Beckman beats Force to finish big weekend

TOPEKA, Kan. – Funny Car racer Jack Beckman finished off a record-setting weekend in the NHRA Kansas Nationals with a final-round victory over John Force on Sunday at Heartland Park Topeka.

Beckman used a pair of 3.9-second runs to outrun Courtney Force and John Hale, and beat Del Worsham in the semifinals before powering past the 66-year-old John Force with a 3.984 run at 316.45 mph in his Dodge Charger. It was Beckman’s second victory of the season and 17th overall.

“We had an outstanding week of racing,” said Beckman, who set the record for the most three-second Funny Car runs by a driver in a weekend with five. “That’s a function of the (crew chief) Jimmy Prock tuneup. (The car) is so much fun to drive.”

Richie Crampton won in Top Fuel, and Erica Enders in Pro Stock.

Crampton powered his Morgan Lucas Racing dragster to his second Top Fuel victory of the season with a 3.738 at 318.09 to hold off Larry Dixon. It was Crampton’s fourth career victory.

Enders raced to her third victory of the season and 15th of her career, beating Greg Anderson with a 6.584 at 209.33 in a Chevy Camaro.