Goodyear, NHRA at Indy

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Beckman wins twice at Indy: Sweeps Shootout and US Nationals

      CLERMONT, Ind. (Sept. 7, 2015) – Jack Beckman checked an item off his list of goals when he won the final round of Funny Car in drag racing’s biggest race, the NHRA’s Chevrolet Performance US Nationals at Lucas Oil Speedway at Indianapolis.      It was the kind of weekend most drivers dream of but few accomplish. Beckman also won the NHRA’s Traxxas Nitro Shootout, a $100,000 competition among all-stars.      The former Funny Car world champion beat another former champ, Robert Hight, in the final. Beckman’s win was his first at Indy.      Beckman was one of four drivers to race to victory on Goodyear tires. The others included Mello Yello Drag Racing Series winners Morgan Lucas (Top Fuel) and Erica Enders-Stevens (Pro Stock) in the professional categories as well as Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series sportsman driver Joey Severance (Top Alcohol Dragster).      “I am so worn out,” Beckman said. “I guess it's about like getting to the top of Everest. You really don't get to celebrate until you get down, get back home and into a cozy area. I don't know when it will sink in.”     Beckman has won six times this season. He set tracks records for elapsed time (3.936 seconds) and speed (323.74) during the weekend. Beckman also beat Hight in the Shootout.     Antron Brown beat Doug Kalitta in the Top Fuel Shootout. Lucas has been a part-time campaigner in 2015. He beat Dave Connolly in the final round.     Enders-Stevens, the defending Pro Stock champion, beat Drew Skillman in the finals and collected her first Indy title.     Severance also won his first Indy victory.      The US Nationals was the last race of the regular season for the NHRA’s pro teams. They start the Countdown to the Championship, drag racing’s playoff system, in two weeks at Charlotte, N.C. Beckman. Enders-Stevens and Tony Schumacher lead the standings of their respective categories as they head into the Countdown.      Goodyear employs about 69,000 people at manufacturing plants and facilities in 22 nations. Based in Akron, Ohio, Goodyear is among the largest tiremakers in the world and is the worldwide leader in race tire innovation.