NHRA CHAMPIONS ANTRON BROWN AND JACK BECKMAN TO VISIT STUDENTS AT WESTERN TECHNICAL COLLEGE ON FEBRUARY 25
EL PASO, Texas (Feb. 11, 2015) – Antron Brown, 2012 NHRA Top Fuel world champion and driver of the Don Schumacher Racing-owned Matco Tools dragster, will visit Western Technical College in El Paso, Texas for the seventh consecuitive year on February 25. This year, Brown will be joined by Jack Beckman, his DSR teammate and 2012 NHRA Funny Car world champion and driver of the Infinite Hero 2015 Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car.
Brown, a former college track star at Mercer (N.J.) Community College, and Beckman, a former sergeant in the U.S. Air Force and a cancer surivor, will speak to Western Tech students about education and career choices.
“I really enjoy doing these school visits through the Matco Tools Tech Ed program,” Brown said. “I have been in the student’s position before when I was in school at Mercer College in New Jersey. Having the opportunity to give back to these students and speak to them about their future and their career paths is something I find very rewarding. These students and mechanics are the future and it’s great to meet them. I’ve been coming to Western Tech for seven years now and it’s a great facility and a great partner of DSR.”
Brown and Beckman will be at the school from 9 a.m.- 2 p.m. speaking to groups of students who also will have the opportunity to get an up-close look at the Matco Tools Top Fuel dragster and Infinite Hero Funny Car and speak with four crew members that work on the 10,000-horsepower nitro-fueled machine.
Since 2013, 20 students from Western Technical College have joined Don Schumacher Racing as interns in a variety of roles, including working on DSR race teams and in the fabrication branch at the DSR race shop in Brownsburg, Ind.
Allan Sharpe, President of Western Tech says, “”We are very proud of our partnership with Don Schumacher Racing. It allows our students the ability to not only learn about real world pit crew scenarios at events like this, but to have an opportunity to intern directly with DSR at races across the Nation and throughout the year.”
Brown is the only racer in NHRA history to win races in both Top Fuel and Pro Stock Motorcycle. He has 47 career wins, 37 career No. 1 qualifying awards and is competing in his eighth season in Top Fuel after spending 10 years in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class. He was the 2012 NHRA Top Fuel champion, becoming the first African-American to win a major motorsports title.
Beckman owns two NHRA championships, one in the professional Funny Car category in 2012 and in 2003 “Fast Jack” earned the Super Comp world championship. He has been licensed in 12 different NHRA categories. Jack also served as an instructor for the Frank Hawley Drag Racing School where he has taught more than 7,000 students since 1998. He is a former Sergent in the U.S. Air Force.
WHO: Antron Brown and Jack Beckman, NHRA champions
WHAT: Brown and Beckman will visit Western Technical College and speak to students at the college. Brown’s Top Fuel dragster and Beckman’s Funny Car also will be on display.
WHEN: Wednesday, February 25, 2015
WHERE: Western Technical College, 9624 Plaza Circle, El Paso, TX 79926
TIME: 9 a.m.- 2 p.m.
CONTACT: Brad Judy, Western Technical College, (915) 525-0579