Morrison – In all forms of auto racing, multiple-car teams have the advantage. Shared secrets have been the secret to success.
That was emphasized Sunday during the finals of the Mopar Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway.
In top fuel, David Powers Motorsports had its two drivers, Rod Fuller and Whit Bazemore, face off in the finals. In funny car, Don Schumacher Racing’s Jack Beckman and Ron Capps raced against each other for the event crown.
The win-win situations for Powers and Schumacher capped the 28th edition of the National Hot Rod Association’s event at Bandimere, with “Hot Rod” Fuller and “Fast Jack” Beckman sharing top honors.
Pro stock’s car and motorcycle champions were Allen Johnson of Greeneville, Tenn., and Matt Smith of King, N.C. Both were No. 1 qualifiers and withstood four upset bids en route to cementing their weekend dominance.
The 5-foot-4 Fuller produced the quickest run of the day in his victory over Bazemore. Fuller, from Las Vegas, made a 4.68-second pass (312.93 mph) to Bazemore’s 4.77 (308.35) to further extend his lead in the top fuel standings.
Fuller made his top fuel debut at Bandimere in 1995, but had never previously won an elimination-round race. Then he goes 4-0 and wins his fifth career event.
“This win – you think the first one, or the second one, or the third one or the fourth one, would feel the best, but there’s something about this win,” Fuller said. “It almost makes me feel like I’m legit.”
Beckman, a former U.S. Air Force sergeant and cancer survivor from North Hills, Calif., went 4.93 (312.86 mph) to beat Capps’ 5.00 (307.86).
It was Beckman’s first final-round appearance of the year and sixth victory for Schumacher’s three-car funny car stable. Beckman, who replaced Baze- more on Schumacher’s team late last season, was competing in his 17th career funny car event.
Capps fell to 3-3 in the finals, but he still sits atop the standings. Defending event champion Gary Scelzi, Schumacher’s third funny car driver, has two wins.
“I replaced Whit Bazemore, who tomorrow could get back in and be one of the top funny car drivers, and I’m on a steep learning curve. I’ve definitely been the weakest link on the team, so to get that first win of the season … reminds me that I’m spoiled,” Beckman said.
Fuller, the No. 3 qualifier in his 16-car field, got past Morgan Lucas, Hillary Will and Larry Dixon to get to the finals.
Beckman, who qualified No. 2, beat Tommy Johnson Jr., Jeff Arend and John Force to set up his title race.
Fuller, 36, and Beckman, 41, are speed-driven marketing workhorses for the NHRA.
“Hot Rod” was pegged to race since he was born.
“My mom always wanted to be a drag racer but it never happened,” Fuller said. “When I was born she told my dad, ‘This one was going to be a drag racer,’ and she wanted to name me Hot Rod Fuller on my birth certificate.
“My dad said, ‘There’s no way you’re going to name the boy Hot Rod Fuller,’ but he said he’d settle for Rod.”
Beckman, who takes every opportunity to crack a joke, is a younger version of funnyman Force and a near equal to the humorous Scelzi.
“Nobody can compete with John Force, but it’s interesting having Capps and Scelzi as teammates,” Beckman said. “Capps is a funny guy. I’m a funny guy, but when we’re around Scelzi we’re the straight men. When you get in a certain room, some personalities take over, and Scelzi’s got it.
“I just think it’s cool to have the chemistry we have between the three of us.”
Two teams supreme
Car owners David Powers and Don Schumacher had ideal days, with Powers advancing his two top fuel drivers to the finals and Schumacher sending two of his three funny cars into the “money” round.
Biggest upset
Denver native and No. 1 top fuel qualifier Melanie Troxel, right, bowed out in the first round to No. 16 Mike Strasburg.
Force family affairs
John Force’s false start in the funny car semifinals sent his three-car team and stars of the A&E reality show “Driving Force” packing.
Staff writer Mike Chambers can be reached at 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com.
