BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Aug. 19, 2026) – Jack Beckman has many positive events to reflect upon when he returns to Brainerd (Minn.) International Raceway for the Aug. 20-23 NHRA Brainerd Nationals.
He can think about his 2018 event win there, when he defeated a then-teammate in the final round. He can ruminate on his 2008 and 2010 runner-up finishes early on in his career. He can reminisce about the four times he’s been the No. 1 Qualifier, as recent as last season (2012, 2013, 2015, 2025).
But it’s another bullet point on Beckman’s racing resume that he’ll think of most. It was two years ago at Brainerd that he made his John Force Racing debut at Brainerd. He had taken over the driving duties of the PEAK Chevrolet SS Funny Car from 16-time NHRA Funny Car World Champion and team owner John Force, who had sustained serious injuries that June at Richmond, Va. After more than three and a half years out of the seat and working fulltime as an elevator repairman, the 2012 NHRA Funny Car World Champion returned to the track.
He’s appreciated every pass down the drag strip just a little more ever since and returns to Brainerd less than two rounds (38 points) out of first place with two races remaining in the regular season.
The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Funny Car point standings after 12 of 20 races are: 1. Ron Capps, 884; 2. Jack Beckman, 847; 3. J.R. Todd, 842; 4. Jordan Vandergriff, 830; 5. Matt Hagan, 820; 6. Chad Green, 703; 7. Austin Prock, 687; 8. Alexis DeJoria, 685; 9. Spencer Hyde, 578; 10. Daniel Wilkerson, 577.
Quotes
What were you thinking/feeling after getting that first-round win at Brainerd two years ago in your first race for John Force Racing after almost four years out of racing?
“People use the analogy ‘it’s like riding a bike’. It’s not. It’s like riding a terrifyingly fast fire-breathing monster. I hadn’t driven a nitro Funny Car for three and a half years so we used Night Under Fire at Norwalk to re-up my license. It was hot there and we had the car backed off quite a bit so everything went surprisingly smooth, which was a confidence builder coming into Brainerd with a couple of runs to the finish line under my belt. The potential pressure at Norwalk was really inconsequential. I knew I could drive the car and we weren’t racing for points so it was all kind of laid back. Then we come to Brainerd and go right into qualifying. We got through it (qualified sixth) and when the national anthem plays Sunday, now it’s for keeps. A lot of people thought it was a lot of pressure, which it was, but it sure beats sitting on the sidelines for three years and nine months.”
You’ve earned the 2018 win and four No. 1 Qualifiers at Brainerd. What are your memories of that 2018 win, beating Matt Hagen, Shawn Langdon, Courtney Force, and then your teammate at the time Tommy Johnson Jr. in the final?
“There are probably some drivers that get up more for other drivers. I’ve kind of struggled with that because I think you can just get in your own head and impede good results if you try to specifically get up for certain people. I try to be pretty even keeled but there are a few races that you go into a final round thinking ‘I’m not a betting man, but I’d bet $1,000 on me.’ That was the case in 2010 at Brainerd with Bob Bode Sr. in the other lane. I thought our car was unstoppable that day, and it smoked the tires right at the step in the final round. You can’t take anything for granted there, so the 2018 win at Brainerd for me was more of a ‘closing the deal’ situation.”
What’s made that difference over the past seven races that moved you from eighth to second in the standings and less than two rounds out of first place?
“When we were eighth in the points, we had lost a couple of close first rounders, one in Gainesville, one in Phoenix when we were driving to low ET of the meet, and the car shut off. I knew we were better than an eighth-place car. The changes that Tim Fabrisi and Dan Hood (crew chiefs) made in the bell housing gave us a wide predictable tune up window on an exceptionally fast race car and now we’re one of the top two cars. Things ebb and flow in nitro Funny Car. Nobody stays on top forever and good teams don’t struggle for extended periods of time. I’m so confident where we are right now. Dan and Tim make good calls. The PEAK SQUAD has been exceptional in preparing a car consistently each run, and now the onus is on me to drive the thing the best that I can. I thought I drove a good race at Seattle and yet I got beat on a holeshot in the semifinals. I’m not gonna hang my head too low but I’m also going to be honest. I have to admit that it stings so, as the car gets better, the expectations of winning go up and, because these races can be so close, what I do in the cockpit makes more of a difference because our car is consistently so good.
Everyone knows of your very busy schedule as an elevator repairman but were you able to enjoy a little time off?
“We got an opportunity two Sundays ago to go to the beach at Crescent Bay. Christine works just as hard, if not harder, than I do. She manages the business in addition to being a mom and taking care of all the things on the home front. I have to work a certain number of hours each month and sometimes that requires working on a weekend. I worked last Sunday because of this week’s racing, testing next week and some media stuff in Indy next week that will keep me away from working on elevators during the week. So, the time at the beach two weekends ago was amazing. I love to surf and have been to dozens and dozens of southern California beaches, but never there. I go to the beach, put on a wetsuit, walk into the water, surf, walk back to my car, dry off and drive home. I sunburn too easy and I’m not a huge fan of sand. Christine goes to the beach to set her problems aside so I’m now learning some of her beach approach.”
