyond a certain point is just costing you a lot of money. But we’ve got four guys; we’ve kind of split the crew. Matt Hagen has four guys from last year and we've got four guys here. So we’re trying to integrate the new guys in and get them up to speed on servicing and it’s always a great time to play with a couple of different tune-ups and maybe test some ideas we have in the back of our minds and see if it can give us something we can work with sometime later in the year.”
Beckman emerged from the weekend’s testing fifth quickest, carding a 4.144 best elapsed time in seven passes. His last run of the session produced a 300 mph speed.
“I think in testing a lot of people looked at the scoreboard to see if a run is successful or not but it really doesn’t tell you the whole story,” Beckman explained. “A lot of time you’ll find something that makes the car quicker at a certain increment during the run or may make it more forgiving early in the run or might make it work better on a hot racing surface.
“In and of itself, a test run here might not be good for low ET of that session, but it’s something that you can use during the summer or fall months or on a concrete race track or on a funky race track. So I think it’s a great opportunity to tinker around.”
PUTTING THE CAPPS ON IT – Up until a last minute charge by Del Worsham, Ron Capps had the quickest Funny Car mark 
during the Palm Beach International Raceway test with a 4.098 elapsed time at 299.66 mph in seven runs.
Capps was appreciative of the efforts made to ensure this weekends test was successful for those who participated.
"This track is great. Every time you go to a track for the first time you don't know what to expect, especially in preseason testing. It's not just the crew chiefs testing, it's not just the crews testing, it's everybody, including the drivers. We're just trying to get used to the cars again. And this facility is great. It's 100 percent concrete. They've bent over backwards and have done everything as far as preparation of the track goes and it's been a real pleasurable experience.
"We've been spoiled with having Las Vegas to go to for testing in the past and we always go to Phoenix. And Las Vegas it's just too cold and it's been in the 70s here, which is just right. So, it's a great track, great facility.
The one thing about test sessions Capps will readily admit, those big numbers are great to have, but it’s the lessons learned for future use, even on an early shut-off, that are most gratifying.
"We got to experiment with some things. I tell you, (crew chief) Ed McCulloch has come out with fire in his eyes,” Capps admitted. “We're really angry that we didn't do better than we did last year, especially at the end of last year. We finally got the fire we were talking about it since the last race at Pomona. We're extremely motivated to start to get some race wins for NAPA AUTO PARTS, and you can tell. You can tell by the mood of everybody in the pit area, because this stuff trickles down from the top. I can tell by driving the car that it's a completely different animal, and I'm excited.”
Capps may have stumbled in last season’s championship pursuit, but headed into 2009, he’s on solid ground.
"We've got ourselves a really good hot rod right now and it's only after four runs. The first full run down the track was a 4.09, so that tells you how good this NAPA team is going to be this season."
MORE CUT IN HIS STRUT - Tim Wilkerson brought another new chassis out on Sunday, 
making one aborted lap followed by one nearly full pull and although he posted his best lap of the weekend on the second attempt (a 4.198 at 284.62 mph) it was the construction of the new chassis that had the attention of the other testing pros in West Palm. The new McKinney chassis features front suspension, with struts and springs attached to the beefy A-arms. It is the first McKinney Funny Car with a suspension system, and represents a radical departure from the norm.
On the first lap, the new car ran well to nearly half-track but began drifting left. As Wilkerson lifted off the throttle, the move toward the wall became more abrupt. The Levi, Ray & Shoup veteran was able to keep the LRS Mustang out of harm's way, but adjustments had to be made to a body strut to correct a problem related to the left front tire rubbing across a diagonal support.
Making one more pass, late on Sunday afternoon, Wilkerson made a clean 4.19 run and reported no handling issues with the new pipe.
"It's a pretty cool car, and once we got that tire-rub issue fixed, it drove like a sedan," Wilkerson said. "We've been discussing this car with NHRA and Murf McKinney, and I really wanted to bring it out here and test it out. As far as I can tell, with today's second lap and another test lap we made earlier this off-season, in Valdosta (Ga.), I think it has a ton of promise. The concept is to take some of the violent action away, which is always a dangerous and dicey thing when you're going as fast as we go, while you give the driver some more calm control over the car. So far, it seems to do that.
"I'm always interested in new ideas and new approaches, and this one is different enough that we had a parade of guys from other Funny Car teams coming over here to see it. I'm not into the whole 'put a towel over it and don't let anyone in' kind of thing, so we let everyone take a look. And, of course, anyone who was here could watch us run, to see how it worked. The second run worked better than the first, so maybe we're on to something.
"It was kind of like being a test pilot, and pretty exciting, but it went great. We weren't trying to set any kind of low E.T. on the run, and our tune-up was pretty soft out there in the middle, but the best thing to do was just get it to the other end, to see how it would react, and it earned a passing grade from me. We think this will be a safer car, and (Force Racing crew chief) John Medlen has had a lot of input on this design, as part of their dedication to making this class as safe as it can be. Like anything, it will probably be a work in progress for a while, but this was a very good testing day for this car and we feel real good about it."
