CAPPS, BRUT TEAM MODELS OF CONSISTENCY, QUALIFY NO. 3 IN BRAINERD

BRAINERD, Minn. (8/12/16) -- Ron Capps, crew chief Ed "Ace" McCulloch and the Brut Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car team are looking to earn the Full Throttle award presented by NHRA for the team most consistent in qualifying at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals (results will be announced Sunday morning.)

They are certainly in the running after posting four stout qualifying runs to earn the No. 3 spot for Sunday's eliminations: a 4.920-second pass at 303.71mph, followed by a 4.850/315.27, his quickest lap of 4.778/316.15, and finally a 4.855/319.22.

"The Full Throttle award is always a big deal," said Capps, the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car points leader. "It's important for the crew guys and the crew chiefs as a reward for consistency. At the same time you're looking at the Skoal Showdown (a bonus event held at U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis on Labor Day weekend) points because we're getting down to two races left for that. We're in the field pretty much guaranteed, but you always want to move around in the positioning, and we only have Memphis left.

"Ace this morning almost had his race face on for qualifying, in the sense that he really wanted to move up in position and get after the car, and he was making some big changes. It was cool. We rolled up there and ran a 4.77. Everybody was ecstatic, so that's what we need to do every race.

"The conditions are changing so much; there's a chance of rain one minute, then it gets hot. (Team consultant) Dan Olson and Ace are making a great team right now and I feel so confident in the car, but you know how Sundays are.

"We have Bob Gilbertson (who took Capps out in the first round in Denver) again. Those guys are my buddies, but all bets are off when it comes to Sunday."