CAPPS CAPTURES NO. 2 IN NORWALK QUALIFYING


NORWALK, Ohio (June 28, 2008) - Ron Capps raced the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car to the No. 2 spot in qualifying for the Second Annual NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio, after only two rounds of Funny Car qualifying were held. Because of water seeping onto the track on Friday, both sessions were cancelled, and the Funny Car field was set today in two rounds.

Capps' first pass produced a 5.009-second lap at 293.28 mph, which placed him No. 7. He then improved in the second session to post a solid 4.909/297.42, landing him in No. 2.

Between rain sprinkles and hot sun, conditions today were unpredictable. "When we got ready to run the second time, the clouds disappeared and the sun came out and I thought, Here we go," said Capps, No. 9 in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car point standings. "The track temperatures started climbing. Lanny (Miglizzi, DSR's 'track whisperer') was on the radio saying it was getting hotter and hotter. So we weren't sure if we were going to get into the top half of the field as it got warmer.

"But the NAPA guys did a great job of setting the car up. And Ace (crew chief Ed McCulloch) leaned into the timer box, I mean right before we fired the car, and made a last-minute change and I think that was it. That’s what propelled us to No. 2.

"The NAPA Dodge moved around at about 800 feet. It made a real hard wiggle and I thought of Michael Waltrip, and said to myself, I'd better put some wedge in it and keep this thing straight. And it made it to the finish line, but it spun the tires a little bit because of that wiggle. Otherwise it would have run a little better.

"But we're happy with that. Obviously, it qualifies us well and gives us lane choice. But, more so, you look at the big picture and it earns us more qualifying points, which is something we worked on for this year, and also for the Showdown (U.S. Nationals bonus event). We're up solidly in the top half of that. And those are little things that make you proud as a team, so it's a great job by the NAPA guys."

Capps faces his DSR teammate Jerry Toliver in the opening round of eliminations on Sunday.