ROOKIE ACCOLADES – Let the record reflect that Matt Hagan ran the very first 300 mph run in a Funny Car at the refurbished 
Palm Beach International Raceway.
Hagan, in the traditional sense, is headed into his sophomore season as a Funny Car driver. However, in NHRA competition, he’s a legal rookie.
This weekend’s test was his first official session as a member of the Don Schumacher Racing posse.
"I had a great experience this weekend,” said Hagan, who made 10 consistent passes, six of which were in the 4.1-second range. “Everybody is working well together. I learned so much this weekend from talking to all the guys. Tommy is helping me out with my driving and I'm bouncing stuff off of him and everybody else. I'm just trying to act like a sponge to absorb all the knowledge that's floating around here.
"I think we had a really, really productive weekend,” he continued. “We're right on track where I think we need to be. We're not running 4.0s yet but it's our first week out in this car and everything is new to everybody here.”
Hagan’s BrakeSafe Rear-End Collision Avoidance System Dodge Funny Car recorded a quick lap of 4.124 seconds at 301.40 miles per hour.
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A NITROUS SALVO -
WILKERSON MAKING HEADWAY - Tim Wilkerson made three attempts on the PBIR track on Saturday, after one short launch 
late
in the day on Friday, and his new Levi, Ray & Shoup Mustang
improved with each lap. Friday's shakedown launch was followed by an
aborted shut-off on Saturday morning, when wheel spin preceded tire
shake, but Wilkerson then legged the next two passes well down the
track, posting a 4.244 at 276.46 mph and then a 4.215 @ 285.95 mph in
the late afternoon. Both of the later runs were still early
shut-offs, as Wilkerson continues to work the kinks out of a new
set-up, while he also learns the aerodynamic nuances of the Shelby
Mustang body.
"All in all, we're getting there, and that's a good thing," Wilkerson
said. "Nobody likes it when you shake or smoke the tires and have to
come back and figure out why you were so far off, so it's good to make
a run that gets off the line and goes down the track, even if it was
far from perfect,. It might not be as quick or as fast as you want,
but it's still good data and you can twirl the knobs from there and
make it better, and plus it's a morale boost for the crew. It was
running better on the last run, but it started chewing a piston up just
after one second, and gave it up near the top end, so I only drove it
about four seconds. We need to keep getting after it, and we're going
to try some new things tomorrow, too.
"The facility here is terrific, and I think all the teams that are here
are impressed with the all-concrete track and just the way they have
this place set up. To me, it's seems like a great place to have this
sort of spring training, because the air is good and the track is good,
and these laps have some value for us. Plus, there's nothing bad about
being in South Florida in January. We have the chance to not only
shake things down, but work on tune-ups and get after it a little bit,
so it's good for the driver and the team."
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GIVE ME THE NIGHT
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SH-SH-SH-SHAAAAAKKKKEEEE
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EVENT UPDATE - SCHUMACHER LEADS THE PACK IN EARLY TESTING
After just two days of pre-season testing, one thing is clear. Tony Schumacher will be right in the middle of the fight for the 
Top Fuel championship again in 2009, and the team owned by his former crew chief will be right there with him.
Saturday afternoon, Larry Dixon piloted the Alan Johnson Al-Anabi
Racing dragster to the first-ever 300 mph speed at newly renovated and
renamed Palm Beach International Raceway and the quickest elapsed time
of the test session (to that point) with a 3.870 second, 307.09 mph run.
Dixon didn't get much time to enjoy his achievement because Schumacher
eclipsed both of Dixon's marks mere minutes later, rocketing to a 3.867
at 310.34.
Cory McClenathan, the third Top Fuel driver testing at PBIR this
weekend, has shown early quickness, but has yet to complete a full pass.
On the Funny Car side of the ledger, Ron Capps led a Don Schumacher
triumvirate atop the run sheets with a 4.098 at 299.66, just missing
the magic 300 mph mark. Capps' run was well ahead of his two teammates,
Jack Beckman clocking in with a 4.144 at 298.93 and Funny Car sophomore
Matt Hagan with a 4.452 at 297.35.
Four other Funny Car drivers made runs Saturday, including Del
Worsham's debut at the wheel of the Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing
Toyota. Worsham's new ride showed promise, but has yet to make a full
pass.
New teammates Tim Wilkerson and Bob Tasca III both managed to come
within 100 feet or so of making full runs Saturday, but fell short with
top-end problems.
The other "loner" this weekend, Jeff Arend, made some good short runs
early in testing, but is also still seeking his first full pass.
Things will pick up even more on Sunday, both on and off the track. In
addition to expected performance improvements from the teams still
seeking an end-to-end tuneup, several Al-Anabi Pro Modified cars will
join the testing action and there will be spectators in the stands for
the final day of fuel testing.
Since weather forecasts call for warmer overnight temperatures, test
runs will probably start as early as 9 a.m. Sunday, so if you are
planning to be there, the gates open at 8 a.m. - Larry Sullivan, DragRaceCentral
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SATURDAY ACTION -
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FRIDAY NOTEBOOK -
THE NEW ERA – Larry Dixon has a new home.
Showing up for his first day on the job as the driver of the Alan
Johnson Racing/Al-Anabi Motorsports Top Fuel dragster, Dixon was
sporting a broad smile.
