After a few years on the sidelines, “Fast” Jack Beckman answered the call to step in and drive John Force’s iconic PEAK Performance Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car following Force’s devastating crash in Richmond, Virginia. Beckman got reacquainted with the Funny Car driver’s seat at Summit Motorsports Park’s legendary Night Under Fire in early August with thousands of Force’s biggest fans in the crowd.
[Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared in DI #191, the 30 Under 30 Issue, in November / December of 2024.]
Beckman then made his return to the NHRA Mission Foods Series in Brainerd, Minnesota, to serve as Force’s substitute driver. The 2003 Super Comp world champion and 2012 Funny Car world champ finished the NHRA regular season with a semifinal finish at the U.S. Nationals, started the Countdown to the Championship with a runner-up finish to teammate Austin Prock in Reading, Pennsylvania, and earned his first win since 2020 in St. Louis.
Beckman closed out the season with another win at the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals in Pomona, California, where he defeated Prock in the final round. With the points Beckman accumulated on his behalf, Force finished the season second in Funny Car points behind Prock. For his incredible efforts on and off the track while finishing the season for Force, Beckman has earned the PEAK Performer title.
This story was originally published on December 30, 2024. 
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