Jack Beckman knows what it takes to win an NHRA nitro Funny Car world championship. He did exactly that in 2012.

After failing to qualify for the season-opening Winternationals this year, Beckman and his Don Schumacher Racing team have been making up for last time.

Sunday at the Kansas Nationals was more evidence of that fact.

Beckman clocked a 3.984-second time at 316.45 mph in the finals to edge legendary John Force, who crossed the line at 4.002 seconds at 324.51 at Heartland Park Topeka.

“I have all the respect in the world for that guy (John Force),” Beckman said. “It does make a difference with him in the other lane. It’s John Force. You’re getting a chance to play against Babe Ruth. It’s just so unique in our sport that a guy who is 66, and is the best that has ever been in this sport can still mix it up with us. I said this since the day I started racing, I can’t wait to tell my grandkids I got to compete against John Force. The guy hasn’t lost anything. This trophy will be extra special because it was John Force we beat in the final.”

This was Beckman’s second win of the season - he also won the title at the Four-Wide Nationals March 29 at zMax Dragway, breaking a 54-race winless drought. This was Beckman’s 17th career victory.

“John Force’s semifinal round (3.997) run may have been the best run of the weekend,” Beckman said. “That car almost went 278 mph to halftrack. It was a monster. We lost lane choice for the first time (Sunday), but I don’t think it mattered here. The right and left lanes were fantastic. There’s a tune-up in the car and I have to do everything correct and either they are going to beat us or we are going to beat him. This (Topeka) win is a little bit cooler than Charlotte because Charlotte was almost surreal. It had been so long and you think you are still capable of doing it and we just couldn’t win a race. Then all of a sudden we won, but it was only a three round race. Topeka we won a four-round race.”

Beckman had an NHRA record five 3-second passes during the weekend.

“I never thought we would see four (3-second passes) in a row and five total,” Beckman said. “It was absolutely unbelievable.”

Beckman defeated Courtney Force, John Hale and Del Worsham before ousting John Force in a day full of rain delays.

“We had an outstanding weekend of racing,” Beckman said. “When we went up there for the semifinals it started sprinkling and I thought to myself we were lucky to get two complete rounds in, we will come back and finish it (Monday). Then I thought you have to stay in the zone regardless of what the weather does. We got by that round and then there was a wreck before the final round and I thought we were done for the day. It was more difficult than most races, but I think the thing that made it bearable is that wasn’t 100 degrees and it wasn’t high humidity.” 

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