The veteran driver is in his maiden test session with the team. The
move is a substantial one for Dixon who had been under Don Prudhomme’s
employ for a little over twenty years. He bought out the remaining time
on his contract to drive for Johnson.
“I’m excited,” said Dixon as he enthusiastically awaited his first run
in his new Alan Johnson-tuned dragster. “It’s a different trailer but
everything we’re trying to do is still the same. I’m just trying to
provide for myself and my family.”
The supporting cast for Dixon is a collection of former Don Schumacher
Racing U.S. Army crew members and skilled position holders who followed
Johnson in his longtime quest to become a team owner. Included in that
list is second-generation tuner Jason McCulloch, whose dad, Ed “Ace”
McCulloch, remained with DSR as crew chief for Ron Capps.
“Everyone on our new team has their own responsibility to fulfill their
position and do it right and all I’m doing is trying to hold up my end
of the deal,” Dixon admitted. “Obviously it’s a well-oiled machine
there (the new Al-Anabi Racing team) and a lot of those guys have been
working together for a long period of time … but we’re not looking
back, we’re ready for the future.”
A VETERAN ENDORSEMENT – Paul Smith has logged many laps
down some really good tracks. He's been on a few bad tracks, also. The
newly renovated Palm Beach International Raceway gets a positive
endorsement from the veteran driver who resides in nearby Del Ray Beach.
Smith made a lap shortly after the renovations of the former Moroso
Motorsports Park were completed and with that experience under his belt
made his endorsement. Time has not changed his mind.
“I made a run down the track when it was brand new during the grand
opening,” Smith explained. “The track was good then and it’s good now;
the air is good this weekend. The Pro Stockers proved it when they came
here and ran 6.50-second elapsed times. The teams should run real well
here.”
Smith believes the key to PBIR living up to its potential lies squarely
with the public relations and marketing. Just getting the word out, he
believes, could go a long way in cementing the facility’s new
reputation as one of the best places for professional teams to test,
especially the nitro cars.
“The track is beautiful, they put a lot of money into it and they’ve
still got a lot more to do to it,” he continued. “They just have to let
everyone in the public know it’s here and it’s open and they need to
get a big race down here. It’s definitely set up to have a good time by
racers and fans alike.”
Off course, where there are nitro cars, particularly those owned by Don
Schumacher, there is Lanny Miglizzi, the noted “track whisperer” who
reads the track for the DSR teams.
“I still want to lay down on the surface and gather more data,” said
Miglizzi. “It’s going to take some time to break in but it’s a real
nice place and the little things can be tweaked to make it into a great
place.”
A DIFFERENT KIND OF TEST – The drivers aren’t the only ones
raving about the PBIR test – at least one public relations
representative made the trek to West Palm Beach, Fla.
Bob Wilber, who labored for many years painting the positive picture of
Del Worsham’s racing endeavors, has moved into a new setting as public
relations direction for Funny Car racer Tim Wilkerson.
Wilber has worked this particular weekend for the last decade usually
spinning the day’s testing activities at Las Vegas. This year’s visit
to PBIR has completed his change in scenery.
Gone are the sometimes blustery winds and finicky temperatures of Las Vegas.
“I literally just got here,” Wilber told CompetitionPlus.com. “I talked
to Tim Wilkerson and a few of the other drivers than have been down the
track already and they all seem to like it. I think the weather here in
West Palm Beach is perfect for pre-season testing. We always had the
problem in Las Vegas where the track is too tight and too cold and it
was so good we couldn’t learn anything from it. The racing surface in
Phoenix is too loose and everyone ends up going to the first race in
Pomona panicked because their completely lost.
“But now we get to come down to this perfect temperature and a great
new race track and it has everything. It’s just the fourth all-concrete
drag racing surface in the country and it should be great.”
THE MAC ATTACK – Cory McClenathan has a couple of funny guys
tuning his FRAM Top Fuel dragster this season. Funny, as in former
Funny Car tuners Todd Okuhara and Phil Shuler, who are now tuning for
the 34-time NHRA national event winner.
Okuhara and Shuler were formerly assigned to former DSR drivers Gary
Scelzi and Jerry Toliver respectively in 2008, but moved to McClenathan
with their respective drivers departures.
McClenathan made a pair of runs on Friday and both resulted in
performance-limiting tire-shake. The veteran driver fully expected a
learning curve headed into 2009 as a result of the major changes his
team has undergone.
Veteran tuner Mike Green was transferred to the U.S. Army car when then tuner Alan Johnson announced he was leaving.
“I’m okay with it,” McClenathan said, ”I’m used to change anyway and
we’ve got a great bunch of guys here working on the car like Todd
Okuhara and Phil Shuler and I’m not anticipating a lot of changes in
the way we operate. We started out with a new car (Brad Hadman); it’s
our back-up from last season. And we’re having another one built right
now that will be ready by Pomona.
“We’re going to test here in Palm Beach and in Phoenix and do our best to keep up, with Alan Johnson and Larry Dixon.”
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FRIDAY - SHAKEDOWNS AND GET ACQUIANTED DAY