Weekend Appearances
Beckman will be signing autographs Friday, Aug. 21, from 3-3:30 p.m. at the John Force Racing merchandise hauler on the midway, and Saturday, Aug. 22, from 9-9:30 a.m. at the Mission Foods display.
Track Schedule
Qualifying will feature two rounds at 3:30 and 6:00 p.m. CT on Friday, Aug. 21 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Aug. 22 at 12:00 and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11:00 a.m. CT on Sunday, Aug. 23.
TV Schedule
Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 7:00 p.m. ET on Friday and 10:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, and eliminations at 6:30 p.m. ET Sunday.
Race Results
| Brainerd | Race Result | Round by Round Results | Qualified | Event Record |
| 2005 (TF) | 1st round | Lost to Doug Kalitta | 8th | 0-1 |
| 2006 (FC) | Did Not Compete | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2007 (FC) | 2nd round | Beat Ron Capps; lost to Kenny Bernstein | 5th | 1-2 |
| 2008 (FC) | Runner-up | Beat Gary Densham, Ron Capps, Tim Wilkerson; lost to Tony Pedregon | 8th | 4-3 |
| 2009 (FC) | Semi-finals | Beat Mike Neff, Del Worsham; lost to Tony Pedregon | 16th | 6-4 |
| 2010 (FC) | Runner-up | Beat Del Worsham, Robert Hight, Jim Head; lost to Bob Bode | 6th | 9-5 |
| 2011 (FC) | 1st round | Lost to Melanie Troxel | 9th | 9-6 |
| 2012 (FC) | 2nd round | Beat Dale Creasy Jr.; lost to Matt Hagan | 1st | 10-7 |
| 2013 (FC) | 2nd round | Beat Bob Bode; lost to Ron Capps | 1st | 11-8 |
| 2014 (FC) | 2nd round | Beat Cruz Pedregon; lost to Ron Capps | 10th | 12-9 |
| 2015 (FC) | Semi-finals | Beat Bob Bode, Matt Hagan; lost to Tommy Johnson Jr. | 1st | 14-10 |
| 2016 (FC) | 2nd round | Beat Cruz Pedregon; lost to Ron Capps | 4th | 15-11 |
| 2017 (FC) | 2nd round | Beat Brian Stewart; lost to John Force | 6th | 16-12 |
| 2018 (FC) | Winner | Beat Matt Hagan, Shawn Langdon, Courtney Force, Tommy Johnson Jr. | 14th | 20-12 |
| 2019 (FC) | 2nd round | Beat Terry Haddock; lost to Ron Capps | 2nd | 21-13 |
| 2020 (FC) | Did Not Compete | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2021 | Did Not Compete | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2022 | Did Not Compete | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2023 | Did Not Compete | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2024 (FC) | 2nd round | Beat Bobby Bode; lost to Blake Alexander | 6th | 22-14 |
| 2025 (FC) | Semi-finals | Beat Dave Richards, Daniel Wilkerson; lost to J.R. Todd | 1st | 24-15 |
Wins: 1 (2018)
No. 1 Qualifiers: 4 (2012, 2013, 2015 & 2025)
Event Record: 24-15
2026 Results
| Event | Qualify | Round by Round | Round Record | Points Position |
| Gainesville | 9 | Lost to Jordan Vandergriff | 0-1 | 11 |
| Phoenix | 2 | Lost to Daniel Wilkerson | 0-2 | 10 |
| Pomona1 | 8 | Beat Jim Campbell; lost to J.R. Todd | 1-3 | 10 |
| Charlotte | 6 | Advanced Rounds 1 & 2; runner-up to Ron Capps | 3-4 | 8 |
| Valdosta | 11 | Lost to Matt Hagan | 3-5 | 8 |
| Chicago | 1 | Beat Chris King; lost to Matt Hagan | 4-6 | 8 |
| Maryland | 1 | Beat Joe Morrison, J.R. Todd, Jordan Vandergriff; lost to Austin Prock | 7-7 | 7 |
| Epping | 2 | Beat Phil Burkart Jr., Matt Hagan, Ron Capps, Jordán Vandergriff | 11-7 | 5 |
| Bristol | 3 | Beat Jeff Arend; lost to Daniel Wilkerson | 12-8 | 5 |
| Norwalk | 4 | Beat Spencer Hyde, Daniel Wilkerson, Austin Prock; lost to Ron Capps | 15-9 | 4 |
| Sonoma | 2 | Beat Jeff Arend, Cruz Pedregon; lost to Daniel Wilkerson | 17-10 | 3 |
| Seattle | 2 | Beat Tim Gibbons, Cruz Pedregon; lost to Austin Prock | 19-11 | 2 |
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