All eyes will be on Jack Beckman at the NHRA Midwest Nationals this year as he takes over for John Force after the veteran drag racer’s catastrophic June disaster.
As Beckman gets ready for the 13th annual NHRA Midwest Nationals on September 26, 2024, at the World Wide Technology Raceway in St. Louis, he’s not just looking to win; he’s also relishing what he calls a “real challenge.”
In the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, Beckman will be driving the 11,000-horsepower PEAK Chevrolet Camaro SS, which is presently ranked third in points. A pivotal event in the Countdown to the Championship, the race in St. Louis is the 17th of 20 this season. During this span, it will be seen if Beckman can turn his impressive playoff run—which included victories in the semifinals in Charlotte and finals in Reading—into a series win.
According to Motorsports News Wire, Beckman stated, “Our objective is to win a race, and the way Austin is running, it’s going to be tough on all of us.”
Austin Prock, who leads the team in points right now and is a standout player with a strong season run, has had an extraordinary run that
“Austin is the guy with the target on his back and what they’re doing this year has just been dominant. What they’ve done is unprecedented.”
Bob Tasca III, sitting second in points just seven ahead of Beckman, also contributes to the stiff competition while being 129 points behind Prock.
Historically, the St. Louis track has been a battleground for racing titans such as Matt Hagan, who won the Funny Car class last year and is another fierce contender that Beckman has to outpace. Beckman has his own record here, however, with two victories to his name.
This year’s competition breathes new life into the sport with a mix of seasoned champions and up-and-coming talent, including reigning world champ Matt Hagan, Ron Capps, J.R. Todd, and rookie Daniel Wilkerson. The stakes are equally high across other categories. In Top Fuel, Clay Millican aims for consecutive wins in St. Louis, while Antron Brown, the points leader, has dominated the first two playoff races. Pro Stock sees Greg Anderson vying for another win to stay competitive, with heavyweights like Dallas Glenn and Erica Enders in the fray.
Besides the heated competitions, fans can expect an engaging weekend with the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+, and more, promising a variety of races. Fan interactions including meet and greets in Nitro Alley, pre-race ceremonies, and open winner’s circle celebrations add to the event’s allure.
