BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Sept. 30, 2026) – The racing gods have been good to Jack Beckman at World Wide Technology Raceway over the years but the 2012 NHRA Funny Car World Champion knows how much he needs their backing for the Oct. 2-4 NHRA Midwest Nationals to keep his 2026 championship aspirations alive.
A first-round exit last week at Rockingham (N.C.) Dragway moved John Force Racing’s PEAK Chevrolet SS Funny Car team from third to fifth in the point standings, now 126 out of first place. But the three-time Midwest Nationals winner (2012, 2016, 2024) and three-time runner-up (2010, 2013, 2025) knows that leaving with a NHRA 75th anniversary diamond Wally trophy this Sunday can put him right back in the championship hunt.
The PEAK SQUAD has earned two victories (Epping, Indianapolis) and three runner-up finishes (Charlotte, Maryland, Norwalk) in the season’s first 16 events.
The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Funny Car point standings after 16 of 20 races are: 1. Matt Hagan, 2,321; 2. Jordan Vandergriff, 2,237; 3. J.R. Todd, 2,215; 4. Ron Capps, 2,209; 5. Jack Beckman, 2,195; 6. Austin Prock, 2,177; 7. Alexis DeJoria, 2,151; 8. Daniel Wilkerson, 2,120; 9. Chad Green, 2,089; 10. Spencer Hyde, 2,065.
Quotes
To what do you attribute your St. Louis success?
“I think it’s a convergence of when you’re driving well and your race car is performing well, and then the overall mitigating factor is always good fortune/luck there. St. Louis has treated me well. I have three trophies from there. This weekend is probably going to be our do-or-die race. A first-round loss can be a dagger for your chances at a championship and, unfortunately, that’s what happened to us at Rockingham. So, at St. Louis, we’re just going to have to run smart, go for the qualifying bonus points, race the track as hard as we possibly can and hope that some fortune swings our way. That would put us right back in the thick of the championship hunt leaving St. Louis.”
How important is it at this point of the season to have the opportunity to get right back in the car the next week instead of a one-weekend layoff?
“We lost that first round at Rockingham by only four thousandths of a second. We have such a great race car. The entire PEAK SQUAD, starting with Dan and Tim (Hood and Fabrisi, crew chiefs) making great calls, and all the pairs of hands on the car, servicing it and putting it together the right way, makes it just such a predictably quick car. It’s just that they have 12,000 horsepower to deal with. These cars are fickle. They do some odd things sometimes, throw you curveballs. We’re just going to have to manage that as best as possible for the next four events if we want a shot at the championship.”
St. Louis is the third successive weekend of racing to start the Countdown and you, living in California, have the extra burden of cross-country flights between races and fixing elevators while you are home. Are you ready for this to be done?
The schedule has been printed since the beginning of the year. We all knew what we were doing. Spend a lot of time on an airplane, spend a lot of time in hotels and rental cars but it’s an awesome job. Travel is just one of those things that goes with an awesome job. I don’t know that there’s anybody that looks forward to packing their bags and going through TSA. It’s just a prerequisite for having an awesome job. I’m pretty good at napping anywhere but, man, those airline seats are getting less and less comfortable every year.”
Track Schedule
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 5:30 and 8 p.m. CT on Friday, Oct. 2, and the final two rounds of qualifying at 12 and 2:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, Oct. 3. Final eliminations are scheduled for 9 a.m. CT on Sunday, Oct. 4.
TV Schedule
Television coverage begins Friday, Oct. 2, with a first-day qualifying show from 6:30 – 8 p.m. ET on FS1. A second-day qualifying show is scheduled to air on Sun., Oct. 4, from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. on FS1. Elimination rounds will air Sun., Oct. 4, on FOX from 2 – 4 p.m. ET and 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. ET.
Race Results
Wins: 3 (2012, 2016 & 2024)
No. 1 Qualifiers: 1 (2012)
Event Record: 25-10
2026 Results
